Sep 30 (CT) CID informed Chief Magistrate of Colombo, that Mohammed Siddique, allegedly a large-scale international drug dealer who was brought to Sri Lanka from Pakistan, had sent large stocks of heroin to this country and earned an income of more than Rs 1 billion. The huge sums of money earned by selling drugs in this country had then been sent to Dubai illegally through Hawala System from a place in Kolonnawa, more..

Sep 30 (GDI) The grants are part of a program involving 14 partner countries that has been in place since 1999. JICA has signed agreements with the govt to provide grant aid to allow govt officials to earn master's degrees in Japan. The agreement with Sri Lanka was signed in July. The grants are being provided as part of the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), which was introduced in 1999 to help develop human resources involved in key development areas more..

Sep 30 (ST) Govt is losing millions of rupees by way of revenue as a result of illegal operations of private buses without route permits in areas outside Colombo. The issuing of route permits has become a problem at present as in some instances permits were given without following proper tender procedure. The National Transport Commission (NTC) is the authority to issue private bus route permits on tender basis and the highest bidder/s of each routes will be given the route permits, more..

Sep 30 (Reuters) A US-backed resolution at the UN that seeks justice for victims of SL's civil war has been softened to keep its govt on board and allay the concerns of powerful neighbor India, sources say. Latest draft, expected to be adopted in Geneva on Thursday, fails to specify the powers and role of foreign prosecutors and judges in trying war crimes suspects – a major shortcoming, in the eyes of human rights groups. more..

Sep 30 (DM) Two interesting discussions are going on in the media following the brutal killing of 5-year-old Seya Sadewmini of Kotadeniyawa, in spite of the possibility of them being eclipsed by other gruesome killings that followed the poor girl’s murder and by the stories emanating from Geneva. One issue that is being subjected to a public discourse is the behaviour of the Police and the media after the arrest of a schoolboy on suspicion of the killing of the girl, while the other one being more..

Sep 30 (DM) We can ignore the growing environmental crisis only at our own peril. At the root of the global and local environmental crisis is the cycle of over-production and over-consumption. Farmers throw out their produce on to the streets because there is no market for their produce. Traders and others use all kinds of tactics to persuade consumers to buy more and more products and services. “buy one, get one free, eat as much as you can, children eat free, more..

Sep 30 (SL) The UN recently released a report on the alleged human rights violations allegedly have taken place during the final phases of the war in Sri Lanka. The report recommends that the responsible parties should be taken before a hybrid court. Even though the report was scheduled to be released in March this year, it was postponed till the UNHRC September session upon requests made by the Sri Lanka’s govt. more..

Sep 30 (DM) The Mahinda Rajapaksa regime was subject to serious allegations, while slashing attacks were levelled by the media, the politicians, and the civil society organizations against the rule by a single family. It was gathering momentum as the Presidential Election came round. However, the Presidential Election on January 8 brought the Rajapaksa rule to an end. The people were longing to see the dawn of a new era. more..

Sep 30 (DM) At least 18,917 persons have been affected by the severe weather condition prevailing in the Southern Province for several days. Close to 13,057 persons of 3,411 families in the Galle District had been affected by heavy rains, floods and landslides. “At least 14 houses had been fully damaged. Kadawathsathara, Habaraduwa, Bope-Poddala and Imaduwa DS areas were the most affected in the Galle district,” more..

Sep 30 (AAP) Australian engineer has been sacked from an NZ power company after running up $NZ23,500 in roaming charges on his work phone on a trip back to Sri Lanka and then turning up for work a day late. Employment Relations Authority has ruled Mighty River Power company was justified in sacking the man but says it must pay him $NZ6000 because of the stress he suffered during the disciplinary process, more..

Sep 30 (Island) Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry will launch an ambitious new tree planting programme, Wana Ropa-2015 next month to add 6,000 ha of newly generated forests to increase the country’s forest cover from 29% to 32%. Ministry Secretary Udaya Seneviratne said that the Ministry had realised the necessity of designating a special month of the year on tree planting to provide a vision and a meaning to more..

Sep 30 (Island) JVP led railway union yesterday urged the government to reveal the agreement the latter is said to have entered with a Malaysian company to operate electric trains between Colombo and Negombo. General Secretary of the All Ceylon Railway Employees’ General Union, S.P. Vithanage alleged that Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake had signed the agreement for the project without the knowledge of anyone more..

Sep 30 (ST) For three consecutive years, Auditor General’s Department queried the Central Bank (CB) about the millions paid in fees to foreign lobbyists, consultants and public relations agencies. The reports for 2013 and 2014 will be published within weeks, when they are tabled in Parliament. Auditor General first raised concern in 2012 after noticing that CB had advanced money to these firms when it should more..

Sep 30 (CT) Minister of University Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella vowed to provide maximum autonomy, where the Vice Chancellors and the directors of universities or higher education institutes will be in care of the institution's management. He made this affirmation at a discussion session between the officers of UGC, vice chancellors and directors of universities and higher education institutions and himself. more..

Sep 30 (EN) A program with the IMF is one option that Sri Lanka is looking at but there was a lot of interest from bi-lateral partners to finance the country, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said. "It is an option we are looking at," he said responding to a question whether Sri Lanka will strike a deal with the lender after the budget is presented in parliament in November. "There is a lot of bilateral interest in funding the country, more..

Sep 30 (CT) Northern Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran lambasting the lethargic attitude of politicians and officials serving innocent civilians affected by the war said that he was not a politician but was dragged into politics after his retirement. "After retiring as a Supreme Court Judge, I was engaged in spiritual and literary activities. However, I was dragged into politics and even made to gain a landslide victory. more..

Sep 30 (Island) Human rights resolution on SL is scheduled to be tabled at the UNHRC today, paving the way for a hybrid court in all but name. There have been some protests against it here and they are likely to spill over into the streets sooner or later. Former President Rajapaksa and the UPFA rebels have rejected it out of hand. JVP, too, has taken a similar stance. Govt’s decision to delay the release of the Paranagama Commission report on disappearances has raised many an more..

Sep 30 (Island) The combined security forces concluded Exercise Cormorant Strike VI with an assault on enemy bases, at Punnakudha, Batticaloa, on the afternoon of September 23, 2015. The exercise involved 2,500 troops, including Army Commandos and Special Forces. Launched on September 3, the exercise covered Pulmudai, to the north of Arugam Bay, in the East. The exercise attracted 53 foreign participants, both as participants and observers. more..

Sep 30 (Island) The events of the last week demonstrate, with poignant clarity, the folly of naïve expectation and the need for realistic thinking. This cannot be better illustrated than by reference to the reassuring statement, barely hours before tabling of the Resolution, by the Cabinet Spokesman: "The (UNHCR) Report proposes establishing a hybrid court with international judges, but I think U.S. backed more..

Sep 30 (Reuters) Shares ended lower on Wednesday led by blue-chip shares such as John Keells while cautious investors awaited some direction from the budget. Main stock index closed down 0.49% at 7,050.87, its lowest close since July 15. Foreign investors were net sellers of 87.4 million rupees worth of shares on Wednesday extending the year-to-date net foreign outflow to 3.16 billion rupees. "Budget is the holding factor as investors are looking for clear direction," more..

Sep 30 (Island) Court of Appeal issued notice on Director CID and six others to be present in Court on Oct 9, or be represented by a counsel. The notice is in respect of the Habeas Corpus applications, filed by the wives of four officers comprising four personnel, including a corporal, who had been arrested and detained in respect of the disappearance of Pradeep Ekneligoda. The petitioners had said that their spouses had been unduly detained under the PTA. more..

Sep 30 (ST) The stabbing of a British tourist and the attempted rape of his girlfriend residing in a tourist resort down south are sending ripples of concern among the authorities over the impact on the tourism industry. A 37-year-old British tourist was stabbed with a sharp knife allegedly by four men who came in a three wheeler in the early hours of Saturday last week. The couple who were residing at the No 1 Mirissa Hotel more..

Sep 30 (Island) The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) would conduct its Open Day programme on Oct 3, 2015 from 8 am to 5 pm at the university premises, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the KDU said, addressing a media briefing. Elaborating on the aim of the event, Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC-Academics) Prof. Thilak Weerasooriya said it was to create opportunities for prospective students and their families to visit the university and more..

Sep 30 (Island) Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne instructed Director General Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Palitha Mahipala to fill all vacancies in the Health Ministry and other government health institutions. Spokesman Nipun Ekanayake said that the positions in the Ministry included those of Deputy Director General (DDG–Laboratory Services, Additional Secretary (Medical Services) Additional Secretary (Public Health Services) Senior Assistant Secretary (Health Services). more..

Sep 30 (DM) The responsibility of the outstanding bills to the ITN should be taken by the committee that represented the Media and Propaganda Affairs of the Presidential Secretariat, former UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said. He also said he had no responsibility over the non-payment of bills after made a statement to the PRECIFAC this morning. “According to the Presidential elections law, I had only to more..

Sep 30 (CT) Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Management J. Dadallage said that, final discussions on adding the allowance of Rs 10,000 granted to govt employees through the past interim-budget which was included in their salary, to their basic salary are being held these days. These discussions are being held between the Salaries cadre Commission, Ministry of Public Administration and Finance Ministry. He also said that a final decision will be made very soon. more..

Sep 30 (CT) Lanka Teachers' Association is to submit a complaint to Human Rights Commission (HRC) requesting that criteria be prepared on the procedure which should be followed in the arrest of students by police. General Secretary of the Lanka Teachers' Association Joseph said that the request for criteria will be made today or tomorrow while submitting a complaint regarding the injustice and prejudice that befell a student who was taken into custody by police on suspicion regards more..

Sep 30 (ENS) With the UN report on Sri Lankan war crimes likely to come up for discussion at the UNHRC in Geneva on Wednesday, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said that it will a black day for Tamils all over the world. Talking to reporters on Tuesday he said that justice will be hanged and openly buried, right on the premises of the Human Rights Council. "Innocent Tamils were murdered and hospitals were bombed, more..

Sep 30 (Guardian) Many of my family still live in rural villages in Sri Lanka, where they have a squat toilet and wash in a well, with snakes regular visitors. Staying at these places should have led to a humbling epiphany regarding my material attachments. What actually happened is it made me realise what a first-world-comfort, desperate little twat I truly am. I actually felt embarrassed at what a big deal I was making about staying in those conditions, while continuing to more..

Sep 30 (DN) Responding to a comment made by national organiser of the Professor Senaka Bibile Commemoration Organisation Dr Jayantha Bandara on National Drug Policy, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the person who commented does not know anything about the implementation of a policy, governance, etc. “There will not be an implementation on following day of passing an Act,” he said. Act should be first passed in Parliament & then Authority should be created. more..

Sep 30 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says that reforms will be introduced by the govt to include 25% females into local govt authorities before the next LG election. PM made these comments while addressing the gathering during a ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Elections Department in Colombo today. He stated that the govt intends to discuss the prevailing issues in the country’s electoral system within more..

Sep 30 (CT) Police have deployed a special investigation unit to carry out an inquiry into the murder of 48-year-old Nadan Papu in the Opatha tea estate in Kahawatte. Police sources said, under the orders of the Inspector General of Police, two teams of the CID and three units of the Kahawatte Police under the orders of the Acting DIG Sumith Edirisinghe, in charge of the area, are already conducting investigations into identifying the perpetrator behind the murder. more..

Sep 30 (DM) DIG of Vavuniya U.K. Dissanayake and Chief Inspector Sujeewa Priyadarshana, who were arrested on charges of alleged treasure hunting, were further remanded till October 6 by Vavuniya Magistrate today. The DIG was remanded after he surrendered to the police on September 19. Six suspects were fined of Rs.100,000 each and one suspect was fined of Rs.175,000 by Magistrate V. Ramakamalan when they pleaded guilty. The Police earlier said seven suspects, more..

Sep 30 (AD) The Colombo High Court sentenced V. Varadaraja to 290-years and C.I. Ragupathy to 300-years rigorous imprisonment to be served in 30-years over the 1999 Town Hall bomb blast in which 22 people were killed in an assassination attempt against former President Chandrika Kumaratunga at an election rally. The verdict was given when the case was taken up for hearing before Judge Padmini Ranawaka. more..

Sep 30 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge Preethi Surasena yesterday sentenced a defendant couple who has four children found guilty of three charges filed by the Attorney General regarding possessing 22 grams of geroin and dealing drugs. The death sentence was imposed thus on a former Gramarakshaka soldier Jacob Victor and his wife Inoka Shyamali. Judge delivering his 116 page judgment emphasized in open court that, "As of now drugs have become a disaster in Sri Lanka, more..

Sep 30 (DM) DNA report in the five-year-old Seya Sadewmi’s murder case has been submitted to the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court by the CID today. The case is to be taken in court on Oct 2. The main suspect of the murder, Dunesh Priyashantha alias Kondaya confessed to the sexual abuse and killing of five-year-old Seya Sadewmi and was remanded till Oct 5. Another two suspects including a 17-year-old boy, arrested in connection with killing of Seya in Kotadeniyawa were further remanded till more..

Sep 30 (CT) As the System Control Centre at Dematagoda CEB had not been pre-conditioned to carry out technical adjustments on an unusual day when the demand for electricity drops to a very low level, a senior Engineer of CEB said, it could have resulted in an all island power outage on Sunday night. He said that the power outage began with the power being received via the third stage of Norochcholai Power Station stopping abruptly more..

Sep 30 (JG) The second group of the West Indies squad left yesterday for Sri Lanka, even as the controversy of over head coach Phil Simmons' suspension continued to swirl. Simmons was on Monday suspended by West Indies Cricket Board management after taking the unusual step of claiming that the selection panel - of which he is a member - had suffered from outside interference with regards to the picking of the one-day team for the upcoming tour. more..

Sep 30 (EN) Sri Lanka's consumer prices fell 0.3% in September 2015 from a year earlier, the third straight monthly fall, with prices falling 0.3% during the month, the state statistics office said. The Colombo Consumer Price Index fell 0.5 points in August to 181.4 points with the non-alcoholic food sub-index dropping but non-foods rising. The department said that since July 2015 Sri Lanka has been experiencing year-on-year deflation continuously. more..