Dec 8 (Island) Captain Dinesh Chandimal has gained eight places to take ninth position after finishing the recent Test series against India, with 366 runs, marking the first time he has moved into the top 10 in the ICC Player Rankings. All-rounder Angelo Mathews has moved up seven places to the 23rd position after scoring 111 in the first innings while Dhananjaya de Silva’s match-saving 119 in the second innings has lifted him nine places to 47th position in latest ICC Test Batting Rankings. more..

Dec 8 (Island) It was Mark Twain who remarked I never allowed my schooling to interfere with my education. Einstein declared, Any fool can learn, but the point is to understand. As yet another had it, Those who can – do, those who can’t - teach and, then again, wisdom is what remains after I have forgotten all what I was taught. Churchill once said I love to learn but hate to be taught. These witticisms have on reflection, enormous lessons and reveal much about where our educational systems more..

Dec 8 (CT) As Local Govt Elections approach us, SLFP will be tried in untested waters to determine their political future. However, having delayed the LG polls for over two years, the future of SLFP appears bleak and on the verge of political demise. Presidential election in 2015 was the most successful political conspiracy to oust an incumbent President in SL history, yet nobody gained more than the UNP. more..

Dec 8 (Island) Talks between the Joint Opposition (JO) and the SLFP have failed and the former has decided to go it alone under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) banner at the next local govt polls, we are told. Only the naïve expected the two groups to bury the hatchet. President Maithripala Sirisena cannot satisfy the JO’s conditions, the main being the termination of the SLFP-UNP alliance. If he did as the JO says, he would fall between two stools. more..

Dec 8 (CT) The potential that rice has in SL is that it is the insurance policy for the whole nation as it not only feeds the nation but also can become the currency that could become a source for national stability. By the gradual transformation from its dependency on varieties which have a global demand, it shall create a steady line of Foreign Exchange earnings for the nation. With a possible incentive scheme, rice cultivation can be developed into a steady source of national revenue. more..

Dec 8 (DN) Sri Lanka’s new one-day international captain all-rounder Thisara Perera is confident that his team needs only one win in the upcoming three-match ODI series against India to come out of their losing streak in this format. Sri Lanka has not won an ODI since beating Zimbabwe by eight wickets at Hambantota in July. They have gone through their last 12 ODIs without a win which includes two 5-0 series whitewashes more..

Dec 8 (ST) Last Thursday, November 23rd, university economists and their invited guests gathered at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (outside Colombo) to hold the annual conference of the Sri Lanka Forum of University Economists (SLFUE). Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, the Governor of the Central of Sri Lanka graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Fredrick Abeyratne, former Head of Poverty and Governance Unit of UNDP delivered the keynote speech. more..

Dec 8 (DN) The FCID has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that Cabinet approval has not been obtained for the D.A.Rajapaksa Memorial Museum in Weerakatiya, Medamulana. The project does not have the approval of the Weerakatiya PS also, the FCID informed court, filing a report yesterday. It was revealed that the Navy had provided manpower for the construction on the verbal instructions of former Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and on the written more..

Dec 8 (ST) The debacle in Nagpur is more than a loss. I would like to describe it as ‘poloss’— very immature. It was not ‘herali’ the young and certainly not ‘kos’, which is the mature. It was just ‘poloss’ the tender version of the Jak fruit. But, whom are we fooling? As a mundane man I could only say that Sri Lanka Cricket at present is in the process of helping a national cause. When there are fewer people to watch cricket on television in this cricket crazy island, there is less stress on more..

Dec 8 (DN) Gangodawila Magistrate ordered the Boralesgamuwa Police to expedite the investigation into the alleged sexual harassment and abuse of 18 young women at an orphanage in Dehiwala. The order comes as lawyers representing the women and victims’ advocates accuse the police of dragging their feet on the case. Officers initially arrested Mohamed Sarippuge Mohar, 62, who they say was a driver for the orphanage, on charges of sexual harassment in July. more..

Dec 8 (DN) “The Angunakolapellessa Prison was opened with all modern facilities including CCTV monitoring recently. The Pallekele and Jaffna Prison are under construction. The Welikada, Galle, Matara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kegalle, Wariyapola Prisons and Mannar lockup will be relocated,” Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan said. more..

Dec 8 (CT) A company based in Colombo 12 has been flouting Customs regulations and importing paper boards regularly for a number of years under the TIEP scheme and their value added re-export component was questionable. This racket has been going on for quite awhile. The paper is imported from Indonesia and no value addition is made and not re-exported, instead it finds its way into the local market thus flouting the duty waiver. Temporary Importation for Export Processing (TIEP) more..

Dec 8 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural Best Sri Lankan Brands Awards Night on 11 Dec from 7.00 p.m. at the Hilton Colombo. The groundbreaking annual Best Sri Lankan Brands is an initiative by Interbrand, the world’s largest and most influential brand consultancy, in partnership with the Daily FT. The Best Sri Lankan Brands is an extension of Intebrand’s world-renowned Best Brands list and will significantly boost the country’s efforts to more..

Dec 8 (Island) Following the recent killing of the Galgamuwa Tusker, environmentalist have been calling upon the government to declare the killing of any wild elephant as a crime and legalistate for stringent punishment to be meted out to the perpetrators. Environmentalists said legislation should be introduced that adequately reflected the gravity of the offence and justice meted out accordingly and those who committed more..

Dec 8 (FT) According to the latest data released by the Export Development Board, merchandise exports have grown by 10.3% during January to Oct 2017, compared to the same period last year. Merchandise export earnings recorded $ 9.5 billion for the eight months to October this year, compared to $ 8.6 billion last year. Estimates in the services exports sector suggest an overall growth of 5.9% during the first eight months of the year, bringing total exports to $ 12.5 billion. more..

Dec 8 (Island) Around 60,000 acres of paddy fields in Elahera, Minneriya, Girithale, Kavudulla in the Polonnaruwa District cannot be cultivated due to lack of water, farmers complain. Farmers said the irrigation officials had not announced a date on which cultivations could begin. They been asked at the District Agriculture Committee meetings to prepare the land for cultivation of paddy with rain water till the Irrigation Department released the waters stored in tanks, farmers said. more..

Dec 8 (Island) Minister Lakshman Kiriella yesterday told Parliament that Rs. 1,992 million was needed to pay compensation to those who had lost their lands due to the construction of the Mirijjawila-Sooriyawewa road. Making a ministerial statement in response to a question raised by JVP MP Nihal Galappaththi on Nov. 28 Minister Kiriella said that 1,958 plots of land had been taken over from Hambantota & Sooriyawewa DSs. more..

Dec 8 (Island) The Freshwater Fisher Information System - ‘Infish’, the first of its kind in Asia, was launched by Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera at the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) in Battaramulla on Wednesday (06). Under this system, all data of the fisher community, daily fish harvest from inland reservoirs, fish caught by each boat and their income as well as savings would be recorded, the Fisheries Ministry said. more..

Dec 8 (FT) Sri Lankan Journalists for Global Justice (SLJGJ) in a statement yesterday vehemently condemned the decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and move its Embassy there from Tel Aviv, in open defiance of global public opinion and the decisions of the UN. “This move endangers the prospect of peace, security and stability in the Middle East, violates the rights of the Palestinian people to a State of their own and more..

Dec 8 (Island) More than 30% of SL's population live in absolute poverty and private -public partnerships could help reduce this number to a great extent, Additional Secretary, Presidential Sustainable Development initiative Jayantha Wijeratne said. "Sri Lanka has initiated several poverty eradication projects since independence and those projects have done a lot to reduce poverty levels but we have to do a lot more to more..

Dec 8 (DN) Richard Pieris & Company PLC plans to invest between Rs 15 to 20 billion in several unique projects in the next three years that will see electric cars, lithium batteries and Oud perfume manufactured in Sri Lanka. Dr. Sena Yaddehige, Chairman of Richard Pieris & Company PLC, said the group profit that stood at Rs 180 million in 2002, today, before even finishing the year has increased to Rs 4,100 million, a 28 times increase. He further said business that commenced more..

Dec 8 (Hindu) TI Cycles of India, a part of the $ 4.7 billion Murugappa Group, has inked a definitive agreement to acquire controlling stake in Creative Cycles (Private) Limited and Great Cycles (Private) Limited of Sri Lanka. In a filing to the BSE on Thursday, Tube Investments India Limited (of which TI Cycles of India is a Division), said it had entered into separate shareholders' agreements with Shuyuan Gan, promoter and 100% shareholder of Great Cycles and Creative Cycles, more..

Dec 8 (DM) The IMF Executive Board completed the third review of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility arrangement on Wednesday (6), enabling the disbursement of US$ 251.4 million to the country. In a statement yesterday, the IMF said the Executive Board completed the third review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the programme supported by a three-year extended arrangement under the EFF arrangement. more..

Dec 8 (DN) Thousands of commuters were left stranded yesterday, following an unanounced strike by the Railway Locomotive Engine Drivers Union who are demanding a revision of the existing recruitment policies. Commuters left in the lurch had to find alternate ways to reach their places of work. A special meeting between Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary G.S Withanage and trade union representatives proved futile since they could not reach a consensus yesterday. more..

Dec 8 (TS) The world's longest embroidered scroll was one of many art pieces on exhibit during a three-day Chinese art show in SL, as part of an initiative to build trust between the two nations. Art lovers were left breathless as they admired the intricate designs Chinese artist Lui Yamei had painstakingly weaved into the fabric. The gifted weaver holds the Guinness World Record for the largest piece of embroidery completed by an individual, and had traveled to Sri Lanka more..

Dec 8 (DM) The Civil Aviation and Transport Ministry yesterday had requested Railway Trade Unions to call off their strike considering the inconvenience caused to the public as well as to the students sitting for GCE O/L Exam. Several trade unions including Train Controllers' Union, Railway Engine Drivers' Union, Railway Station Masters' Union and Railway Guards' Union launched a strike from Wednesday midnight citing more..

Dec 8 (DM) With corruption and specially political corruption continuing to spread like a cancer in Sri Lanka, tomorrow’s International Anti-Corruption Day needs to give important lessons to our politicians at all levels and from all parties. According to the United Nations, every year US$ one trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5% of the global GDP. In developing countries, according to the UNDP, more..

Dec 8 (DM) With the preparations by the political parties for the local govt elections that are to be held in February being underway, a sense of insecurity can be seen in almost all parties, big or small, representing northern, southern, eastern or central parts of the country. It is only the JVP that seems to be firm in their stand that it would face the elections on their own. Many other parties are running helter-skelter seeking coalition partners to run just for the local councils, and not for the Parliament. more..

Dec 8 (DM) Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, convener of the National Movement for a Just Society, aired his views on the setbacks of the Yahapalanaya Govt and expressed his thoughts on the upcoming elections. Prof. Wijesooriya asserted that even though the UNP and the SLFP contest separately they should govern the State together. Q: Have the expected objectives of the Yahapalanaya Govt been achieved during its tenure so far? more..

Dec 8 (ST) Nobody, simply nobody, can predict any natural disaster including a tsunami or an earthquake! But there is ample time to be prepared as there are effective warning systems in place. This is the categorical assertion of world-famous Oceanographer, Prof. Charitha Pattiaratchi, in reaction to fear and terror spread by a prediction originating in India that a tsunami is imminent before December 31. more..

Dec 8 (ST) Why didn’t the Dodanduwa fisheries harbour receive a weather warning from the Meteorological Department or the Department of Fisheries before strong winds battered the country on Wednesday night? The bodies of eight fishermen, who went out in their mechanized vallams that fateful evening, have washed ashore after the disaster. Four were from Dodanduwa and four from Hikkaduwa, more..

Dec 8 (ABC) A Sri Lankan man who threatened to set off a bomb onboard a flight from Melbourne is facing a maximum 20 years' jail after pleading guilty to attempting to take control of an aircraft. Manodh Marks, 25, forced Malaysia Airlines flight MH128 to Kuala Lumpur to turn back shortly after take-off when he tried to enter the cockpit while screaming that he had a bomb. The catering student was overpowered by more..

Dec 8 (AD) Just days after the recent killing of the infamous Galgamuwa tusker, popularly known as the Galgamuwe Dala Puttuwa, had stirred controversy in the country, local environmentalists now claim that another renowned tusker is reportedly missing. Mahasen is an equally rare tusker who roams the banks of the Minneriya reservoir, the sacred grounds of Somawathiya and has also been sighted frequently at Minneriya National Park. more..

Dec 8 (DM) The joint opposition yesterday said the attempts made by them to join hands with the SLFP in the upcoming elections had failed since several ministers were not ready give up their ministerial privileges. Joint opposition member MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that they were basically a part of the SLFP and added that the ownership of the SLFP could not be determined on factors like its headquarters or designations. more..

Dec 8 (NR) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says a total of 154 security personnel have been assigned to the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaking in Parliament in response to a statement under Standing Orders by UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena, the Premier said only 61 officers have been assigned to the security detail of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. more..

Dec 8 (DN) State Minister Eran Wickramarathne said that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered to purchase one million tonnes of rice. He further said that measures are being taken to reduce the prices of rice. Speaking about the 2018 Budget, he said the budget would further strengthen the economy. He added that the primary balance has always been negative in this country, but for the first time, it is showing positive signs and more..

Dec 8 (DM) Excited Catholics and many others were seen rushing into St. Anne’s Church in Wattala to get a glimpse of a picture of Jesus Christ, where droplets of sweat were seen emerging from the forehead of the image of the blessed Saviour in what seemed to be a modern day miracle. Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Sanjeev Mendis, said the watery droplets similar to that of sweat had been flowing from the picture since Oct this year. more..

Dec 8 (CT) Govt Valuers' Association (GVA) has threatened to go on strike, which in turn will bring the activities of the Central Expressway, Uma Oya Project, Matara-Mattala Expressway, Ruwanpura Expressway and other special projects to a halt, if their demands are not met within a week. General Secretary of the GVA, D.M. Seneviratne said, Govt needs to value a number of components of a project for a project to continue and more..