Sept 5 (FT) Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing for the Minister D.M. Swaminathan in the fundamental rights petition challenging the purported contract to build 65,000 houses in the North, on 31 Aug called the attention of the Supreme Court that there are lot of misrepresentation and falsehood in the Petition and also brought to the notice of the court that there is no decision by the Cabinet of Ministers as well. He contended the petition has been filed with speculation and based on Facebook and more..

Sept 5 (Island) Over 100,00 devotees gathered at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City as Mother Teresa was declared a Saint by Pope Francis yesterday. Mother Teresa, an Albanian nun, dedicated almost 70 years of her life serving the poor in Calcutta in India. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and members of her congregation number more than 5000 serving all over the world. more..

Sept 5 (CT) The body of former Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge, will be exhumed in the coming week, according to reliable sources. His grave, at the Borella Cemetery, has been provided with Police protection, so that there will be no opportunity for anyone attempting to tamper with the remains. Wickrematunge was assassinated on 8 Jan 2009 after being on Amnesty International's endangered list since 1998, when anti-tank shells were fired at his house. more..

Sept 5 (DN) Uber, the innovative smartphone app that seamlessly connects riders to drivers, has launched cash payments as an option in Colombo. With this, riders will now have the option to choose between credit or debit cards or cash when paying for Uber rides. “We know that cash is still the dominant payment option for people around the world, especially in emerging economies. The cash experiment in Hyderabad last year was extremely successful and resulted in the roll out of this more..

Sept 5 (CT) It is reported that a type of operation which has never been launched at any time, during the history of the People's Bank, has been put in place by People's Bank Board of Directors, in a bid to prevent information of the fraud leaking out and to challenge PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. However, PM has already been provided with all details of the corrupt transaction to the tune of Rs 700 million which is alleged to more..

Sept 5 (Island) Gampaha District Bala Mandalaya of the Joint Opposition passed a resolution on Saturday to form a new political party under the leadership of former President Rajapaksa to contest the forthcoming local govt polls. The resolution was passed unanimously during a meeting held at Udugampola with convener of the JO MP Prasanna Ranatunga presiding. Four other resolutions were also passed, demanding that the SLFP should leave the national unity govt immediately; more..

Sept 5 (DN) A Flight Sergeant of SL Air Force was arrested over an accident in which another Flight Sergeant was knocked over and died. He was remanded until Sept 14 by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate. Mount Lavinia Police found the body of Flight Sergeant K.S. Deshapriya, 40, attached to the Ratmalana Air Force Base, lying on the side of the road at Ratmalana Airport Junction on Saturday at around 1.15 a.m. A team headed by Mount Lavinia OIC, CI Roshan Pushpakumara commenced more..

Sept 5 (FT) In the strongest hint yet that the SLFP is poised to break with the UPFA, President Sirisena told his party’s 65th Convention that they would contest the upcoming local govt polls under the SLFP’s traditional hand symbol. “We are firing the first salvo towards forming a SLFP Govt at this convention,” President Sirisena said in Kurunegala yesterday. Hinting strongly at party rebels led by his predecessor Mahinda more..

Sept 5 (DM) Mother Teresa of Calcutta also known as the Saint of the Gutters, was canonized Mother Teresa of Kolkata by Pope Francis yesterday. Revered by Catholics, she was a model of compassion, who brought relief to the sick and dying, opening branches of her Missionaries of Charity (MoC) Order around the world. Mother Teresa was also a controversial figure. She held extremely conservative views on abortion, opposed it in totality and was absolutely unafraid to more..

Sept 5 (DM) The Defence Ministry should be praised not only for taking this most important initiative to hold this seminar and for the sixth consecutive year, but also for the deciding on a topic Soft power and its influence on global issues, which is most relevant to the world at this particular time, for Soft Power is essentially the Power of Diplomacy, which lays absolute emphasis on Persuasion, and is the need of the hour. Soft power takes various forms, it can come in the form of Economic Aid or more..

Sept 5 (SL) A recent incident at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital – Kalubowila has grabbed the media after one of the Judicial Medical Officers (JMO) is alleged to have sexually abused a young woman who was referred to him by the Sri J'pura General Hospital (SJGH). The young woman who was claimed to have been abused by the doctor was alleged to have been assaulted by her boyfriend and had been admitted to the SJGH with more..

Sept 5 (Island) A story of a woman constable volunteering to save an abandoned four-month-old baby girl from starving to death by breastfeeding the latter while waiting for paramedics is reported from Wellawaya. WPC 1307 W.M. Ramya breasted the baby girl who had been brought to the police station with three of her sisters after they had been abandoned by their mother who swallowed poison. more..

Sept 5 (DN) The govt has taken steps to set up Free Trade Zones with the objective of finding a lasting solution for unemployed youths. As such, we have planned to set up more than 50 free trade zones from Kandy up to Hambantota and Wellawaya, said PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. The PM was addressing the Membership promotion programme of the UNP and formation of a National Youth Balamandalaya, Biyagama branch, more..

Sept 5 (EN) Sri Lanka's forest and wildlife protection agencies will start project to help communities living near protected habitats to improve livelihoods and make use of natural resources without degrading or over exploiting, World Bank said. World Bank is giving a US$ 45 million credit for a project that wll involve 15,000 residents, 30% of them women, living near protected habitats improve their livelihoods and develop income streams more..

Sept 5 (ST) A proposal to hire a Singaporean firm as design consultant for the Beira Lake redevelopment project without a tender has bred fears, the Got will disregard procurement guidelines in the awarding of contracts under the Western Region Megapolis Project. Under the consultancy, the Beira Lake Master Plan–first formulated in 1996–will be updated. Cabinet paper presented recently says recommendations of more..

Sept 5 (Island) Former Peace Secretariat chief and ex-Minister Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha said that UNSG’s assertion that Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism could be compared with Ruwanda and Srebrenica genocide was truly shocking. Prof. Wijesinha has sent us the following statement: "To compare what happened in Sri Lanka to Rwanda and Srebrenica violates one of the first principles of justice, as laid down by Aristotle. more..

Sept 5 (Island) Officials of Department of Inland Revenue (IRD) are planning to stage a sick note campaign today in protest against what they call a govt move to hand over tax collection to a foreign company. All staff officers, field officers and clerical officers of the IRD in Colombo and its regional branches are expected to participate in today’s sick note campaign organised by the Joint Committee of the Trade Unions of Inland Revenue Service. more..

Sept 5 (SL) With a certain former Ceylinco subsidiary and one of SL’s oldest finance companies being probed into whether unsound or improper financial practices have taken place, many citizens question as to the real role of country’s banking watchdog – Central Bank as regulator. Sunday Leader reported that a certain financial institution was faced with an imminent liquidity crisis and a forensic audit was being conducted. more..

Sept 5 (SL) Over 9.5 Kg of gold is said to have gone missing from the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Temple. The gold had gone missing when the shrine was handed over to Shasheendra Rajapaksa in 2006 by the then Basnayake Nilame, Pradeep Dela Bandara. The exact amount of gold gifted to the Temple was not taken note of at the time. Current Basnayake Nilame said that he has already made a statement to the Police more..

Sept 5 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday the govt was working towards introducing a pay hike to the working class, and also to provide employment opportunities to the youth. Addressing the UNP membership drive and the appointment of the Youth Bala Mandala in Biyagama yesterday, he said the govt would provide employment opportunities to the youth through 50 industrial zones in the country. more..

Sept 5 (CT) The Sri Lanka Police celebrated its 150th anniversary on Saturday (3) in the backdrop of nabbing the prime suspects in connection with the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Sulaiman who was abducted from his residence in Bambalapitiya on 21 August. The eight suspects in connection with the abduction and murder of Sulaiman were arrested after the Police sleuths carried out the investigations meticulously within two weeks period. more..

Sept 5 (CT) University academics had agitated from around 2012, coupling with their demand for a hike in salaries and other perks, for an increase in govt expenditure on education to a level equal to 6% of GDP. There was a prolonged strike accompanied by a long march by them to pressurise the Govt in power at that time for acceptance of their demand. Yet, the response from the Govt was poor. Seizing the opportunity, UNP in its election manifesto presented during Parliamentary elections more..

Sept 5 (Island) There is a rise in breast cancer among Lankan women during the recent past, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists Dr Damayanthi Peiris said yesterday. She said around 12,000 new patients sought treatment at the Maharagama Cancer Institute every year and the majority of them had breast cancer. The increase of breast cancer cases had also been reported from hospitals other than the Maharagama Cancer Institute, she said. more..

Sept 5 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said today the tickets for tomorrow’s SL vs Australia 1st T20 game in Pallekele was sold out. It advised fans, who did not have tickets for the match, to avoid crowding the gates as there were no more tickets for sale. “No tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the match. Only ticket holders will be allowed into the stadium,” SLC said. Earlier, a group of cricket fans who failed to purchase tickets for the fourth ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia behaved more..

Sept 5 (PTI) In a remarkable public health achievement, Sri Lanka has been certified as malaria-free island country by WHO on Monday. "SL's achievement is truly remarkable. In the mid-20th century it was among the most malaria-affected countries, but now it is malaria-free. This is testament to the courage and vision of its leaders, and signifies the great leaps that can be made when targeted action is taken. more..

Sept 5 (PTI) Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd's clothing brand Peter Englandtoday announced its foray into Sri Lankan market with an exclusive outlet in Colombo. "Peter England today announced its successful foray into Sri Lanka. Peter England has successfully grown as one of the most popular Menswear brands in India. The brand is betting on the fastest growing retail sector in Sri Lanka," the company said. Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd Business Head, Madura F&L Ashish Dikshit more..

Sept 5 (SL) Former President Rajapaksa has sought Chinese funding for the political activities of his new alliance which is to be formed soon. Rajapaksa had met a Chinese Communist Party delegation in Malaysia last week. Rajapaksa had sought funding for his new political alliance when he met the Chinese delegation in Malaysia. Rajapaksa is expected to head a new alliance which will include Joint Opposition members and will contest the next election under a new symbol. more..

Sept 5 (AFP) Retiring Dilscoop inventor Tillakaratne Dilshan has a last chance to showcase the audacious shot that bears his name when SL play Australia in two Twenty20 internationals this week. Sri Lankan's cheeky ramp shot, in which he goes down on one knee and flicks the ball over the wicketkeeper's head, has plagued bowlers and inspired fellow batsmen since he unveiled it in 2008. Fans have a final opportunity to see more..

Sept 5 (DM) Police have launched an investigation has been launched into the disappearance of a 35-year-old Bandaragama businessman identified as Hussain Mohammed Nasli in Trincomalee. They said he is a resident of Atulugama in Bandaragama and that his father had complained to the Bandaragama Police that his son was missing since Sunday. In his complaint Mr. Hussain’s father said his son and three others had left for Trincomalee on Saturday to attend a gold auction more..

Sept 5 (EN) Sri Lanka's bank credit surged to Rs110 billion in June 2016 from Rs 44.6 billion a month earlier, including Rs 48 billion in Central Bank credit, official data showed. Private sector credit grew by Rs 75.9 billion to Rs 3,798.10 billion in June, up 28.2% from a year earlier. Credit to state enterprise fell Rs 4.8 billion to Rs 484.9 billion in June 2016, from May. With finances at Ceylon Petroleum Corporation improving, there have been net paybacks of debt. more..

Sept 5 (MEA) The Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in the High Commissioner of Malaysia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, to express the condemnation of the Govt of SL, on the assault carried out by a group of persons yesterday, on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, in a restricted area of the Kuala Lumpur Int'l Airport, while he was in the process of carrying out his official duties. more..

Sept 5 (LT) Convener of Voice Against Corruption (VAC) JVP Central Committee Member Wasantha Samarasinghe states a powerful minister in yahapalana govt had reportedly spent a sum of Rs 8 million through a corporation under his ministry to celebrate his birthday lavishly. Mr. Samarasinghe said the chairman of the Corporation is a close ally of the minister concerned and he also charged that the minister had deployed employees of the Corporation to work in the Minister’s house. more..

Sept 5 (DN) A 7-year-old boy at an estate in Maskeliya was burned by his stepmother yesterday. Police said neighbours had responded to the boy’s incessant cries and called the Police when the found him grievously injured. His stepmother hand dunked his hands and face in boiling water, causing the boy immense pain and injuries. The boy’s parents were divorced and that he lived with his father and stepmother. They said the boy was subject to much abuse at the hands of his stepmother. more..

Sept 5 (CI) Seamer Kasun Rajitha has been named in SL's squad for the two T20s against Australia, while allrounders Thisara Perera and Milinda Siriwardana, batsman Chamara Kapugedara, and spinner Sachithra Senanayake, have also all been recalled. Among the significant omissions were batsmen Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella, and allrounder Ramith Rambukwella. Spin-bowling allrounder Sachith Pathirana more..

Sept 5 (Island) Chief incumbent of Gangaramaya, Colombo Ven Galaboda Gnanissara thera has complained to IGP Pujith Jayasundara that noise pollution in the sacred city of Kataragama has increased due to failure on the part of the police to take action to control three wheelers playing loud music. Thera made this complaint when the IGP with police top brass visited the temple on Saturday to participate in religious observances to mark the 150th anniversary of the police Department. more..

Sept 5 (DN) Ministry of Education has released Rs.902 million to settle arrears and outstanding increments on teachers’ salaries at national schools, assisted schools and pirivenas in the nine provinces. Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam ordered that arrears since 2006 be immediately attended to. Rs. 212.77 million would go to Western Province, Rs. 76.16 million to Central Province, Rs. 41.12 million to North Central Province, Rs. 170.94 million to North Western Province, more..

Sept 5 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s exports fell 5% to US$ 897 million in June 2016, while imports dropped a slower 0.2% to US$ 1,676 million from a year earlier. The trade gap further widened 6% to US$ 779 million from a year earlier due to the steeper reduction in exports comparison to the decline in imports. For the six months to June, the trade gap widened 2.2% to US$ 4,213 million from a year ago. Earnings from exports declined for more..

Sept 5 (BelTA) Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has sent a letter of birthday greetings to SL President Maithripala Sirisena, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader. “I am convinced that under your leadership the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka will be vigorously developing for the benefit of every Sri Lankan family and in order to enhance the authority of the country in the international arena,” the message of greetings reads. more..

Sept 5 (CI) Sri Lanka may have the beginnings of a future-proof Test team, but in the shorter formats, the juggernaut that is their transition rolls relentlessly on. So long has it reigned now, it probably deserves to be capitalised: Transition. Perhaps in years to come, Sri Lankan historians will see fit to add a prefix, and it will become The Great Transition. Whatever the case, it continues to guzzle up players and spit out empty husks of international careers, chewing up those husks and spitting more..