Oct 8 (DN) Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for support on Oct 19, the bail revision application filed by Western Province former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake arrested and remanded over his alleged role in the cover up of evidence in the former rugby player Wasim Thajudeen murder. When the petition came up before High Court Judge Padmini Gunatilleka, the respondents including the CID and the Attorney General were directed to file their objections on the next hearing date. more..

Oct 8 (Forbes) SriLankan Airlines used to make money. National carrier was a profitable airline for the 10 years that it was operated as a joint venture with Emirates Airline. Then Emirates sold its share in 2008, and one year later the financial downward spiral for SriLankan began. 7 years later, SriLankan has racked up $3.25 billion in debt, and over the first 3 months of this year alone its losses have been around $112 million. more..

Oct 8 (AN) An Indian woman, who had come to the Kingdom with a Sri Lanka passport as a housemaid, received SR45,000 in back wages for 14 years of employment on the intervention of the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah. The maid, Kedeswari Sellamuthu from Chennnai, Tamil Nadu, went to Sri Lanka in 2003 and was sent to the Kingdom for employment on a Sri Lankan passport. Sellamuthu, who holds a passport under the name of Zareena Salee, confessed to SL Consulate in Jeddah more..

Oct 8 (LT) North Central Provincial High Court of Civil Appeal Judge Adithya Patabendige noticed a group including the Chief Minister of North Central Province to appear before the court on 17th October on a complaint filed by Voice Against Corruption (VAC) against the suspects for misappropriating state funds worth Rs. 250 million by awarding govt construction contracts based on political bias and violating govt tender procedures. The respondents are the Governor of North Central Province more..

Oct 8 (EN) A Sri Lankan hospital has been ordered to pay a record five million rupees in damages after its security guards assaulted the father of a two-month old sick baby who had gone there to consult a doctor. In a landmark civil appellate judgement, the High Court of the Western Province held recently that Asha Central Hospital was liable to pay damages for the assault on Roshan Bansajaya by two security guards at hospital’s car park more..

Oct 8 (EN) Sri Lanka's budget deficit improved to Rs 432.7 billion in July 2016 or 3.6% of gross domestic product, down from Rs523.3 billion or 4.68% from last year, but revenue growth showed signs of faltering. Revenues in eight months grew 20% from a year earlier to Rs 863.7 billion, while current spending grew at a slower 6 percent to Rs1006.8 billion. But monthly tax revenues, which grew steadily from Rs109.1 billion to Rs 137.7 billion in May, fell to Rs131.8 billion in June. more..

Oct 8 (FT) The Sri Lanka Army has been deployed to assist drought affected people in ten districts, Director General, Disaster Management Centre, Major General L.B.R. Mark said yesterday.  Pollonnawaruwa and Medirigiriya have been worst hit by prevailing dry weather conditions. To address the drinking water shortage in some of these areas, the military will be distributing water in Welikanda, Dimbulagala, Lankapura, Thamankaduwa, Medirigiriya & Hingurakgoda areas in East. more..

Oct 8 (NS) Minister Mano Ganesan confirmed that he has complained to President with regard to interference from former President Chandrika Kumaratunga in relation to ongoing efforts at reconciliation in the country. Kumaratunga is currently the Chairperson of Office for National Unity & Reconciliation. “I do not want to be made to look like some showcase Minister or a Minister for show while others do the work of reconciliation”, more..

Oct 8 (DM) A resident of Battaramulla had made a complaint with the Talangama Police against singer Chillie Thilanka alleging that the singer had assaulted him under the influence of liquor on Thursday night. In the complaint, the man had said the singer had also allegedly threatened him with a knife after assaulting for not making way for his vehicle to move ahead. However, police said the officers of the Talangama Police had visited the location soon after the incident, more..

Oct 8 (CT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make a decisive announcement next week, concerning the future measures to be undertaken by the govt on the economic and political fronts, sources said. Sources said, among the issues that will be highlighted by the PM, during his statement, will be the upcoming ETCA agreement to be signed with India, proposed new Constitution, govt's policy framework on economy till 2020, increase in per capita income, the elimination of corruption, more..

Oct 8 (FT) IMF said it remains positive of Sri Lanka’s growth prospects. In Its latest Asia and Pacific Regional Economic Outlook Update released yesterday during the on-going Annual Meeting in Washington, IMF said SL’s economic momentum remains positive with GDP growth projected to remain robust at 5% in 2016-17. It said the EFF approved in June 2016 focuses on strengthening public finances to create space more..

Oct 8 (DM) In the afterglow of the Jan 8 change last year and the formation of a National Govt following the general election in Aug, we have seen the restoration to a large scale of media freedom – one of the time tested pillars of democracy. Even the state controlled media generally maintain a balance in their reporting. The state media’s regular political talk shows often present the opposition viewpoint also with JVP leaders especially accusing the national govt of doing what the ousted more..

Oct 8 (DM) SL’s bitter near two-and-a-half decade long ethnic war ended in 2009. During that period nearly a hundred thousand men, women and children were killed, many thousands more were injured and the economy left in a shambles. Sadly, even today, its citizenry are still polarized, divided along the lines of race, religion and ethnicity. SL presents a classic case of a society in dire need of a process of reconciliation, as even today, these divisions are still deeply ingrained in society. more..

Oct 8 (SL) Sept 28 is the global Right to Information Day – a day of added significance to Sri Lankans this year since the country passed its own Right to Information Act – now hailed by the Centre for Law and Democracy as the 9th best in the world, the strongest among the new countries to enact RTI legislature. Yet ensuring a culture of transparency and openness goes beyond simply enacting legislature. While there have been groups more..

Oct 8 (SL) The first of the dredgers to work on the reclamation for Port City (Financial City) docked at the Colombo South Harbour last Thursday, and dredging operations will commence after completing the required govt procedures. Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) mining licence for the Site 2 burrow area was obtained by the project, CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd., last Monday (26). more..

Oct 8 (SL) The increasing number of stray dogs is nullifying the best efforts of authorities trying to combat rabies. There are about half a million stray dogs reported to be on the roads and annually around 3,600 people seek treatment for rabies in public hospitals countrywide. Twelve people have died to date from rabies; 24 deaths were reported last year. Responding to World Rabies Day held last Wednesday under the theme of Educate,, more..

Oct 8 (ST) Opportunists burning down our forests simply in order to collect sand cheaply are amongthes whose actions have caused about 4,570 acres of forest and scrub to go up in flames this year alone. “They do this because when it rains after a fire, all the solid is washed down into the streams and rivers which makes it easier to collect sand,” Forest Conservation Department Director, Anura Sathurusinghe said. more..

Oct 8 (Mirror) An asylum seeker who said he wanted to ' suicide bomb ' a train was calmly told by a worker that he couldn't get on without a ticket. Sureshkumar Thurairajah, 44, wore a bulging anorak zipped up to his neck and a baseball cap covering part of his face at Liverpool's Lime Street Station. When asked if he had a ticket at the underground station ’s barriers he told Merseyrail worker: “I want to suicide bomb the train.” more..

Oct 8 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe expects the investigations into the murders of journalists Lasantha Wickremetunga and Prageeth Ekneligoda and ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen to be completed  by the end of next month. Responding to questions from New Zealand media on the human rights situation in SL, PM said that the govt led by President Sirisena had taken a number of measures to re-establish law and more..

Oct 8 (Island) President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva told the Supreme Court that The Bill titled the Act to establish the Engineering Council should state that the registration given by the Council would be only for citizens of SL. Otherwise, Act could help the Indians who were to come and Lankans could be rejected. Composition should be carefully decided on. more..

Oct 8 (Island) The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) - 2015 study revealed that 20.6% of Sri Lankans died of ischemic heart disease (Coronary Heart Disease) last year. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University (IHMEU) of Washington said yesterday that the GBD - 2015 study identified it to be one among the top five causes of death in the country last year. more..

Oct 8 (CG) MP Hirunika Premachandra claims convinced politician Duminda Silva had the support of some top officials when her father was killed. Speaking at an event to mark the death anniversary of her father Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra today, she said the CID has been asked to investigate those who indirectly assisted the crime. She said that a doctor who had reportedly given medical treatment to Silva more..

Oct 8 (LL) The Madras High Court has upheld an order of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), which had refused to grant certification to a feature film in Tamil directed by K. Ganeshan, titled Porkalathil Oru Poo, portraying the life of a journalist named Isai Priya in Sri Lanka. By allowing a temporary injunction application preferred by the relatives of Isai Priya, Justice TS Sivagnanam also restrained the director and producer of more..

Oct 8 (CT) Sports culture definitely plays an important part in the improvement of any game mostly to do with the team sports. Although many are of the opinion that there has to be a set number of players for a sport to be called a team sport, track and field faces the situation both ways. Track and field, mostly evolve around individual performance, even when a team is required to perform relay races. It is very notable, particularly, in the event spoken of as it is a very technical event more..

Oct 8 (CT) I have been arguing against the notion that a political solution to the ethnic problem can be found through devolution on an ethnic basis. I have also been arguing that the only solution is through democracy, meaning a fully functioning democracy as in the West, with adequate safeguards for the legitimate interests of the ethnic minorities as in the West. I have since come to believe that those safeguards, such as the Race Relations Boards, may operate smoothly more..

Oct 8 (Island) Minister S.B. Dissanayake warned people not to fall prey to the elements who were fanning the flames of racial hatred. Dissanayake, addressing the media assured that the govt would not change the country’s unitary status and it would not become a federal state contrary to claims being made in some quarters. He said President Sirisena had given a personal assurance to that effect. "Ours is not a racist, anti-religious govt. more..

Oct 8 (DM) Trincomalee District UNP MP M. A. M. Maharoof and three others have been injured and hospitalized after the vehicle they were traveling in was involved in an accident at Pelwehera in Dambulla this morning.  The MP, his son, daughter and secretary were admitted to the Dambulla Hospital after their vehicle crashed into the back of a lorry at around 2.30am today (8). The vehicle was traveling from Kandy to Trincomalee at the time of the accident.  more..

Oct 8 (CG) IGP Pujith Jayasundara today gave out his private mobile number for the public to call him if the police fail to respond to a serious complaint. Jayasundara said that the public can contact him on 0718592020 if they feel there is something serious which the police department has failed to address. “If there is only something urgent and important call me and you will get a response. Not a small matter and not something the police can look into. more..

Oct 8 (ST) Number of three-wheeled vehicles registered in the country has risen sharply. The ratio of three-wheelers to people stands at 1:20 (1 three-wheeler for every 20 persons). According to latest statistics, at the end of last month the number of three-wheeled vehicles in the country stood at 1,094,815. In August this year, 35,773 new three-wheeled vehicles were registered. The highest number of three wheeled vehicles were registered in the Western Province with 352,540 vehicles, more..

Oct 8 (CT) When the matter regarding the provision of security, from Ministerial Security Division (MSD), to former President of Bar Association Upul Jayasuriya, came up before Colombo Chief Magistrate, a Senior officer of the MSD informed Court that security, which had been provided a few months ago by the IGP, had been restored on an application made by Jayasuriya, to provide him with security as some unknown persons were following him and his life was in serious jeopardy. more..

Oct 8 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena attending a Buddhist religious ceremony at Kurukude Ancient Vihare in Peradeniya on Tuesday (04) afternoon assured that his government would never take any final decisions with regard to Buddha Sasana that would lead to disagreement, dispute or dissension among the Sangha. Any such decision would be taken only with the blessings of the Sangha led by the Mahanayake Theras. more..

Oct 8 (DM) A 23-year-old woman was killed when she was knocked down by a private bus at Waturegama on the Galle-Colombo Road early this morning while she was waiting at a bus halt to take a bus to Colombo, Police said. They said a private bus travelling towards Matara had veered off the Road and rammed into a nearby bus halt. The injured was pronounced dead on admission to the Balapitiya Hospital. The driver of the bus was arrested in connection with the incident. more..

Oct 8 (CT) Ministe Lakshman Kiriella said several overseas universities were currently closely monitoring the case filed against SAITM University, Malabe. He stated that several foreign universities, such as the Manipal University in India, had also expressed willingness to establish new universities in the country. He said the govt was determined to establish private universities under its monitoring and explained that through such an exercise, many students who get through more..

Oct 8 (CT) The Court of Appeal issued notice on the Principal of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda and five others, to be present in Court on 24 October. President of Court of Appeal Vijith Malalgoda and Justice Preethi Padman Surasena issued notice after considering a petition filed by father of girl who was refused admission to the school. Attorney-at-Law Lakshan Dias, appearing for the petitioner, Asanka Christopher Wickramasinghe, submitted to Court that more..

Oct 8 (ST) The concerted campaign against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been intensified with the launch of the Sri Lanka Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative (SLDCI) in September. The three-year initiative (2016—2019) is to be undertaken by the Health Ministry, the Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists (SLCE) and the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) with funding and supervision by the World Diabetes Foundation. more..

Oct 8 (DM) The selection of a name for the new party to be formed under the leadership of former president Rajapaksa is to be completed by next week sources close to the joint opposition said. They said that as many as 4,622 names had been suggested by email alone while some 7,000 names had been suggested by post. A committee has been tasked to shortlist the names before outlining the new party's policies. Three President’s Counsel, two university teachers more..

Oct 8 (CG) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filipo Grandi, has said the UNHCR will continue to work on, the return of those Sri Lankans who want to return, solutions for internally displaced people and commendable work that the Govt is doing for the statelessness. The High Commissioner made this observation, in response to the national statement of Sri Lanka delivered by SL’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha, more..

Oct 8 (CT) A total of 72,621 persons from the Colombo, Kalutara, Kilinochchi and Kandy Districts have applied to the Elections Commissioner's Department for their names to be included in the 2016 electoral registers now being finalized by the Elections Commission. They have claimed that their names had not been reflected in the 2015 electoral registers. There have been 21,499 applications from the Colombo District, another 21,499 persons from the Kalutara District, more..

Oct 8 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena who arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok yesterday to attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit was received at the airport by Thai Minister of Culture, Vira Rojpojchanarat, representing Royal Thai Govt and Ambassador Kshenuka Seneviratne and staff members of the Sri Lanka Embassy. The ACD Summit will be attended by delegates from 34 nations in the Asian region. President was accompanied by First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena. more..