Dec 5 (Island) GCE O/L 2016 exam under the new and old syllabi will commence tomorrow at 5,669 centres with the participation of nearly 700,000 school and private candidates. The exam ends on Dec. 17, 2016. The examination will be coordinated through 538 centres countrywide. Examinations Department will deploy 65,524 teachers on exam duties. Admission cards of school candidates have already been despatched to school principals and to the private candidates by post, more..

Dec 5 (NR) Court today rejected the bail application filed by Former Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan also known as Karuna Amman. The order was issued when the bail application was taken up for review before Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya. The case was postponed till 7th of Dec. Karuna Amman arrested by FCID on the 29th of Nov, was remanded till the 7th. He was arrested by the FCID after recording a statement over misuse of a bulletproof jeep more..

Dec 5 (DM) PHU urged the govt to ban TNA in order to ensure democracy in Sri Lanka. PHU General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila said the TNA was the main opposition of Parliament, and that was the gravest misfortune of the nation. “TNA has direct links with the LTTE. Earlier, TNA virtually functioned as the political wing of the LTTE. The former LTTEers voted for the TNA and ensured its victory in the last elections and the TNA also more..

Dec 5 (Island) So far this year dengue has affected 46,000 persons and killed 76 of them. About 2,500 dengue patients were detected last month alone. This was revealed at an evaluation meeting held under the auspices of Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala on Dengue Prevention Programmes conducted countrywide this year. It has been reported that in Gampaha, Kalutara, Colombo, Hambantota and 10 districts and 30 MOH Divisions the situation the situation has worsened. more..

Dec 5 (NR) UPFA Western Provincial Councillor Jagath Kumara has been released on bail after surrendering to Court on charges of assaulting a policeman. Colombo Additional Magistrate issued an order to release the suspect on two surety bails of 500,000 rupees each. Provincial Councillor surrendered to court this morning through a motion filed by his Attorney. Charges were levelled against him for obstructing police duties and assaulting a Police Officer during a protest adjacent to more..

Dec 5 (DM) GMOA charged that a gazette notification had been issued by the Cabinet to establish a specialised govt body with powers exceeding the executive powers of the President and some more special provisions to facilitate the formulation of a National Policy on all subjects including Accelerated Economic Development. GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Samantha Ananda said the gazette notification was ordered to be published by PM more..

Dec 5 (DN) JHU National Organiser and Media Spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe alleged that certain defeated Joint Opposition politicians were behind the private bus strike launched on Thursday. Addressing a media briefing, he said the govt should arrest the leaders of all private bus associations who participated in the strike which had caused great inconvenience to commuters. The govt should also take measures to curb the private bus mafia prevailing in the country. more..

Dec 5 (CT) President Sirisena made a fervent appeal last Thursday to the Joint Opposition led by former President Rajapaksa, not to create obstacles to the attempts made in making the new Constitution and keep away from carrying out false propaganda to derail the process now in place to strengthen peace and reconciliation. President while appreciating the role of Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan in supporting the efforts of the Govt to solve the ethnic problem said, more..

Dec 5 (DM) An investigation is to be initiated over the incident, where a retired senior Police officer had been captured by the Daily Mirror on Friday while he was stuffing a young domestic aide into the boot of a vehicle in the Matale town, Matale SSP I.B.T. Sugathapala said. The boy appeared to be around ten years. The Matale Police said that the officer concerned was a retired DIG of Police and a resident of Dambulla. more..

Dec 5 (CT) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3) is an int'l observance promoted by the UN since 1992. The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It is meant to have as much significance as other better known days, such as Int'l Human Rights Day or Int'l Women’s Day. It was on Disabilities Day that National Peace Council held the inaugural meeting more..

Dec 5 (HT) SL Ambassador to Nepal Swarnalatha Perera invited PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal to visit the South Asian island nation to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries in 2017. During a meeting held  at the Office of the PM in Singha Durbar of Kathmandu on Monday, PM Dahal said that Nepal and Sri Lanka share unity and old cultural and religious relations. Thanking Sri Lanka for the support it had provided in post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal, more..

Dec 5 (AFP) Sri Lanka announced plans on Monday to rescind a list of 19 nationals described as traitors for leading an insurrection against colonial rule nearly 200 years ago. Keppetipola Disawe, a local leader, and his men were declared traitors over the 1817 rebellion against British rule. "A recommendation was made to President Sirisena to rescind the January 1818 gazette which declared 19 nationals, including Keppetipola Disawe, more..

Dec 5 (DM) The case filed against former Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Nishantha Ranatunga for posing death threats to Colombo Cricket Association Secretary Aruna Wijaya de Silva during an election at the SLC on Dec 18, 2015, was concluded today after both parties came to a settlement. Subsequently, Colombo Chief Magistrate warned the suspect before the case was concluded. Cinnamon Garden police conducted the inquiry upon a complaint lodged by victim Aruna de Silva. more..

Dec 5 (Bernama) A Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) delegation on a fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka visited a tea plantation today in this town nestled in the Central Highlands. The delegation, led by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, who is also UniMAP Chancellor, visited the Blue Field Tea Gardens PVT and was briefed on the technology employed to cultivate and process tea. The delegation, also comprising UniMAP Vice-Chancellor more..

Dec 5 (PSL) President Sirisena declared open the modernized Thriposha factory situated in Kandana, today. Govt has allocated 500 million rupees from Budget 2016 for the renovation works of the Thriposha factory in Kandana, which is now a full govt owned company of Ministry of Health. In Budget 2015, the annual allocation was 200 million rupees only. Production capacity will increase with the installation of more..

Dec 5 (Reuters) Shares rose for a third straight session on Monday to close at a near three-week high as investors sought bargains in banking shares after the benchmark index fell to a near eight-month low last week. Colombo stock index gained 0.67% or 42.55 points to 6,368.12, its highest close since Nov. 15. The bourse gained 1.17% last week, recording its first weekly gain in four. The banking index rose 1.35% with Commercial Care Plc leading the gains to end 9.87% higher. more..

Dec 5 (Island) Chairman of the All Ceylon Bus Owners’ Association Anjana Priyanjith yesterday said that the govt should abolish the proposed increase of the minimum traffic fine to Rs. 25,000 for overtaking a vehicle from left and high speed driving. He said Western Province Chief Minister Isuru Devapriya had held talks with them on Friday night and they had decided to call off the strike after meeting President Maithripala Sirisena the following day. President informed them that more..

Dec 5 (Xinhua) Russia on Monday said it will increase trade and economic ties with Sri Lanka as the two countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. Russia's Ambassador to SL Alexander Karchava said in Colombo, that Sri Lanka and Russia have set up a joint committee on trade and economy and science and technology, and the first committee meeting took place in January this year. Second meeting will be held in Feb more..

Dec 5 (DM) The case against former LTTE Spokesman Daya Master was concluded by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya on the instructions of the Attorney General today. CID informed court that the AG had already filed a case against Daya Master in Vavuniya High Court over detaining civilians in the LTTE custody as hostages during the last stages of the war, therefore asked to finish the Magisterial inquiry. The Magisterial inquiry was initiated by the CID against Daya Master more..

Dec 5 (TA) Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier, has rolled out its Colombo flight timetable following a recent announcement of the addition of the Sri Lankan capital to its destination network. According to the new schedule, the carrier will fly five times a week between Bahrain Int'l Airport and BIA, starting from Jan 19, 2017. Commenting on the airline’s schedule, Yahya Ali Buali, Gulf Air director of sales and marketing, said: “Gulf Air’s five weekly service between Colombo and Bahrain affords more..

Dec 5 (NR) President Sirisena today requested specialist doctors and health sector workers to remain in the country and serve the masses. Addressing Parliament during the Committee Stage Debate of Budget, he said international organisations have recognised Sri Lanka’s free education and free health sector policy adding it has room for further improvement. Prez added over 15,000 doctors have left more..

Dec 5 (CG) President is to meet religious leaders tomorrow to seek unity among all religions following the recent tensions which arose in some parts of the country. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the Ministers in charge of all religions will also attend the meeting. He said that talks were already held with religious leaders on a lover level and now the discussion will be held on a higher level with the participation of President. A large number of people had attempted to enter Batticaloa more..

Dec 5 (Cordis) The El Niño phenomenon is an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes which has a number of important effects both across the Pacific region and throughout the world. These include the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late Dec, the reversal of wind patterns across the Pacific, drought in Australasia, and unseasonal heavy rain in South America. Now researchers from the EU-funded more..

Dec 5 (NR) Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa says the Ministry of Justice has received sufficient fund allocations through the 2017 Budget. Minister said Finance Minister has provided the budgetary allocation which was requested by the Justice Ministry for the next year. However, the Justice Minister said the allocation for some ministries has reduced due to the decision to increase funds for Education & Health sector. more..

Dec 6 (CT) More powers to determine public affairs by the elected representatives in Provinces and Local Govt areas should be viewed as a democratic right to be gained by the people living in these areas rather than diluting the powers that the Central Govt in Colombo wields at present. Central Govt and its decision-making processes are far removed from the people living in far-flung Provinces and the grass roots level. Though people elect representatives to the parliament and some of them become more..

Dec 6 (CT) Given the division within the Muslim community with regard to reforming the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1951 (MMDA), I thought I’d put down something as well to add to the discussion and also specifically after having listened to a few ladies share their experiences in the jury of a particular Quazi court (in the capacity of counselors of sorts). They had served under two Quazis, the first was quite accommodative, second however was not so and they had to more..

Dec 6 (SO) Discipline is a vital deterrent to stop children being naughty, people from missing work, and people from commiting crimes. If parents did not discipline their children when naughty, the children would not grow up knowing right from wrong, or become productive members of society who contribute to the system. Similarly, school teachers need to punish children who do not behave properly. more..

Dec 6 (ST) For close to ten years, Sri Lanka was ruled by a Presidency under which calls were openly given by politicians to heads of the judiciary, the police and hapless public servants ordering them to act or not to act as the case may be. This is not to say that such gross misrule started with the Rajapaksas. Before that, we had our peccadilloes, when political pressure was exerted by Heads of State on judicial and public officials in particular circumstances. more..

Dec 6 (Island) Joint Opposition (JO) has taken the govt to task for a right royal bath some of its MPs had near Parliament on Saturday. They were meeting a group of former local govt members engaged in a protest march, demanding that the LG polls be held without further delay when the police trained their water cannon on them and liberally fired teargas. There is nothing wrong with the JO MPs getting a shower free of charge once in away. When people asked for water they got bullets and more..

Dec 6 (CT) UPFA MP Vidura Wickremenayake noted that the fine worth Rs 25,000 for seven selected traffic offences will only lead to more corruption. He emphasised that Police Department is always within the top five of govt departments that are identified as the most corrupt of State institutions, each year. He also said that Rs 25,000 is another tax imposition on the people and that govt's aim is to get more money by more..

Dec 6 (Island) The Donoughmore proposals of September 1928, sought to replace the Legislative Council, elected under limited franchise with a State Council elected under universal adult franchise, conferring on it shared executive power. It was a salutary measure, which was an opportunity to prepare ourselves for full independence. Instead they began a curious saga ending with independence where the ominous signs were masked by the ceremony of the British exit. more..

Dec 6 (GV) SL is on the cusp of history, in several months it will be presenting to the people its third constitution in the space of four decades. Abolition of Executive Presidency, devolution of power to the provinces, independence of judiciary and the ensuring of good governance and human rights have been central in the discussions. With interest slowly growing amongst the people, one topic which has been conspicuously absent has been that of religion and its role in the future constitution. more..

Dec 6 (ST) The death of Fidel Castro marked the last of the Mohicans, the last towering figure of 20th century revolutionaries. The sad but not unexpected news of the death late last month of the ailing Castro brought to mind a little known anecdote, little known because only three persons were privy to it. The other two have passed on to the great beyond. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in his tribute to Fidel Castro makes reference to the friendship that developed between ‘JR’ as he was popularly called more..

Dec 6 (DM) Govt in the 2016 budget proposed to promote all people to open bank accounts for their salaries and pensions, and due to increasing security threats, discourage transportation of cash and increase the use of ATM Machines. However, like most of the essential day-to-day needs and facilities - including ATMs in residential areas - marginalisation, discrimination and denial of rights for education and employment is escalating for the majority of 20% of population experiencing more..

Dec 6 (GV) Groundviews is celebrating its tenth anniversary at a time when there is little else to celebrate in SL. Particularly sad is the ways in which President and PM are ruining whatever little that remains in the political potential of their yahapalanaya (good governance) regime. President Sirisena is doing it with a little loyalty to the constituencies that enabled him to win the presidential election in Jan 2015. more..

Dec 6 (CT) The much looked forward to domestic tournament is just kicking off after a week's postponement. The tournament is bound to lose its sheen somewhat with the national cricketers being away on tour to South Africa, and then briefly to Australia. With the void left by sixteen cricketers, the expected competition is bound to suffer, though one has to look at it as an opportunity for the next rung of players to stake a claim in the bigger stage. The current year sees an enhanced number of more..

Dec 6 (GV) Ten years surviving a tempestuous period of contemporary Sri Lankan political, economic and social change, as an English language electronic platform introducing the most modern forms of communication is surely an accomplishment to be proud of. Greater still is the achievement of contributing substantively to the discourse on the issues and helping mould public opinion across a broad swathe. My warmest congratulations go out to Sanjana Hattotuwa more..

Dec 6 (Marines) Marines and Sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, embarked aboard the USS Somerset (LPD 25), participated in a Theater Security Cooperation exchange, training side-by-side with the recently inaugurated SL Marine Corps Nov 22-25 at SL Naval Base, Trincomalee. SL Marine Corps, still in its infancy, capitalized on the time they had with their U.S. counterparts more..