Feb 8 (DN) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein yesterday said advocating for a common amnesty for political prisoners would lead to new complications. High Commissioner explained that it would not be possible to advocate for a general amnesty for political prisoners currently being held by authorities, as experience from other countries have shown that such a move gives rise to more issues. more..

Feb 8 (DM) The media are the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that is power, because they control the minds of the masses. This interpretation of the media’s role and power comes from a controversial figure Malcolm X, who was considered by thousands of admirers as a courageous advocate for the rights of coloured people but detractors accused him of preaching racism and violence. more..

Feb 8 (DM) Finally, the Joint Opposition, a euphemism for the cronies of the ex-President in Parliament, has turned to God. If the legend in Sinigama lives up to its fame, the hundred thousand coconuts they smashed at the Devalaya there during the weekend to invoke ritualistic curse on the Financial Crime Investigation Division could raise hell. Even if it stops short of unleashing some sorts of nuclear holocaust, the Joint Opposition’s latest mood swing to black magic is bad news. more..

Feb 8 (SL) Legal action taken by the FCID against the Board of Directors of Carlton Sports Network (CSN) over its failure to divulge the sources of funding that was invested in the Rajapaksa clan-managed TV network cannot be disputed, opine legal luminaries. According to them, the FCID was in fact too late to arrest the Board of Directors of CSN on the alleged breach of Prevention of Money Laundering Act No 05 of 2006, as more..

Feb 8 (LBO) Megapolis plan for the Western region aims to promote bicycle usage as a mode of transportation as it is environmentally friendly, reduces emissions and fuel costs and improves public health, the report states. This is one aspect of intervention to improve transportation in the Western region. “Environmental sustainability is a very important factor to be considered in regional planning. more..

Feb 8 (ST) India admitted that the issue of its fishermen poaching in the Palk Bay was a strain on Indo-Lanka relations and decided to hold bilateral talks in New Delhi to find a solution before the end of the year – perhaps even within three months. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who co-chaired the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting said India recognised that the goodwill and friendship between more..

Feb 8 (DM) Former Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice (1970–1977) and an expert in Constitutional Law, Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama who strongly believes that the vacant position of the Attorney General should be filled with the senior most officer in the Attorney General’s Department, Suhada Gamalath, wrote to the Daily Mirror viewing his opinion on the issue. Dr. Jayawickrama served as a Professor of Law at University of Hong Kong more..

Feb 8 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Saturday, asked the Opposition members who dashed coconuts against the govt and the FCID to crack more nuts so that coconut prices would go up helping cultivators draw more revenue. PM said: "Today, the prices of coconut in the Wayamba Province have come down. I know the price decrease very well because I, too, have a coconut estate. more..

Feb 8 (DN) 43 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, India will arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow under the UNHCR facilitated voluntary repatriation programme. They are scheduled to arrive in a SriLankan Airlines flight at 10.20 a.m. from Trichy and Mihin Lanka flight at 12.20 p.m. from Chennai and Madurai. Minister D.M. Swaminathan who participated in a discussion with the UNHCR, facilitated the process and more..

Feb 8 (DM) The working committee of the UNP and its headquarters Sirikotha will be re-organized, the PM Ranil Wickremesinghe informed some members of the party on Saturday. He said some members should work full time to promote the party. “The party won’t last if every member of it gets involved with the govt,” he said. Accordingly, he said a new programme will be carried out to promote the party in the village level. more..

Feb 8 (CT) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has categorically told the Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran that there would be no advocacy from the UN for the general amnesty of political prisoners. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights met the Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran at his office in Jaffna at 10:00 a.m. yesterday. more..

Feb 8 (AM) A tug of war has erupted between PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera over the PM's move to appoint a Global Affairs Committee to oversee Foreign Affairs Ministry. The committee giving directions on foreign policy and other related matters is headed by Charitha Ratwatte, a former Treasury Secretary and currently a senior Advisor to the PM. However, sources close to Minister more..

Feb 8 (DM) The decision on whether or not to appoint Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as a MP will taken today by the UNP's working committee. The working committee would meet the party leader - PM Ranil Wickremesinghe - at Sirikotha this afternoon. It was reported that Field Marshal Fonseka was among those who were proposed to fill the vacancy created by the recent demise of Minister M.K.A.D.S Gunawardene. more..

Feb 8 (CT) Just the other week, retired STF Commander DIG Nimal Leuke was out to shame Colombo's hot-air intellectuals and political pundits with his forthright piece on the Tamil language National Anthem. It ranks among one of the better commentaries in recent times, perhaps because it comes from a sincere man who has not been just another armchair critic but a man who has walked over bloodied and dead bodies out in the battlefield over a span of very many years. more..

Feb 8 (Island) UPFA MP Ranjith Zoysa yesterday said if Speaker Karu Jayasuriya did not recognize the Joint Opposition as a separate political entity in Parliament it would resort to protests to win that status. He said that there were 52 MPs in the Joint Opposition group and they all were of the opinion that they should treated as an independent group in the opposition. "All of us are ready to stand up and state to the House that we are independent 52 times on Wednesday. more..

Feb 8 (Reuters) Shares edged down in thin trade to a one-week low on Monday as global economic woes dented sentiment and investors looked for macroeconomic cues after the IMF said the country's 2016 fiscal deficit could widen further. IMF on Friday urged Sri Lanka to take steps to reduce its fiscal deficit and raise tax revenues to help improve its balance of payments. Statement raises concerns over possible hikes in interest rates and taxes which might dent market sentiment further, more..

Feb 8 (CT) The controversy with Ms. Sharmini Serasinghe began when she initially challenged the Sinhala-Buddhists to show what they had achieved which the others haven’t. In reply it was pointed out that the Sinhala-Buddhists had made three great contributions: 1. a new language; 2. a new culture and 3, a new civilization. Obviously, this revelation stunned her because she was educated just enough to know / believe that the Sinhalese were a bunch of gamaralas in loin cloth who had not achieved more..

Feb 8 (DN) Countering Joint Opposition’s dashing of coconuts at Seenigama Devala in Hikkaduwa, a group of NGOs held religious observances to seek divine support to protect the good governance govt and the FCID. The event was held at Shanthi Devala at Amabalangoda on the same day, concurrent to the former. A group of NGOs led by Lanka Deshabhimani Peramuna organised pro-govt demonstration in protest more..

Feb 8 (AD) A report prepared by Central Environment Authority (CEA) on the underground water resources in the environs of Rathupaswala in Weliweriya has been submitted to the Court of Appeal. The report was submitted when the Writ petition filed by the Siyane Water Protection Association was taken up for hearing this morning. The petitioners have argued the findings of the report showed that the underground water resources in Rathupaswala do not meet the standers more..

Feb 8 (CT) 68th Independence Day celebration proved that the Tamil speaking minority are no more treated as second class citizens, said the Minister Sajith Premadasa, in reference to the National Anthem being sung in Tamil. He further added that under the good governance govt, the distance between the North and the South had vastly diminished. Referring to the joint opposition analogous with the idiom, A drowning man will even clutch at a straw, he said, more..

Feb 8 (DM) IUSF said President Sirisena should make a statement regarding his stance on the offer made by Chairman of the SAITM in Malabe, Dr. Neville Fernando to use his Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) as a semi-govt hospital. Without making statements regarding irrelevant matters just like the controversial incident happened in some pop music concert held last December, the President’s concern should be paid for more..

Feb 8 (DM) SLFP Western Provincial Councillor Sumith Lal Mendis was sworn in as Minister of Health, Child Probation and Women’s Affairs. Mr. Mendis was elected to the Council from the Kalutara District. He said Chief Minister Isura Devapriya only informed him about the appointment today. He said he was ready to work with Minister Rajitha Senaratne in improving the health of the people. Provincial Health Ministry was earlier taken over by the Chief Minister from more..

Feb 8 (Island) The Police Department respected the law of the land and wrongdoers within its ranks would be dealt with appropriately, said IGP N. K. Ilangakoon at the opening of a new wards complex of the Kundasle Police Hospital on Saturday. "I have always acted according to my conscience and will continue to do so." As for the Embilipitya incident, the IGP said action would be taken against police personnel and civilians alike if they had been on the wrong side of the law. more..

Feb 8 (DM) Govt is planning to appoint an incompetent official to the post of Attorney General in the wake of the retirement of former AG Yuwanjan Wijeyatilake, PHU MP Udaya Gammanpila claimed. He said the new AG should be appointed as soon as possible because otherwise the lawsuits filed under the purview of the AG can no longer be proceeded with. Mr. Gammanpila said Solicitor General Suhada more..

Feb 8 (AM) Minister Arjuna Ranatunga is expected to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission over the SLC Election held on Jan 3. Ranatunga contested for the post of Vice President of SLC. He managed to poll only 80 votes and could not get elected. Jayantha Dharmadasa and K Mathivanan were elected with 102 and 90 votes respectively. Ranatunga hit out at SLC President-elect Thilanga Sumathipala, saying that that the game of cricket has fallen under the control of more..

Feb 8 (DN) Drugs for kidney patients will be airlifted on Thursday on the instructions of President Sirisena, Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala said. Anuradhapura has 21,000 patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology. He made this observation after participating in an inspection tour of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital to look into the drug shortage at the hospital. Drug, One Alpha required for kidney patients will be provided more..

Feb 8 (AM) In an unprecedented move, acting Attorney General Suhada Gamlath has removed Senior State Counsel Dilipa Pieris from the Prageeth Eknaligoda disappearance case. Wasantha Perera, a relatively young and inexperienced counsel, has appointed to handle Eknaligda's case on behalf of the AG's Department. File pertaining to the case had been handed over to Perera this morning as per directives from the Acting AG, more..

Feb 8 (CT) Several professional bodies are to engage in a massive protest in Colombo on 11 Feb opposing the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) to be signed with India. Protest is organized by the United Professionals Movement (UPM) and the Organization of Engineers' Association (OEA). Many professional organizations such as Govt Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Organization of Professional Association (OPA), more..

Feb 8 (IANS) India will aim to continue their winning run and seal a place in the final when they take on Sri Lanka in the first semi-final of the Under-19 cricket World Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Tuesday. India have been unbeaten in the tournament so far and have outclassed all four opponents yet in all departments of the game. En route to the semi-finals, the three-time winners (2000, 2008, 2012) thrashed Namibia by 197 runs, thanks to a superb ton by more..

Feb 8 (DM) The joint opposition today submitted a letter to be handed over to visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. The letter, signed by party leaders of the joint opposition was made available to the media. It says the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has prepared a report containing a number of serious allegations against the armed forces. more..

Feb 8 (DN) Former President Rajapaksa expressed surprise about the National Anthem being sung in Tamil during the Independence Day celebrations on Feb 4. He said this was something no one had expected. Rajapaksa said that by doing so, those who decided on the move have created a problem where none existed. He said feelings of animosity could surface by forcing something on the people which they had never requested. He said several Tamil and Muslim politicians had called him more..

Feb 8 (DN) The Anti-Corruption Front has urged the govt to immediately take over vehicles and official residences from former Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers who have not yet handed them over to the relevant authorities. Spokesman for the Anti Corruption Front said that several former Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers have been occupying these houses for the past 13 months, even though they have lost their portfolios. more..

Feb 8 (DM) Malwatte Chapter Mahanayake Thera the Most Ven. Tibbatuwave Siddhartha Sri Sumangala Thera has told visiting UN Human Rights High Commissioner Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein that present govt was striving hard to bring about reconciliation in the country. UNHR Chief visited the Dalada Maligawa today and after paying homage to the sacred tooth relic he paid a courtesy call on Mahanayake Thera. more..

Feb 8 (DN) A mortar which had been found from the stadium of the Eastern University has been defused by the military, Nilaveli Police said. The mortar had been discovered while the constructions of the stadium were going on. It has been identified as a mortar belonging to the type 81 mm. The bullet has been defused on a court order. No suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident hitherto. Nilaveli Police is conducting further investigations into the incident. more..

Feb 8 (CI) When these T20 teams met most recently, at the 2014 World T20 final, India may have been better-drilled, but Sri Lanka had the cleverer strategy. Sri Lanka were T20's iconoclasts at the time, topping the rankings with wit and versatility, while other teams doubled down on power. Things have changed south of the Palk Strait since then. There's been an exodus of cricketing intelligence. The team has not coped, so far. India have never lacked for smarts themselves, more..

Feb 8 (AFP) Ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse's brother denounced Monday the UN human rights chief's visit to Sri Lanka as a big joke, as the former regime stepped up opposition to a UN-backed war-crimes probe. Former president Rajapakse and his brother, ex-defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, have signed a petition against the probe into allegations of thousands of civilian deaths during the final months of war. more..

Feb 8 (CG) Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has slammed Maldives President Abdulla Yamin Abdul Gayooom for allegedly consulting a Sri Lankan black magician. MDP said that the media had revealed that President Yameen has been consulting a Sri Lankan practitioner of black magic before taking political decisions. MDP also said that the Maldives Police had announced that they are investigating a judicial arrest warrant, which was reportedly issued against President Yameen. more..

Feb 8 (LT) All Ceylon Farmers Federation has decided to complain to the FCID against the Minister of Agriculture and Paddy Marketing Board for inflicting a loss of Rs.4000 million to the govt by handing over 234,800 metric tons of Nadu paddy to three mill owners, who are close associated of the govt, at reduced prices. They also have taken a decision to take legal action. The complaint would be filed at FCID tomorrow and All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation will be joined by more..

Feb 8 (AD) The Working Committee of the UNP today unanimously approved Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka for the parliamentary seat left vacant by the death of Minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena, UNP acting General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says. This came after the UNP signed a collective agreement with Democratic Party (DP) led by former Army Commander at Temple Trees. Agreement was signed by Fonseka as more..