Nov 11 (CT) Speech made by Leader of TNA R. Sampanthan at the Constitutional Assembly debate on the Steering Committee Interim Report in Parliament was more accommodative and inclusive in his approach with a broader outlook than the stance taken by the first Tamil Leader of the Opposition and TULF the late A Amirthalingam during his parliamentary days. Nothing but a separate Tamil state of Eelam had been the manthra of the TULF from the time Vaddukoddai more..

Nov 11 (ST) SL’s private sector will be made more dynamic and forward-looking by providing necessary incentives (not tax exemptions) while motivating employees in the sector with the introduction of a new pension scheme along with existing superannuation fund reforms. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s upcoming 2018 Designer budget is to unveil several proposals aimed at creating an economy firmly based on foreign and domestic investment harnessing maximum more..

Nov 11 (Island) It really needed a fuel crisis to get our politicians to ride bicycles. Those who rode bicycles to Parliament are not bikeholics – they are luxurholics, who have thought of riding a bicycle as a pastime of fun politics. In case they thought of getting more publicity than Minister Mangala Samaraweera presenting his first Budget, they did not have a good ride. Budget hit the headlines and cycle-jokers hit the sidelines. more..

Nov 11 (CI) Hardik Pandya has been pulled out of the squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka due to begin on Nov 16. A media release from the BCCI said the selection committee had taken the call in consultation with the team management so as to lessen the allrounder's chances of injury. "Considering Mr Pandya's heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern. Mr Pandya will undergo a period of strength at conditioning more..

Nov 11 (ST) When Chithra  Balasuriya set out to produce a film about an aristocratic landowner given to wine, women and song  titled Parasathu mal, little did he realize that five decades later, the film would continue to generate  the same  kind of interest it did when it was first released in 1966. The success of his debut film production took Balasuriya by surprise  and today at the age of 85, he still wonders  how luck played a role in putting him at the right place at more..

Nov 11 (DM) The overcrowding issue at Yala National Park has disrupted wildlife, jeopardized the nature experience of visitors to this facility and endangered the lives of animals. Ministry of Sustainable Development took action to solve longstanding issue. Environmentalists, former wildlife officials and even current officials of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) claim that due to mounting political pressure, more..

Nov 11 (MoD) SL Navy's largest Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), SLNS Sayurala left the country to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Int'l Fleet Review -2017 in Thailand, on Thursday. The ship left with a crew of 127 Naval personnel from Trincomalee, yesterday. This will be the first foreign sea voyage of Sayurala which joined the Navy's fleet in August, this year. International Fleet Review is scheduled to be held in Pattaya, Thailand from 18th to 21st Nov. more..

Nov 11 (Island) Mangala Samaraweera clearly reveals that the guiding philosophy of his Budget and indeed of the govt’s economic policy is manifestly not that of President Sirisena but rather that of PM Wickremesinghe when he says Mr. Speaker…In line with Vision 2025… Mr. Samaraweera’s budget is filled with lies, half-truths, dangerous ideas and outrageously treacherous policy suggestions. Its guiding philosophy, just as that of Govt’s Constitutional proto-draft more..

Nov 11 (DM) The Designer Budget presented by the new Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera is said to have a number of blessings in disguise for which the country’s leading business chamber urged its community to thoroughly analyse the proposal so that no opportunity is missed. Implying that existing and new businesses can reap a plethora of benefits provided they know which areas to tap into, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Rajendra Theagarajah said: more..

Nov 11 (CT) Election and AGM of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) is finally set to be held on January 9 next year, it is nine years since NOC held their last AGM to elect office bearers. At the General Assembly of the NOC held on Thursday where the new Constitution came for ratification, none of the amendments were sanctioned without further change to the constitution. Assembly started around 6p.m. and went past 8 p.m. First proposal which was to more..

Nov 11 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena emphasized that all should fulfill their collective responsibilities to build a safe country for the children; our nation’s future. ‘The govt is committed to ensure the protection of the children as well as to provide better education for them’, the President said, addressing Polonnaruwa District Conference of Daruwan Surakimu (Let’s Protect Our Children) National Programme, held at Polonnaruwa more..

Nov 11 (DM) Following is an interview with international trade finance expert Gary Collyer. The International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) will be hosting an international trade finance seminar on Past Challenges and Future Opportunities in Trade Finance. The one-day workshop will be held at Hotel Kingsbury on Nov 22, 2017. The workshop will be conducted by international trade finance professional Gary Collyer. Here’s an interview with Collyer addressing more..

Nov 11 (ST) Proposed new Constitution should be the product of entire people of the country and not a chosen few, a trade union movement has said. Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees’ Union (FTZGSEU) in a statement which called for the new Constitution framework proposal to be through a People’s Process has urged the govt to present a work plan without any further delay to carry out the total programme of socialising the Constitution making process. more..

Nov 11 (Island) St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road, Colombo thrived on field events and relays, and President’s Balika, Nawala blossomed on the prowess of record-breaking sprinters Kavindi Edirisinghe and Ruwansa Weerakkody as the two schools won the overall championships in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively of the 48th Sir John Tarbet Junior Championship concluded at Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium, more..

Nov 11 (DN) The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed for December 6 to deliver its order regarding the preliminary objections raised by GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya in respect of a charge sheet filed against him over contemptuous statements. The Court was informed that the partied have filed written submissions regarding the preliminary objections. The Court of Appeal bench comprised Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya and Justice Shiran Gunaratne. more..

Nov 11 (FT) Court of Appeal fixed for argument on 8 Feb next year the Writ Petition filed as public interest litigation on the alleged deforestation and illegal construction of housing project in the Northern Sanctuary of Wilpattu National Park. The Bench comprised Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya (President/CA) and A.L.S. Gooneratne. The Writ petition was filed by Centre for Environmental Justice (Guarantee) Ltd. citing the Conservator General, Central Environmental Authority, more..

Nov 11 (FT) Govt has obtained Rs.1.516 trillion worth debt in 2016, Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva confirmed in Parliament yesterday. The weighted average yield rate (WAYR) due to the total debt obtained in the form of treasury bills from the domestic market for short-term and long-term instruments were 9.99% and 13.58% respectively. WAYR for SL Development Bonds, which is a domestic US dollar denominated more..

Nov 11 (FT) Supreme Court fixed for support on 21 Nov the Fundamental Rights petition filed by a Central Bank officer seeking the Court to prevent him from being questioned by the Attorney General’s Department officers assisting the Bond Commission until the final determination of his petition. Bench comprised Justices Sisira De Abrew and Vijith Malalgoda. The Petitioner S. Pathumanathan in his petition cited Senior Additional Solicitors Dappula de Livera and Yasantha Kodagoda, more..

Nov 11 (FT) Business Confidence Index (BCI) has recovered marginally following its crash in the previous month to reach 106 basis points in Oct, latest edition of LMD. Nielsen’s Managing Director Sharang Pant cautions in LMD that “large-scale concerns on the economy and business climate still persist.” He also notes: “While Vision 2025 has been welcomed by stakeholders, business leaders and consumers are looking for more on the ground and immediate action to rebuild lost confidence.” more..

Nov 11 (DN) Sri Lanka’s human rights record will be examined by the UNHRC’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the third time on Nov 15, in a meeting that will be webcast live. The delegation of Sri Lanka will be headed by Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva. Sri Lanka is one of the 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session taking place from 6 to 17 Nov. more..

Nov 11 (Island) Minister Champika Ranawaka said in Parliament that there was the danger of the dam at the Ambatale reservoir collapsing during a heavy shower and the entire Colombo city and Parliament getting inundated. Action should be taken immediately to reinforce the dam, which was likely to give way come the next rain, he said, adding the danger of Nagalagam Street Dam also collapsing. Colombo and Kelaniya were protected by two dams built more than 100 years ago by the British. more..

Nov 11 (CT) JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti said, his Party had decided to present to Parliament after 17 Nov, a heap of information regarding alleged large-scale fraud and corruption committed by the current Govt. He said, that the committee stage debate of the Budget will be held in Parliament from 17 Nov to 9 Dec and that the JVP intends presenting to Parliament during this period, a number of extremely significant evidence regarding many large-scale frauds & corruption taking place in ministries. more..

Nov 11 (DN) The govt has launched a major restructuring programme for State Owned Enterprises (SOE), Finance and Mass Media Ministry Senior Advisor, Mano Tittawella said. Answering questions posed by the business community, on the ailing public sector, he explained that they were looking at either listing non-strategic enterprises on the stock market or handing them over to private sector management. more..

Nov 11 (DM) The Vavuniya Division Anti-Vice Squad said 2.266 Kg of heroin worth more than Rs.30 million has been taken into custody on Thursday when it was on the verge of being transported to Colombo from Jaffna. A suspect from Jaffna who was about to board a bus to Colombo, was nabbed by officers of the Anti-vice Squad who had taken him into custody on a tip-off received by them at the Vavuniya bus stand. They had received information that suspect was a resident of Velvetithurai more..

Nov 11 (GT) Sri Lanka finance ministry has announced a programme to encourage former combatants to find jobs and fund private companies who recruit them. The programme due to come into effect next year was included in the country’s annual budget, which was the subject of parliamentary debate. Under the programme the govt will provide facilities for former rebels to obtain training and certificates in fields of technical education, enabling them to obtain jobs in line with their skills. more..

Nov 11 (FT) Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera offered greater clarity on several of the contentious proposals of Budget 2018, justifying their inclusion as necessary for a progressive nation. Speaking to the media, Minister was emphatic on the benefits of the proposed tax for debt repayment, identified as the Medamulana Tax, that seeks to charge 20 cents per Rs. 1,000 worth of bank transactions.  more..

Nov 11 (DM) A profession is a vocation on specialized educational training and professionalism is any type of work that needs special training or practical skills after training a high level of education. The Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), set up in 1974, is currently the most powerful professional body with 53 Professional Associations ever growing serving the community with professional uplift-men and development/prosperity in all sectors. more..

Nov 11 (DM) The writer served in the Sri Lanka Army for over 27 years from 1973 to 2000 before he took early retirement for professional and personal reasons. He has the unique distinction of Commanding the 1st Battalion the Gemunu Watch an infantry battalion which was raised in December 1962 by his late father Brig. John F. Halangode. His grand uncle Albert Halangode fought in WW 1 as a 19-year-old school boy from Trinity College and was injured in the battle of Somme. more..

Nov 11 (ST) The already high vegetable and fruit prices are expected to rise further during the upcoming festive season, but farmers say their products could be sold at affordable prices if measures are in place to rein in middlemen and traders making undue profits. Vegetable prices were expected to increase by 40-50% in Nov and Dec. This was because production would be low during these months more..

Nov 11 (ST) Just when the angry reaction to the polythene ban appears to be waning and supermarkets are generously handing out High-Density Polythene (HDPE) bags to shoppers, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) has expressed its determination to fully enforce the law. The CEA said it had been working intensely since the gazette notification was published on September 1 this year. more..

Nov 11 (CT) While noting that the Govt is determined to discourage hard liquor consumption in the country, Minister Mangala Samaraweera told Parliament yesterday that drinking beer is healthier than drinking sweetened soft drinks. Responding to a question raised by JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti during the first day of the second reading stage debate on Budget 2018, he said, "In many countries, 80% drink beer. more..

Nov 11 (FT) State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne staunchly defended the latest Budget, which proposed sweeping changes, insisting the Govt was being brave by taking the tough road and pushing for liberalisation even at potential political cost because it assured consistency.  Responding to questions at the KPMG Post-Budget forum, he emphasised that incremental change, despite being attempted by previous Govts, more..

Nov 11 (DM) If there are any MPs who are dual citizens, they should not only be barred from Parliament, stripped of their parliamentary privileges and asked to pay compensation but should also be sent to jail, Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said. He said that the country's apex court has given a clear ruling on dual citizenship and as such no MP with dual citizenship has the right to sit in the House anymore. more..

Nov 11 (Island) UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said SLFP produced leaders at different levels and, therefore, there was no struggle for party leadership. Unlike other parties where there were cold wars between the party members to be the next leader, SLFP had already formed leadership for all levels, he said. It was Prez Sirisena who broken the tradition of limiting the party leadership to a single person or a family, more..

Nov 11 (ST) Three of the four family members of the Sri Lankan asylum seeker who was shot dead by the Swiss Police are seeking asylum in Switzerland after that country on humanitarian grounds gave them one-week visitor visas to attend the funeral. In Colombo, Swiss embassy officials confirmed that an incident had taken place in the city of Brissago (Canton of Tessin), resulting in the death of a Sri Lankan asylum seeker. more..

Nov 11 (AD) It has been reported that the granting of concessionary rates to several essential food items as declared by the Minister of Finance, will take another few days to be fully implemented. Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera declared that the prices of several essential food items were to be reduced from midnight on Nov 8. Reports confirm however that the gazette notification declaring these more..

Nov 11 (FT) The Appropriation Bill 2018 Second Reading Adjourned Debate commenced yesterday, with JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti questioning the Unity Govt on the likelihood of completing the tasks set in Budget Speech 2018, compared to the considerably higher number of unfinished goals and promises made during the last four budgets. “The main aim of a budget is to explain the vision of a govt and to show the plan for more..

Nov 11 (Island) TNA and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, MP, has requested President Maithripala Sirisena to release 132 acres of Army held land at Keppapulavu in the Mullaitivu district before 23rd of Nov as promised. Sampanthan released the following letter dated Nov. 9, addressed to President Sirisena: (1) I write further to my letters of 20th July and 11th Aug to your Excellency in regard to the above matter. more..