Sep 22 (AM) Three MPs took oaths before Speaker Karu Jayasuriya a short while ago. Accordingly, Palitha Thewarapperuma, Lakshman Seneviratne and Bimal Rathnayake took oaths as MPs. Thewarapperuma was elected in the recent general election from Kaluthara District under the UNP ticket. However he could not attend the parliamentary session due to the funeral of his son. Lakshman Seneviratne contested under the UPFA ticket from Badulla District and lost election. more..

Sep 22 (CG) The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) today called for a victim centered approach when addressing the accountability issue. NPC Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran welcomed the report on Sri Lanka by the OHCHR saying it was one of the most comprehensive reports compiled following investigations conducted on the war. He said that the NPC will work with all stakeholders to shape the transitional justice process and actively participate at achieving a meaningful outcome. more..

Sep 22 (ENS) With Sri Lanka rejecting the US draft resolution on human rights violations and war crimes in the Island nation, it is reliably learnt that India will support a resolution, which has the widest possible consensus. “India will support anything which is not divisive, which has the widest possible consensus,” sources said. When asked if it meant that India will support a resolution with which Sirisena govt was comfortable, more..

Sep 22 (CT) Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva has questioned as to under whose authority or need was the cost of the Matara-Kataragama Railway line's first phase increased by US$ 100 million. The initial amount agreed upon for the rail line stood at US$ 178 million for the 26.7 km stretch. He expressed his astonishment to the increase in expenditure. The Technical Feasibility Committee appointed for the project had estimated cost to be US$ 178 m but it had later been increased to US$ 278 m. more..

Sep 22 (CG) India and Sri Lanka have decided to expand defence ties following the successful conclusion of the third defence dialogue in New Delhi today. At the invitation of the Defence Secretary of India, Shri Mohan Kumar, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi undertook an official visit to India yesterday with a view of participating at the 3rd Indo – Sri Lanka Defence Dialogue held in New Delhi. Since its inception in 2012, annual Indo – Lanka Defence Dialogue more..

Sep 22 (AFP) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe rejected a UN call for international involvement in an investigation into alleged war crimes. He said talks were under way to establish a credible domestic mechanism to investigate abuses during the decades-long conflict with Tamil separatist rebels that ended in May 2009. "There is nothing to be got from abroad," Wickremesinghe said, after a damning UN report more..

Sep 23 (CT) With great fanfare and ballyhoo the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe (Siri-Wicky) govt promised that they alone could conquer the international community (meaning the big power brokers of the West) which the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa had alienated. This promise to conquer the world and restore Sri Lanka’s position in the world stage was based on several factors: 1. Siri-Wicky regime is pro-West committed with a foreign policy aligned to the American axis; more..

Sep 23 (CT) An appeal to avoid tyranny in democracy may appear to be a contradiction in terms. It is taken for granted that democracy is a form of govt of the people, by the people, and for the people. This naturally leads to the deduction that such a system can do no harm to the people. But an analytical look at how democracy operates in practice, would reveal contradictions in that conclusion. As it is not practicable to please all the people all the time, democracy seeks to more..

Sep 23 (SO) The long overdue food policy, now being drafted by the Ministry of Health is welcomed by health personnel. Following Director General Health Services, Dr P.G. Maheepala's recent revelation that a food policy is being drafted, health officials described it as a step in the right direction. Food contamination in all forms is on the rise and it is the main cause for the spread of food- borne diseases in the country. more..

Sep 23 (CT) In 2011, former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris travelled to the United Nations in New York as the Ministerial Legal Advisor to defeat the war crimes allegations against Sri Lanka. He was named as the Legal Advisor to the Cabinet by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was Mahinda who included Mohan Peiris in the delegation to New York at that time. Mohan who went there tried to prove that allegations of threats on journalists in Sri Lanka by the govt were fabricated. more..

Sep 23 (SO) Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka and, the report of the OHCHR investigation on serious human rights abuses, allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka between Feb 2002 and May 2009 (known as OISL) is finally out after being deferred from its original date of release of March 2015 on the request of Govt of SL. more..

Sep 23 (CT) Eran Wickramaratne, former banker, MP and now Deputy Minister of State Enterprise Development, is a man on a mission to turn around the fortunes of many of our failing State enterprises. He advocated two-key ingredients for the success of any enterprise: fair salaries and good training. People, he said are the key to the success of any institution. Q: You are now in charge of State enterprise development, how will you more..

Sep 23 (DN) When the terrorist group Tamil Tigers played havoc and created mayhem and bloodshed in Sri Lanka for thirty years, their members and supporters overseas hardly did any paid job in the countries they were settled in. They survived by the monies collected from innocent and unsuspecting Tamils living abroad through extortion, harassment and the promise of a separate state in SL. If those innocent Tamils did not give money to these groups, they were threatened of bodily harm. more..

Sep 23 (SO) Cats usually spit venom and human felines make catty remarks. This Sunday this cat is sitting pretty and purring as she has a couple of bouquets to hand out. She listened to the address by Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the UN Office in Geneva at the sittings of the UNHRC last week. She was proud of what he said and how he said what had to be said. There was a total absence of bumptious cocking a snook (it has been done that way before) & obsequious asking for pardon. more..

Sep 23 (NS) Sri Lankan roads are to see a new set of wheels in the form of a locally developed trishaw that is to be introduced to the market by the end of the year. The trishaw, which is to hit the roads under the brand name Macro, has been developed and designed locally and is to be handed over to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) for approval. The trishaw, whose body and chassis have been designed and made in Sri Lanka more..

Sep 23 (Island) Slain JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera is in the news again. The govt has ordered his widow and children to leave the Welisara navy base latest by March 2016. They had been sheltered there for many years following Wijeweera’s death in 1989. What has the JVP been doing all these years? It should have taken upon itself the responsibility for looking after its beloved leader’s family immediately after joining the democratic mainstream in mid 1990s. more..

Sep 23 (Island) Calling for an internationalized Special Court for criminal prosecution, to try those who had been accused of committing atrocities, during the conflict (2002-2009), the UK headquartered Global Tamil Forum paid a glowing tribute to the survivors who bravely shared their horrific experiences, despite the fear and uncertainty they faced, without which last Wednesday’s Geneva report would not have been a reality. GTF urged the 47-member states, of the UNHRC, more..

Sep 23 (SLN) This International Maritime Conference Galle Dialogue, is an annual event organized by the Sri Lanka Navy since 2010 with the participation of international and local professional representing the maritime fraternity. The conference has won accolades as a forum of facilitating deliberating on issues related to maritime concerns. This year conference will be held in the port city of Galle on 23rd & 24th Nov 2015. more..

Sep 23 (DN) St. Joseph’s College, Colombo clinched the National Schools Basketball title by edging out the All Island Under 19 Champions and Western Province Champions, Asian International School by 55 points to 51 after a thrilling final played at Darley Road yesterday. In the beginning AIS attempted to dominate the game, but the Josephians took the game away from the visitors. At Half time the Joes managed to snatch the lead (25 – 24). more..

Sep 23 (BG) In the coming days, a United States-led core group at the UNHRC will put forward its resolution on accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, responding in part to the OISL (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation into Sri Lanka) report released on Sept 16. The resolution, which is likely to be adopted by the council, will have a considerable bearing on the process of accountability in Sri Lanka. UN report lays bare patterns of grave violations more..

Sep 23 (CT) John Keells Holdings yesterday launched Cinnamon Life, a trendsetting project in Sri Lanka, through its subsidiary Waterfront Properties. This architectural icon has been envisioned as a 4.5 million sq feet Integrated Resort consisting of an 800-room luxury Cinnamon hotel, avant garde experiential and entertainment haven, residential apartments, state-of-the-art office spaces, a wide variety of food & beverage offerings more..

Sep 23 (TD) The 30th session of the UNHRC began over a week ago, yet much about the U.S.-led resolution on Sri Lanka remains undecided. The U.S. hopes to pass a consensus resolution that has Colombo’s clear endorsement. Is that how things will play out? When it comes to Sri Lanka’s fate at the Geneva-based HRC, this time was supposed to be different. Since 2012, three U.S.-led resolutions on SL have been passed at the HRC. Former President Rajapaksa, who ruled from Nov 2005 more..

Sep 23 (Island) Dr. Asanga Welikala of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has sent us the following statement as regards CPA says … on Sept 20 issue of The Island: "The report contains a clarification sent by Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu of the CPA about one of your previous reports. In a reporter’s note to this clarification, it is asserted that I attended meetings organised by GTF and TNA in Bern and London, and that the story in question was based on my participation at same. more..

Sep 23 (PSL) German Foreign Minister Mr. Frank Walter Steinmeier says Germany would lead the European Union to revive the GSP+ Relief to Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister who is on an official visit in Sri Lanka stated that he would take action on that regard, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka. Mr. Steinmeier made these remarks when he called on President Maithripala Sirisena today (22). more..

Sep 23 (CT) Dr. Priyanga Dunusinghe has made a substantive contribution to the discussion on Indo-Lanka economic relations in his article entitled Hypocrisy or Backing Indian deals: Will Pathfinder Foundation Find the Correct Path? Dr. Dunusinghe claims that the entire Pathfinder Foundation (PF) article sought to justify the Indian agenda for the Wickremasinghe /Modi meetings and the subsequent official level interactions. First point to be made is that PF Economic View Point more..

Sep 23 (DN) Nearly a week after the release of the much talked about OHCHR report on alleged war crimes during the final stages of war in Sri Lanka, the UNP and the SLFP, the two mainstream parties in the political sphere of the country, are still discussing about its outcome. The SLFP, which had ultra-nationalist leaning during the tenure of its former Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa, appointed a top level committee, headed by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, to study the reforms more..

Sep 23 (FT) The Govt played hardball in Geneva yesterday, demanding sweeping changes to the text of draft resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, including provisions relating to the participation of international judges, prosecutors and investigators in its accountability mechanism. Sri Lanka is seeking the deletion of 14 key paragraphs in draft resolution presently in circulation including references to high security zones, more..

Sep 23 (DN) Ja Ela Police arrested five suspects allegedly involved in a car sales scam using fake rubber stamps of the Motor Traffic Department, leasing companies and banking documents. The police seized eight cars from their illicit business which are alleged to have been stolen or defrauded from numerous car owners, buyers and suppliers they had dealings with. They had used a woman for their operations to lure victims into giving their vehicles, the police said. more..

Sep 23 (Island) The national budget is only 55-days away and I’d like to ask a ten-point formula from the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) which can be included in the budget proposals that allows everyone to share in the prosperity of a growing economy, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said in Colombo on Monday. Minister made this comment while speaking as chief guest at the 28th annual conference of the OPA, held at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo. more..

Sep 23 (CT) CID informed Colombo Additional Magistrate that the initial samples taken from the body of murdered ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen had gone missing. Former Chief JMO, Ananda Samarasekara who had conducted the initial post-mortem had informed the CID that he had placed the body parts in the Court's refrigerator. When they investigated into it they could not find the body samples of Thajudeen. more..

Sep 23 (EN) Cable manufacturer Sierra Cables said it plans to set up a manufacturing plant in Kenya to supply transmission and distribution cables to East African countries. A stock exchange filing said, the firm had recently done a survey in Nairobi, Kenya on the feasibility of setting up a cable manufacturing plant. “The feasibility study had indicated favourable financial outcomes and a formal project report has been approved by the Board of Directors for implementation in forthcoming months.” more..

Sep 23 (DN) Exports will continue to improve in 2015 and 2016 as Sri Lanka’s partner economies pick up pace, an Asian Development Bank study in the region said. Imports are expected to rise, though imports of investment goods will likely slow on more moderate investment. Higher domestic consumption will exert upward pressure on imports and shift the composition of imports away from investment to consumption goods, while low international oil and food prices will help contain total value. more..

Sep 23 (FT) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be questioned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources, and Privileges (PRECIFAC) today. “He will be questioned in the morning by a team of PRECIFAC Police investigators,” sources said. Rajapaksa will be questioned over a complaint received by more..

Sep 23 (EN) A top Sri Lankan scientists has called for an urgent revamp of govt procurement regulations, saying existing red tape slowed down research and development and innovation at a time the country needed it most. “We need public sector innovation,” said Ajith de Alwis, professor at Uni of Moratuwa, Dept of Chemical and Process Engineering. The holy trinity of research was “people to dream, entrepreneurs to execute those dreams and govts to ensure that space,” more..

Sep 23 (NJTV) After traveling nearly 9,000 miles, these students can’t stop talking about their journey to Sri Lanka. “It was really cool to be apart of something that was bigger than yourself,” said Guru Travel Volunteer Oliver Murphy. “I feel like I have a whole new outlook on life,” said Volunteer Genevieve Van Lent. They’re volunteering with Guru Travel — a summer service program. We first introduced you to the team in late June before their adventure. They spent a month in rural SL, more..

Sep 23 (AD) JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised concerns about the legality of the decision by the former Defence Secretary to transfer the powers to the Avant Garde (Pvt) Ltd to maintain a commercial floating armoury. He added that this service was prior handled by the SL Navy. “Does the Defence Secretary have the authority to authorise such a decision, which could be a threat to the national security? more..

Sep 23 (DM) A saltwater crocodile was spotted in the sea off Kollupitiya. Wildlife Department said there are only two saltwater crocodiles in Sri Lanka. It was reported that the crocodile had been in the sea off Dehiwala area 10 days ago. Police have warned public not to use Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia beach for swimming as there is a crocodile in the shallow waters. According to witnesses the crocodile is about 17 feet long. Police and the officials of the Department of Wildlife Conservation have more..

Sep 23 (Island) Sri Lanka had fulfilled 36 out of 57 conditions set for it by the European Union for the lifting of the ban on fish exports to Europe. EU ban on Sri Lankan fish exports was announced last October due to Sri Lanka’s failure to demon demonstrate that it sufficiently addressed illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The ban took effect from 14 Jan 2015. Fisheries Department said that it was confident of meeting the rest of the stipulations before the end of next month. more..

Sep 23 (DN) The Gazette Notification on Subject Purview of Ministries saw some key changes in roles of several important ministries. The scopes of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Transport Ministry and the Finance Ministry underwent major changes, according to the gazette notification released yesterday. Some institutions under these ministries have been transferred to new ministries formed by the new govt. more..

Sep 23 (FT) MEP condemned UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Al Hussein’s proposal to setup a special hybrid court for SL. Criticising the move, MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena charged that proposed court would be handled by foreign judges via international legal procedure. “UNHR Chief proposed this in order to interfere with local legal system. This court will conducttrials depending on unknown complainers and witnesses. Their names will be revealed only after the judgment,” more..