Sep 24 (SL) A few weeks after the inaugural session of the eighth parliament, newly elected UNP MP for the Gampaha District Chatura Senaratne has been asked to appear before Negombo Magistrate Court on October 20, for allegedly threatening police officers and a group of political rivals who were under arrest at the Ragama Police, sources from the Ragama police said. A group of Senaratne’s supporters have also more..

Sep 24 (CT) Poison prevention week of 2015 is declared from 14-20 Sept. This year the theme of the programme is prevent household poisoning. The reason for the selection of this theme is the alarming increase in cases of household poisoning within the period of 2013 in comparison to yester years. Household poisoning was discussed in detail previously under the headline A poisonous abode on 10 May 2015. more..

Sep 24 (Island) The Supreme Court referred to the Chief Justice for consideration, the application for a fuller bench made by Counsel Nagananda Kodituwakku, who appeared for petitioner, former Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera. In a recently filed fundamental rights violation petition, Gunasekera has challenged the appointment of defeated candidates to parliament, through National List, in violation of people’s franchise. more..

Sep 24 (CT) Well known novelist, cultural critic and public intellectual Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera filed a plaint in Colombo District Court seeking to get two declarations from Court against Subinay Nandy, UN representative in Sri Lanka. Plaint filed through Attorney-at-Law, Kapila Gamage, plaintiff states that acts of UN caused him dishonour and disgrace. Illegal acts of UNO are not covered by Immunities of Conventions on privileges and more..

Sep 24 (DM) Two people, including a brother of a former Sri Lankan cricketer, had been importing ethanol illegally, after buying over politicians, Minister Ravi Karunanayake said in Parliament. He said these two had been carrying on this racket by bribing politicians of the former regime and had tried to bribe some members of present regime as well. "These two persons go behind politicians and use them for their racket. more..

Sep 24 (ST) The sharp increase in the number of accidents on our roads in recent times has made many people sit back and take note of the tragic deaths caused by road traffic accidents. In the first 3 weeks of September alone, 75 people were killed and several others seriously injured in accidents that took place in several parts of the country. Last week, around 12 people died and over 50 were injured in various road accidents. more..

Sep 24 (CT) An organization comprised of commercial sex workers for the protection of their rights and calling for the abolition of the Vagrants Ordinance will officially announce its formation on Tuesday at the Centre for Society and Religion, Maradana. Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera said that as marginalized group was merely asking for a better social standing and for them to be safeguarded and protected from harm and more..

Sep 24 (DM) Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that it was the UPFA that should bear the responsibility for the alleged non-settlement of dues to the ITN for telecasting his advertisements prior to the January presidential election, as he was the party's candidate and not an independent candidate. Mr. Rajapaksa expressed these views soon after making a statement before PRECIFAC, with regard to losses caused to more..

Sep 24 (GDI) The Army-pioneered mock Exercise Cormorant Strike VI - 2015 saw its successful accomplishment at Punnikuda, Batticaloa where a simulated multi-pronged attack on enemy camps as the final leg of the Exercise, took place amid thrill and excitement Thursday (23) afternoon Army Media said. Together with 2500 infantrymen, inclusive of 245 sailors and 140 airmen participating, the Exercise, made up largely of more..

Sep 24 (CT) Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking in Parliament on Tuesday laid to rest any other form of mechanism other than a domestic mechanism to inquire in to alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lanka and the LTTE during the period 2002 till the war ended in May 2009. Previously, there were doubts as to whether the investigation would be domestic, because a hybrid mechanism as espoused by the OHCHR comprising a mix of local and foreign investigators more..

Sep 24 (Reuters) Central bank is expected to keep its policy interest rates unchanged at record lows on Friday, a Reuters poll found. Nine out of 11 analysts surveyed said they expect the central bank to leave the standing deposit facility rate (SDFR) at 6% and the standing lending facility rate (SLFR) to remain at 7.5%. All 11 analysts polled expected the statutory reserve ratio (SRR) for commercial banks to remain at 6%. One analyst expected the central bank to raise the SLFR and SDFR, more..

Sep 24 (HRW) Trust us, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera, told the UNHRC in Geneva just before the release of a landmark report into atrocities committed during the country’s long civil war, which ended in 2009. The greatly anticipated report, by the UN high commissioner for human rights, details alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity implicating both govt forces & Tamil Tigers. more..

Sep 24 (CT) “It’s not as hot as we anticipated, not a hot potato. It is not blood curdling and the report has not mentioned any names,” Samaraweera declared. He opined the OISL report was more “a narrative” and as declared therein, was a “human rights investigation and not a criminal one.” That is how The Sunday Times (Sep 20) Political editor put across Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s response immediately after a cursory glance at the UNHRC report which he received on Sept 11, 2015 more..

Sep 24 (Island) GMOA urged the Health Ministry to implement the annual transfers to ensure the smooth functioning of the govt health service. GMOA said even the transfers of 2013 and 2014 had not been implemented fully. It said ti strongly believed that all doctors should be treated fairly as regards their transfers. There were certain hospitals which had doctors in excess of the required cadre whereas most peripheries were undeserved and in dire need of more medical officers. more..

Sep 24 (DM) UNP MP Buddika Pathirana gave a statement to the CID with regard to a statement made by him about an army contract involving several billions of rupees. He said that CID informed him that they needed to record a statement from him after he revealed a fraudulent act involving a contract to supply food to the army. “I complained that the army food contract was given out for Rs.50 billion in 2010 though it could have been more..

Sep 24 (CT) Police have begun investigations into the death of a 23-years old pre-school teacher from school at Malwathuhiripitiya, Buthpitiya. The teacher was admitted to the Gampaha Hospital with a stomachache and the police suspect her death to have resulted due to an improper administration of an injection at the hospital. The teacher was admitted to the hospital at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday and was soon after administered an injection. more..

Sep 24 (Island) The Office of the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) has initiated an inquiry after having received a complaint from a Health Ministry official regarding the unhygienic food served at a food outlet on the Colombo-Galle section of the Southern Expressway. Dr M.R.E. Bellana had complained to Deputy Director General of Health (Public Health) in this regard. "We received instructions from the ministry to investigate the complaint made on Sept. 20. more..

Sep 24 (DM) Minister Champika Ranawaka said that allegations of war crimes should be investigated under the existing judicial system by local experts in a manner that would ensure the dignity of the armed forces and those found guilty punished. He told the media that there should be a national consensus on this matter and that a final decision should be taken up by parliament while assuring compromise and unity. more..

Sep 24 (CG) The Paraguay Parliament has passed a resolution on Sri Lanka backing calls for an international process to ensure justice for the Tamils. The resolution was passed at a time when the UNHRC is meeting in Geneva with Sri Lanka on the agenda. The resolution in the Paraguay Parliament called for an international investigation by the UNHRC in support of justice and independence for the Tamil People. Recently, a delegation from Transnational Govt of more..

Sep 24 (Island) Nurses of the Puttalam Base Hospital struck work yesterday crippling hospital services and urging the Provincial Health authority to implement the annual transfer orders of 25 nurses who had been serving the hospital for over seven years. Emergency services had been maintained. Emergency surgeries had been carried out while a majority of nursing services were maintained with the help of administrative grade nurses and doctors during the course of the day. more..

Sep 24 (DM) In response to the viral video which showed two traffic Police officers assaulting a disabled motorcyclist, Police had issued a statement saying that the officers had used minimum force and that Police respected the disabled. Video of the alleged assault went viral in the social media in which two traffic Police officers attached to the Kahatagasdigiliya Police assaulting a disabled motorcyclist. more..

Sep 24 (EN) Sri Lanka’s tea export shipments and earnings fell in August 2015 from a year ago with value-added products again showing a significant fall, brokers said. Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said tea exports in August fell by 6.3 million kilos to 21.1 million kilos from the previous year. "Total revenue too show a fairly substantial decline of 5.8 billion rupees year-on-year with August 2015 realizing only 13.2 billion rupees when compared to 18.8 billion rupees in August 2014." more..

Sep 24 (Hindu) SL Navy on Thursday said it has arrested six Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in Lankan waters. The Navy said it assisted the Sri Lankan coastal guards in the seas off Kovilan Point to nab the fishermen last night. “When the arrest was made the Indian fishermen had been fishing 3.5 nautical miles and 5.2 nautical miles off northwest of Kovilan Point,” Navy said. The arrested fishermen and their two trawlers have been taken to Karainagar to be handed over to more..

Sep 24 (AD) SL Embassy in Saudi Arabia says no reports of Sri Lankan victims in a stampede during one of the last rituals of the Hajj season that killed more than 300 people and left 450 others wounded. The stampede occurred during the ritual known as “stoning the devil” in the tent city of Mina, about two miles from Mecca. Hundreds have been killed in past years during the same ceremony. “We have a stampede accident in Mina and more..

Sep 24 (EN) Sri Lanka has appointed a ministerial committee on economic management headed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe which also includes two senior cabinet members from the second largest party in the country. Ministers Ravi Karunanayake, Malik Samarawickreme, Kabir Hashim, Sagala Ratnayake, Champika Ranawaka, Rauf Hakeem, Arjuna Ranatunga and Nimal Siripala and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa from the SLFP of President Maithripala Sirisena will be in the committee. more..

Sep 24 (Island) The National Lotteries Board yesterday handed over to Minister Ravi Karunanayake a cheque for Rs 10 million to be deposited in the National Kidney Fund National Kidney Fund was established in line with the sustainable programme to control kidney disease, according to the concept of President Maithripala Sirisena The National Lotteries Board on the instructions of Minister Karunanayake launched a new lottery under the name of Niroga recently more..

Sep 24 (ENS) Contrary to reports from New Delhi, there is no proposal to build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait, according to the PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Making a statement in parliament on his Indian visit, he said that he was surprised to read in a newspaper about a proposal to build a bridge. “This news item has been published without verifying facts and it could breach confidence of readers,” more..

Sep 24 (CT) Elections monitoring bodies observed that the number of MPs would have to be definitely increased if the govt was looking at passing the new electoral system based on the German model. Technical Advisor of Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, D.M. Dissanayake said that the increase was inevitable in order to have one MP per electorate and seat. CaFFE called for discussions regarding the 20th Amendment based on the German model of first-past-the-post system more..

Sep 24 (DM) A woman who allegedly engaged in prostitution and had robbed her clients was charged before Colombo Additional Magistrate by the Kirillapone Police. Suspect was produced before the Magistrate by the Police on a complaint of conniving with her mother and another person, who waylaid and inflicting razor blade cut injuries to the complainant’s hands and robbed him. The complainant had stated to the Police that at Kirillapone the woman stopped him and more..

Sep 24 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in New York City this morning to attend the 70th UN General Assembly Sessions. The President was warmly received by the Sri Lankan Ambassadors for Washington and New York, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, and embassy staff in New York, as he arrived at the Hotel where he will be accommodated until the conclusion of his visit. more..

Sep 24 (ANI) With the Sri Lankan navy arresting six more Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in its waters, the fishermen's body on Thursday sought Central Govt's intervention for a permanent solution to the long standing issue. The fishermen were arrested yesterday for trespassing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka and two of their trawlers were also seized by the Sri Lankan authorities. The Sri Lankan navy confirmed the same in a brief press note published on its website. more..

Sep 24 (CT) In the Free Trade Zones (FTZ), there is an informal network of surveillance, including plainclothes police officers who occasionally harass boarders who they claim have taken to living together and are not married, the Collective for Economic Democratization highlighted. A lot of issues appear to be inter-related, meaning that what happens and takes place in the workplace is compounded by the lack of transport and public facilities for women, more..

Sep 24 (DM) A 32 year-old man, who was arrested last evening by the CID in Bemmulla, Gampaha had confessed to the rape and murder of five year old Seya Sadewmini, the Police said. The suspect was arrested while hiding in a jungle in Bemmulla. The suspect had confessed to the rape and murder of the girl following interrogation by the CID. The suspect is a bachelor and lives in close vicinity to the house of the murdered child. more..

Sep 24 (CG) Govt today said that the people in the North will be given equal rights similar to what people in the South enjoy. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the policy of the Govt is to protect the rights of all communities. He said that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has always maintained that policy but that worked against him in 2005. Minister said that in 2005 certain extremist groups had prevented the people in the North from backing Wickremesinghe at the election since more..

Sep 24 (PTI) PMK today appealed to TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to convene an all-party meeting and lead a delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressing for a resolution seeking international probe into alleged war crimes during 2009 hostilities in Sri Lanka. Party's Youth Wing leader and Dharmapuri MP, Anbumani Ramadoss, wrote to Jayalalithaa urging that she should immediately convene an all-party meeting where a resolution should be adopted in this regard. more..

Sep 24 (AW) To demonstrate its commitment to improving healthcare throughout Sri Lanka, Asiri Hospital Group and Leo Burnett created the first-ever bus ticket made of soap. Crowded buses are notorious hotbeds for spreading disease. And many illnesses, from colds to flus to hepatitis, can be stopped in their tracks when you wash your hands regularly. But soap isn't the kind of commodity you'll find often in public spaces: more..

Sep 25 (CT) Jan 8 this year was exciting but fascist forces loyal to Mahinda Rajapaksa were still in control of parliament. No major matter could be passed except for the laudable constitutional changes. Today, after the elections of 17 Aug., parliament has only some 30 MPs owing their loyalty to Rajapakse. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena have at long last the chance to deliver on their promises and build an inclusive SL where all can live as equals. more..

Sep 25 (CT) I would say Yes to the above question. But it needs a paradigm shift. The word paradigm is simply defined as the existing world view. Since, if we want to do better in central banking, in fact we need to make a paradigm shift. This new paradigm must originate from a new understanding of macroeconomic fundamentals and monetary economics. But for a moment I invite you to forget all macroeconomics and monetary economics, but try to visualize what you want from more..

Sep 25 (CT) King Mahasen, of the dynasty of the House of Vijaya, ruled Sri Lanka from 276 to 303 CE, from Anuradhapura. He was the son of King Gothabhaya and was succeeded by his son who became king as Sirimeghavanna Abhaya. He started the construction of large tanks or reservoirs in Sri Lanka, and built sixteen such tanks. After becoming king, Mahasen discriminated against Theravada Buddhists in the country, and more..

Sep 25 (NS) Shanty-dwellers live in constant fear that authorities may ask them to leave their homes. While this is their main problem, it certainly isn’t their only problem. When speaking to the shanty dwellers at Kuda Bandaranayakapura, The Nation learnt that they also face huge problems with drainage in the area. A resident of Kuda Bandaranayakapura, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that the only way water can drain out of the area is a small drain between two concrete walls. more..