Sept 1 (FT) China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianlian said, though people give political and other reasons for the suspension of the Colombo Port City Project (CFCP), no one talks about the 5,000 locals who lost their jobs because of its suspension 1½ years ago. The project is now named the Colombo Financial City Project. He said that prior to its suspension CFCP provided 1,000 direct and 4,000 indirect job opportunities. more..

Sept 1 (SL) The murder of millionaire businessman Mohammed Sakeem Sulaiman last week sent shockwaves in Colombo, raising fears of abduction gangs getting back on the streets. The CID said that the businessman is suspected to have been killed over a recent business deal he was involved in. The body, believed to be of the businessman from Bambalapitiya, was discovered from Mawanella, days after he was abducted. more..

Sept 1 (FT) Cabinet approval has been given for the Govt to enter into a Rs. 14.5 billion loan agreement with Japan that will focus on governance improvement and fiscal consolidation. The loan, which will also improve capacity within the private sector, was approved on a Cabinet paper submitted by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Govt now expects to sign exchange notes with the Japanese Govt to obtain the development policy loan of Rs. 14,453. more..

Sept 1 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata, announced the launch of VoLTE (Voice over LTE), enabling ultra-high quality voice and video calls over its 4GLTE Networks today. VoLTE will be available at all locations covered by Dialog’s mobile 4G network in Sri Lanka. “The technology represents the future of voice communications over all-IP networks and exhibits several distinctive features including instant call set-up, more..

Sept 1 (FT) The ex-LTTE combatants who underwent rehabilitation and have now reintegrated back into society will be further traumatised and cornered with the spreading of the rumour that they have developed cancer cells after being injected with a lethal cancer-causing substance while undergoing rehabilitation, cautioned Commissioner General Rehabilitation Maj. Gen. Janake Ratnayake. more..

Sept 1 (DM) The UN, the EU, other global agencies and the international community are no longer insisting on a so called credible domestic inquiry with the participation of foreign judges, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday. He said that if the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime was in power, the world community would have been breathing down Sri Lanka's neck demanding for an international investigation into alleged war crimes and more..

Sept 1 (ST) Sri Lanka is set to showcase its ‘low-cost’ but successful model as the curtain rises on the most powerful health session of the region on Sept 5 in Colombo. It will not be just meeting after meeting over five days at the 69th Session of the Regional Committee for the South-East Asia Region (SEAR), the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the region. While setting health agenda for the next year more..

Sept 1 (ENS) The Chief Minister of Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, has managed to get a separate meeting with the visiting UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, after being clubbed together with other leaders of the TNA for a full-scale official session with the UN chief when he comes to Jaffna on Sept 2. Sources in the TNA said that on his way out after a full-scale meeting with TNA leaders led by R.Sampanthan, more..

Sept 1 (AFP) Dozens of Sri Lankan nationalists rallied outside the United Nations compound in Colombo Thursday as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the island, protesting against the UN's actions during a prolonged civil war. Police held back the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks as they tried to march on the compound just before Ban arrived on the first full day of his two-day visit to Sri Lanka. more..

Sept 1 (wsws) In the third week of August, forces of United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), one of the main US military commands leading the pivot to Asia aimed to prepare for war with China, staged Operation Pacific Angel in Jaffna. Seventy military experts led by US soldiers from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Maldives joined the SL Air Force in symbolic medical assistance and the repairing of schools. Before this operation, in July, USS New Orleans docked in Colombo harbour. more..

Sept 1 (Island) Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyatillake, yesterday fixed for Oct. 3, 2016, the objections to be made by the Attorney General and the Director CID, in respect of the revision application filed by the former OIC of the Narahenpita Police station, Sumith Champika Perera, asking for bail. The former OIC is in remand custody on suspicion of concealing evidence over the murder of Ruggrite Wasim Thajurdeen. Perera is the second suspect. more..

Sep 1 (CT) SLFP's 65th Convention has as never before drawn the attention of not only local politicians, think tanks and business leaders but of the global diplomatic corps as well if only because President Sirisena is expected to spell out the SLFP's plan to seek the electorate's majority vote for a totally SLFP govt. That could mean, 4 Sept in Kurunegala could also see the President making a statement on what the form and substance of the SLFP will be even in the two-party govt more..

Sep 1 (CT) Many of us who worked hard to shine the spotlight on Sri Lanka that includes; Convincing the first head of a foreign govt to visit Jaffna;„hKeeping it on the international agenda; Working to secure an unprecedented resolution setting up an independent international inquiry into war crimes, crimes against humanity and mass atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict; Helping build a consensus to pressure Sri Lanka to co-sponsor a resolution accepting more..

Sept 1 (DM) Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today issued arrest warrants on Indika Karunajeewa and Iresha Silva again over the two cases conducted under money laundering Charges against Namal Rajapaksa and five others over alleged purchasing of Hello Corp shares. FCID told court today that the statements recorded from the suspects and other extracts pertaining to the two cases were sent to more..

Sept 1 (Reuters) Shares rose marginally on Thursday in lean trade, recovering from a more than two-week closing low in the previous session, helped by foreign buying and gains in financials. Stock index rose 0.19% to close at 6,540.29. "It's a buyers' market. There was not a lot of selling," said Dimantha Mathew, head of research at First Capital Equities. "We have seen a divided approach from the investors while some investors wants to wait and see whether the market will come down. more..

Sept 1 (CT) Sarath Weerawansa, the brother of PM Wimal Weerawansa who was arrested today by the FCID has been remanded till Sept 7. He was arrested for allegedly misusing state vehicles during the previous govt. He was arrested after he arrived at the FCID to give a statement on charges that he had misused state vehicles. Earlier, Mohammed Muzammil, spokesman of NFF was arrested for misusing vehicles belonging to Presidential Secretariat during former President’s term. more..

Sept 1 (CI) Balls have been raising puffs of dust, edges have sometimes failed to carry to the keeper, and only once in eight innings has 250 been surpassed, but although these are alien conditions, Australia have clinched the ODI series the Australian way, according to acting captain David Warner. Victory in the fourth ODI was the visitor's most comprehensive on tour, as they ran down SL's 212 with six wickets in hand and more..

Sept 1 (DN) Zimbabwe Development cricket side succumbed to the visiting Sri Lankans by five wickets on the fourth and final day of their encounter that ended at Harare Sports Club yesterday. The visitors needed only up until lunchtime to wrap up the match as a contest despite being packed back by strikes from Zimbabwe seaming duo of Carl Mumba and Luke Jongwe, who both picked two wickets apiece for 54 and 25 runs respectively. SL Development side resumed the day needing more..

Sept 1 (Island) Minister S.B Dissanayake declared that when compared to those who had left the SLFP in the past, the members of the Joint Opposition (JO) were very weak and even if they left the party it would not pose a serious threat. He said though there were rumours that a new party would be formed by the JO members, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had never said he would form a new party. Former President Rajapaksa was always saying that he was an SLFPer, he said. more..

Sept 1 (DM) Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) today arrested two suspects aged 22 and 23 in connection with the abduction and killing of 29-year-old Bambalapitya businessman Sakeem Sulaiman. The two suspects were identified as residents of Grandpass and Sedawatte in Colombo. The arrests were made following CCTV footage taken from the area where the abduction took place. Victim was abducted on Aug 21 more..

Sept 1 (EN) SL's exports fell 5% from a year earlier to $897 million in June 2016 and imports fell 0.2% to $1,676 million, expanding the trade deficit 6% to $779 million. In the first six months, exports fell 5.8% to $5,108 million. Imports fell 2.4% to $9,321 million. The trade gap expanded 2.2% to $4,213 million. The trade gap is caused by people in Sri Lanka spending foreign exchange earned through means other than merchandise exports, such as export of labour (remittances), export of tourism services more..

Sept 1 (Island) The govt said it would develop 27 large scale crop and animal farms with the help of the private sector as those venture were unprofitable at present. The Cabinet paper for the purpose, presented by Minister P. Harrison had been approved on Tuesday. There were 31 animal and crop farms countrywide owned by the National Livestock Development Board. Those farms provided necessary assistance to small farm owners and in national diary, meat & egg production. more..

Sept 1 (USE) On behalf of the American delegation, I am delighted to speak at the outset of these Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement (TIFA) Inter-sessional discussions, which are a sign of the rapid progress in expanding the already rich economic bonds between Sri Lanka and the United States. I want to thank the govt of Sri Lanka – and in particular my friend, Minister Malik Samarawickrama, for hosting today's more..

Sept 1 (ST) SL Anti-doping Agency (SLADA) beginning next year will check on ayurveda concoctions given to sportsmen and women in a move to eradicate doping in sports. Chairman, Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema said SLADA will have its own laboratory where all ayurvedic treatment given to sports persons will be tested for any banned substances. He said concerns have arisen over ayurvedic treatment following some sports personalities, including well known rugger more..

Sept 1 (AM) Meethotumulla, Kolonnawa garbage dumpsite clearance programme is to be started within 100 days, UNP MP S.M. Marikkar said. Marikkar further stated that "garbage was dumped there forcefully making lives of the locals unbearable. PM and I promised to solve this issue. The initial steps to resolve the garbage issue are already taken. Within couple of months Meethotumulla, Kolonnawa garbage dumpsite clearance programme will be started. more..

Sept 1 (AM) Minister Harin Fernando says that it is possible that the teenager who was arrested for hacking the President’s official website can be given a scholarship and that it is not out of the question once he is out of juvenile probation. He stated that if this incident had happened during the former govt, that youth would have gone missing. As the minister in charge of ICT, he can say that they were also partly to blame for this incident. more..

Sept 1 (DNA) A Sri Lankan national having suspected links with banned terrorist organisation LTTE was detained by intelligence and airport authorities in Pune on Thursday morning. The detained person has been identified as Suthan Suppiah. On receipt of specific information, Intelligence Bureau and CISF officials detained a Sri Lankan who was boarding a Luftansa flight for Frankfurt on Thursday. "During interrogation he told that he had worked for LTTE. more..

Sept 1 (TS) Sri Lanka's national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines is marking its 37th anniversary today. The airline began operations as Air Ceylon in 1947 and decades later, was renamed as Air Lanka in July, 1979, after PM J. R. Jayewardene had secured a landslide election victory. He later became president in 1982. The reformist died in 1996, at the age of 90 after overseeing the dismantling of backward socialist policies and pursuing free-market ideas. Air Ceylon had the distinction of being more..

Sept 1 (PMD) Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon held talks with President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s House today. The two leaders discussed about the ongoing development programmes, progress of the programmes being implemented to strengthen reconciliation and the process of constitutional reforms. President briefed the visiting UN Secretary General about the steps taken by the govt with regard to more..

Sept 1 (Island) GMOA said it would hold an emergency Central Committee meeting tomorrow to decide what action should be taken against certain officials who had strained the relations between the doctors and the Health Ministry. GMOA Secretary Dr. Naveen de Zoysa accused those officials of being the cause of the GMOA organised strikes early this year. Certain officials in the Health Ministry were responsible for attaching doctors to the National Hospital in a haphazard manner. more..

Sept 1 (PMD) President congratulated the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games contingent when they met him at the President’s Official Residence, today. President commended the team for participating at the Paralympic Games amidst many sacrifices by them to make the Motherland proud. “As a Govt we will do whatever we can do to uplift the standard of the field of sports,” he added. President also presented cash prizes for the sportsmen/women who are participating at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. more..

Sept 1 (EN) Police chief's grand plans for a gala with delicate cucumber sandwiches from Cinnamon Grand and grandiose coffee table book to launch department's 150th anniversary have been rudely shot down. IGP Pujith Jayasundara planned to invite 4,000 guests for the biggest party of the police in its 150 year history, but Minister Ratnayake has rained on his parade. A Rs. 5 million order for 4,000 take-away boxes more..

Sept 1 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena directed Defence Secretary and the Army to speedily rebuild the War Heroes Monument near the Kurunegala Town, which was removed temporarily to accommodate the Kurunegala-Dambulla road reconstruction works aimed at making the stretch of road more innovatively and visually attractive. He added that rumours stating that the govt has taken steps to remove the War Heroes Monument near the Kurunegala town were totally false and more..

Sept 1 (PMD) The International Gem and Jewelery Exhibition Facets Sri Lanka 2016, organized by the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association (SLGJA) for the 26th successive time, inaugurated today under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. Leading institutions in the field of gem and jewellery in the country are taking part in the exhibition, which will be held till 4th Sept. The President also visited the stalls and held cordial discussions with the staff. Minister A.H.M. Fawzie and more..

Sept 1 (AD) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says that UN pays serious attention on the future of the young people and that it recognizes their role as peace builders and agents of change who can break down barriers and reach across cultural divides. Secretary-General, who is in SL on a 3-day official visit, travelled to Galle and participated in an event involving youth under the theme Reconciliation & Coexistence: Role of Youth. more..

Sept 2 (GV) On the 7th of Sept 1996, around six in the morning, a girl in her late teens stood in front of the portrait of Goddess Saraswathie that was hanging askew on the wall. Here she stood erect, with closed eyes and clasped hands, in contemplation for a few minutes. There was a special reason for her to ask for favours from this Goddess on this particular day. She was in the midst of the GCE A/L exam, and on this particular day in less than four hours she would be answering more..

Sept 2 (DN) For a non-English speaking country, the amount of siring done in Sri Lanka is surely remarkable. Go anywhere in this blessed island and you will not fail to come across a sir. The policemen sir the inspectors, who in turn sir the assistant-superintendents, who of course sir the superintendents and it goes on. At a school, the students would sir the master who would do likewise the principal, who may then need to honour the ministry officials so. more..

Sept 2 (SL) Matale District JVP organiser Gamagedara Dissanayake said that the unity govt made many promises to the people, but they have failed to keep them. He said that corruption is still rampant as it was under Rajapaksa regime. He pointed out that during the previous regime, rural development was taking place to some extent, but the current govt does not have a proper strategy to bring the country out of the debt burden and more..

Sept 2 (DN) She has taken Sri Lankan music to the world. An award winning and internationally acclaimed pianist, composer, musicologist and linguist, Dr Tanya Ekanayaka is known for her quintessential recital style. She has been contracted with Naxos Grand Piano Label, the world’s second largest classical music record label since 2014. Her debut album Reinventions: Rhapsodies for Piano comprises compositions for a solo piano, composed and performed by her. more..