Dec 7 (SL) About six months ago the country faced its most dreaded natural calamity in recent history. As torrential rains poured down from the skies, floods and landslides battered the people throughout the country claiming the lives of hundreds. Among the areas that were heavily affected by the floods and landslides was Kalupahana, Bulathkohupitiya. It has been six months since the disaster and more..

Dec 7 (DM) Minister Susil Premajayantha shared his views on the current threats faced by the SLFP from the JO and the SLPP as well as his portfolio of Science Technology and Research. Q: Other than the challenges faced collectively by the unity govt, UNP as a political party does not have any significant confrontation in the local political front. But SLFP is entangled with a slew of threats by JO and the newly-formed SLPP. more..

Dec 7 (ENS) The late TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s involvement in the SL Tamil issue began almost immediately after she joined the AIADMK and became its propaganda secretary within a year in 1983. It was in the later part of 1983 that over 1 lakh Sri Lankan Tamil refugees poured into TN, pushed out by the anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka in July that year. Sensing a great political opportunity to whip up pro-Tamil sentiments, more..

Dec 7 (ST) Was an in-depth situation analysis carried out with regard to the deaths of the four patients who underwent a common heart procedure this week at the Cardiology Institute of National Hospital of Sri Lanka? This was the question of utmost importance being asked in health circles as the three-member team appointed to probe the deaths after angiograms submitted its interim report on Friday. more..

Dec 7 (ENS) The inauguration of the newly constructed St. Anthony’s chapel on Kachchativu island on Wednesday has been postponed until further notice due to the demise of J. Jayalalithaa, who died in harness as TN Chief minister in Chennai on Monday. The parish priest of Delft Island, Fr.Jayaranjan, who is in-charge of the chapel on Kachchativu island said that a new date for the inauguration will be announced later more..

Dec 7 (LBO) Govt  rejects allegations made by former president Rajapaksa that the govt is selling off national assets, Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. “This govt is making meaningful endeavours to convert the infrastructure facilities constructed by the previous govt at colossal cost with foreign loans,” he said. “Previous govt put the nation in a debt trap making country unaffordable to bring any returns on its development.” more..

Dec 7 (DN) The construction of the world’s largest Christmas Tree has been temporarily suspended, Deputy Ports and Shipping Minister Nishantha Muthuhetigama said. No reason for the temporary suspension has been given as yet. The suspension comes in the wake of criticism by Archbishop of Colombo, who termed the endeavour wasteful expenditure, saying the money should be used to build homes for homeless more..

Dec 7 (FT) CIABOC has commenced an inquiry against present Chief Justice K. Sripavan, four former chief justices and a few other judges for alleged judicial corruption. CIABOC commenced the inquiry following a complaint lodged by lawyer Nagananda Kodituwakku on 15 Feb, stating that independent investigation conducted by him had revealed that those who held high office in the Judiciary had abused their positions and more..

Dec 7 (NR) The Attorney General today filed indictments against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Colombo High Court for allegedly misappropriating Divi Neguma funds to print almanacs during the period leading up to the 2015 Presidential Election. The Attorney General withdrew the case yesterday citing a technical reason. During the previous indictment, a sanction letter by the AG had not been submitted. more..

Dec 7 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to liquidate Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL), the commercial security firm functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. The services provided by the company are to be assigned to the Civil Security Department (CSD) and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). “The proposal made by President Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence to assign task of providing security more..

Dec 7 (CT) As Goethe once said it with firm conviction and a truly deep insight into the darker side of human nature: Patriotism corrupts history. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, the other day, suggested in a proposal to President Sirisena that the Gazette of 1818 issued by then British colonial govt – in which Sinhala heroes of that era who were quite brutally put to death by the British were described as traitors – be annulled and that those heroes be, by another Gazette more..

Dec 7 (CT) Jayalalitha Jayaram, a former film star popularly known as Amma and Puratchi Talaivi by her party members and people around Tamil Nadu is the Honorable Chief Minister of TN state. She was a popular and powerful woman worked as Chief Minister of TN for more than 10 years. She died on 5th Dec 2016 after 75 days of illness and subsequent hospitalisation, where multiple attempts to resuscitate her after she suffered a cardiac arrest, failed at Apollo hospital, Chennai. more..

Dec 7 (Island) JO MP Bandula Gunawardena said that country’s economy was in a shambles and its international debt was reaching alarming proportions. He attributed the economic woes of the country to poor economic management by Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who, he said, had proved that he was not eligible to hold the portfolio. Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Finance Minister of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Cabinet in the early 1960s had resigned from his ministerial post for making more..

Dec 7 (NR) Deputy Minister Ajith P Perera says the govt has initiated a program to ensure all state offices are solar powered within two years. He said the present administration is focused on providing eco-friendly and sustainable energy to the masses. The govt has paved the way to avoid expensive electricity bills. He said, As the Ministry that is responsible for providing the country with electricity we have taken all steps ensure that in future the govt will initiate a program to generate more..

Dec 7 (CG) Govt today informed Parliament that all stakeholders will be briefed on the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) with India and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China. President Sirisena assured Parliament, approval will be sought on the Indo-Lanka agreement. He said that if there are any concerns on the agreement the clauses which rise concerns will be amended. more..

Dec 7 (DM) CID today informed court that it would conclude the magisterial inquiry on the death of Ven. Sobitha Thera based on the report earlier submitted by the special panel of Colombo National Hospital doctors. Subsequently, Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya concluded the magisterial inquiry on the matter. CNH doctors who conducted an inquiry on the demise of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera earlier had informed court that the cause of death given by the Singapore clinicians more..

Dec 7 (AD) I’m of the view that there was nothing wrong in the manner of how the IGP responded to the controversial call during a meeting in Ratnapura, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He went on to say while on the call, the IGP did not pressurize that the certain individual should not be arrested. He also slammed former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his remark about the professionalism of the present IGP. The Minister alleged there was an IGP during more..

Dec 7 (NR) UNP MP Jayampathy Wickramaratne has lodged a complaint with police after receiving death threats via phone. MP requested the Deputy Speaker to pay special attention to the incident. MP said he was threatened over his involvement in the process to enact a new Constitution. He said, “I received a call on my mobile last morning. I was threatened over my role on the process to enact a new constitution. more..

Dec 7 (EN) Sri Lanka's second monsoon, has effectively failed leaving the state-run power utility CEB with the lowest hydro storage in five years. Power Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said water collections during the monsoon was the lowest in 7 years. Deputy Power Minister Ajith Perera said hydro storage at the moment was the lowest in five years. By end October total hydro storage was enough to generate around 600 GWh. By Dec 6, storage was 561 GWh. more..

Dec 7 (Island) Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday the govt would seek India’s help to secure the release of nine Sri Lankan sailors held by Yemeni pirates aboard the Greek Vessel Fair Appollon, anchored in the Yemeni Port of Hodeidah. In answer to a question raised by MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena, the minister said that 26 sailors including nine Sri Lankan nationals had been held by Yemeni pirates for more than two months. more..

Dec 7 (AD) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to former Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, better known as Karuna Amman, who was arrested and remanded for allegedly misusing a state vehicle. The former top LTTE military commander who later became Deputy Minister in the Rajapaksa govt was arrested after he arrived at FCID to give a statement regarding the complaint on 29 Nov more..

Dec 7 (Hindu) Not only AIADMK functionaries but Sri Lankan Tamils residing outside the refugee camp in the city also felt the irreparable loss of their Amma. The news of Jayalalithaa’s demise came as a rude shock to the Lankan Tamils staying in K.K. Nagar area who too felt extremely pained over the death of the mass leader. A group of Lankan Tamils installed a hoarding near a Murugan temple in K.K. Nagar and paid their homage to the departed leader. Around 100 Lankan Tamils assembled on more..

Dec 7 (NR) Court granted approval for Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to travel overseas for a period of three months. The order was issued by the Colombo High Court, after taking into consideration a request by Basil Rajapaksa. He was banned from overseas travel over the case pertaining to the misuse of funds of the Divi Neguma Department when purchasing GI pipes and in turn incurring a loss to the govt. The order was issued by Colombo HC judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardene. more..

Dec 7 (DM) Joint opposition today lodged a complaint against Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Atukorale at the Bribery Commission and the FCID over a case of financial misappropriation causing the State loss of Rs. 1,500 million. JO MP Niroshan Premaratne said Minister had caused the State a loss of Rs. 1500 million by the mandatory insurance scheme of SL Bureau of Foreign Employment for all SL migrant workers more..

Dec 7 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka on Wednesday vowed to tackle the spread of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the island nation and will host an international conference this month to address the issue. Officials involved in addressing CKD in Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka's Gardiner Foundation which had tied up with the Brussels based International Society of Nephrology (ISN), will inaugurate the 'ISN-Gardiner Foundation in Colombo, which will be attended by President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe more..

Dec 7 (Hindu) State-run newspaper, the Daily News, on Wednesday said it was an end of an era in Tamil Nadu, referring to the death of former TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Most of the country’s mainstream media, particularly the Sinhala and English press based in Colombo, have been consistently critical of Ms. Jayalalithaa – a leader whom the island’s Sinhala majority perceived as a powerful leader who often pressured New Delhi to adopt anti-Colombo policies. more..

Dec 7 (Reuters) A U.N. rights watchdog called on Sri Lanka on Wednesday to investigate documented allegations of torture and rape of detainees by security forces and to rein in broad police powers. The United Nations Committee against Torture described continuing reports of abductions, deaths in custody, poor conditions of detention and the use of forced confessions in court. more..

Dec 7 (Island) Flexibility was a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence among members of a family or different ethnic groups, but, unfortunately, some people tended to view that positive trait as a sign of weakness, Head of the National Movement for Social Justice Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya said. Addressing a workshop, Eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV) 2016, Prof. Wijesooriya said most problems stemmed from unwillingness on the part of some people to listen to others. more..

Dec 7 (PTI) TN’s new Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Opposition Leader M K Stalin should continue with the same policy of pressurising Sri Lanka to address Tamils’ concerns in the country as J Jayalalithaa did, a hardline Tamil politician said here on Wednesday. “We hope Panneerselvam and Stalin will have the same interest in the Sri Lankan issue,” M K Shivajilingam said. Shivajilingam, a hardline nationalist and relative of slain LTTE supremo V Prabahakaran, more..

Dec 7 (DM) Minister Rajitha Senaratne reiterated that there would be no changes on the proposed fine of Rs.25,000 for seven traffic offenses. He said even the govt’s decision was also the same and there would not be any rollback of the proposed fine. “We will never give permission for drivers to kill people. Since the date the decision was taken there is a slight decrement of road accidents. I think the accidents would be less more..

Dec 7 (Reuters) Shares ended weaker for a second straight session on Wednesday, to hit their lowest close in nearly one week, with foreign investors selling domestic shares as uncertainty over budget proposals continued to keep sentiment subdued. CSE ended down 0.36% at 6,327.30, moving away from its highest close since Nov. 15 hit on Monday. The bourse gained 1.17% last week, recording its first weekly gain in four weeks. Foreign investors sold a net 105.6 million rupees more..

Dec 7 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka would open up the higher education sector for private investment, a top official said here on Wednesday. Sri Lankan Higher Education and Highways Minister, Lakshman Kiriella said that five foreign universities including Manipal University of India had agreed to put up their branch campuses in the country. The minister, however, said there was a case regarding the acceptability of the only private medical college operating in Sri Lanka. more..

Dec 7 (AFP) The govt on Wednesday launched an investigation into a $700 million river diversion deal that had been finalised with a Chinese company weeks before the fall of the previous regime. Cabinet set up a panel to probe the contract awarded to China CAMC Engineering on the eve of Mahinda Rajapakse's defeat in Jan 2015 presidential election, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. more..

Dec 7 (LBO) World Bank Board has approved a US 75 million dollar credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to support Sri Lanka’s main welfare programs to develop an integrated system by better managing the selection, administration, and payments to beneficiaries. The project will contribute to improving the equity, efficiency and transparency of the social safety net, the World Bank said in a statement. Social Safety Nets Project will be implemented by more..

Dec 7 (Bernama) Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail met the Malay community in SL yesterday to know about their history and culture. The arrival of Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) chancellor, at the Slave Island community hall, was greeted by Sri Lankan Malays Association president M. Hussain Jayah, who is one of the 50,000 Malays in SL. Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is leading a UniMAP delegation more..

Dec 7 (DM) Unnecessary fear is being created by interested persons on the trade agreements which Sri Lanka is planning to sign in the future, President Sirisena told Parliament. Speaker during the committee stage of the budget the President said trade agreements would be signed only after disadvantageous clauses are taken away." All the trade agreements which the country intends signing will be presented to Parliament" more..

Dec 8 (CT) There is deep disbelief and disappointment amongst people of all communities that President Maithripala Sirisena invited BBS General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera for the heads of religious leaders meeting he summoned on 6 Dec 2016. Some described this as an insult to religious heads. This was due to allegations of violence, inciting Sinhalese against Muslims with false allegations, threat he poses to communal harmony and peace, more..

Dec 8 (CT) As another birth anniversary of Holy Prophet of Islam dawns, there are no signs of the well-orchestrated Islamophobic campaign launched on a global plane abating, with many far right groups taking the lead in many countries exploiting this trend to make political gains. In these challenging times, what are the lessons the world can draw from his great exemplary to effectively fight and defeat the scourge and wounds of racism and xenophobia afflicting our world and promoting diversity? more..

Dec 8 (ST) When Wasantha Kumara’s fishing net got entangled in a strange piece of metal in the waters of Kalkudah, just south of Passikudah, little did the fisherman know that this was going to be the beginning of unravelling a mystery lying nearly 42 metres deep in the seabed. On a tip-off by Wasantha’s friend Jagath Lal, a fellow fisherman and a diver from Kayankerni, north of Passikudah, who suspected piece of metal more..