Nov 1 (SL) Public protests have been continuing in the North against a decision by the Attorney General’s department to transfer three Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) cases from Vavuniya High Court to Anuradhapura. Students at the University of Jaffna have launched a university-wide boycott of classes until further notice as student leaders are scheduled to discuss future course of protest action. Earlier in the month protests more..

Nov 1 (CT) Following is the speech by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the Chief Guest, at the International Buddhist Festival which was held in the city of Aurangabad, India by Dhammayana Educational and Charitable Trust. Venerable members of the Maha Sangha, Buddhist representatives from other nations and distinguished guests, it is my honour and privilege to stand before you today, as the Chief Guest at this more..

Nov 1 (ST) Adulterated oil being passed off as coconut oil is widespread in SL and it is undermining public health. Consumer officials warn of a mafia in the trade. Large containers of used cooking oil, mixed oil products as well as oil which appeared to have been purified by adding chemicals and colouring. Some vendors are re-selling cancer-causing used oil, passing them off as coconut oil. more..

Nov 1 (NR) Veteran spinner Rangana Herath added another accolade to his long list of achievements when he was awarded the 2017 Cricketer of the Year accolade during the annual Sri Lanka Cricket Awards last night. The 2017 Sri Lanka Cricket Awards, the pinnacle of achievement on SL’s domestic and international cricketing stage took place in Colombo last night. The awards ceremony honored the performances and more..

Nov 1 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena has given instructions to the relevant parties to provide 50% subsidy in seed potatoes for farmers who grow potatoes in out of season. He gave these instructions during the progress review meeting of National Food Production Programme held at the Presidential Secretariat, today (31). During this meeting it was discussed in detail regarding the future activities of the programme as well as more..

Nov 1 (LT) The death wails of capitalism can be heard everywhere today and all should rally to greet the dawn of Socialism says the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka speaking at the main commemorative rally of the Centenary of the October Revolution held at Viharamahadevi Park on Saturday. The commemorative rally was held with the participation of JVP Leaders, representatives of foreign political parties and organizations more..

Nov 1 (CT) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Trade Unions Collective has warned the Govt of a massive strike if a joint venture on the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm is entered into with India, disregarding their demands. The Collective stated that they will launch a massive strike with the participation of all the trade unions in the country, if arrangements are made for Sri Lanka to go ahead with the venture, based on a MoU signed more..

Nov 1 (CT) EPDP leader and Jaffna District MP Douglas Devananda, commenting on the sentence given to the men who attempted to kill him inside the Kalutara prison in July 1998, said that he had pardoned them long ago and that they should make an appeal against the verdict passed on them by Colombo Hight Court. He said that the attack at the Kalutara Prison was the second such attack he had experienced. more..

Nov 1 (NR) The govt charges groups who previously were in support of a new Constitution of opposing the interim report based on false premises. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing co-Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senarathne said the Supreme Court determined that the word federal does not mean that it divides the country but simply indicates power devolution. Minister added the word unitary is also a method of power devolution as is the word federal. more..

Nov 1 (CT) Sri Lanka has a problem when it comes to letting go of its past. Be it past traditions and outdated laws, the past conflicts, wars against invaders, insurgents and terrorists, political discord or even the simplest love affair, we find hard to just let go, and more often than not, tend to revisit the memories and experiences, despite the below-the-belt knockouts it had on us. We are masochistic like that unfortunately and we tend not to realize that either unless of course, more..

Nov 1 (AD) Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake has been appointed as the UNP Organizer for Gampaha electorate, confirmed UNP Secretary Kabir Hashim. Deputy Minister said that he will be appointed as the new organizer for Gampaha electorate today. He said that although the appointment was made yesterday, The UNP Secretary informed him that he will receive the appointment letter today. Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake was removed from his position more..

Nov 1 (NR) Minister of Local Govt and Provincial Councils Faiszer Musthapha has signed the gazette notification to conduct the Local Govt Election. The gazette was signed at the Ministry of Local Govt and Provincial Councils this morning. The Elections Commission can now declare the date to hold the election and call for nominations for the Local Government election, as the Commission is now formally vested with the legal capacity to conduct the election. more..

Nov 1 (DN) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said that those who threatened to set the House on fire, could not be allowed to stifle democracy. Speaker reprimanded Joint Opposition MPs Dinesh Gunawardena, Keheliya Rambukwella and Prasanna Ranaweera for trying to shout MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne down and disturb his speech repeatedly. more..

Nov 1 (DM) EU Ambassador to SL Tung-Laï Margue said he hoped the aspirations of the international community in finding a political settlement in the country would become a reality, even in the face of a short-sighted Opposition. Addressing the HOPE Photography Exhibition which was inaugurated at the Independence Square, he said the Govt had committed itself to a process of national reconciliation and to addressing the causes of the war through finding a political settlement. more..

Nov 1 (AD) An unidentified narcotic substance was found along with a stash of heroin and ganja by officials from the Excise Department following a raid conducting on a warehouse in Madampe. 18 suspects were taken into custody following an operation spread across Madampe, Marawila and Halawatha yesterday, for the possession of illicit substances.  The operation was conducted under the instructions of Excise Commissioner General Helen Meegasmulla following intelligence more..

Nov 1 (DM) The Cabinet yesterday decided to absorb the debts incurred by Mihin Lanka, which is expected to be liquidated soon. It was disclosed at the Cabinet meeting that the airline launched by the previous regime owed Rs.4,860 million to the People’s Bank and Rs.1,700 million to the national carrier, SriLankan airlines. The govt is reported to be planning to sell the airline's permit to a third party for operational purposes. more..

Nov 1 (EN) Govt decided to appoint a Presidential Commission of inquiry to probe the creation and the operations of Mihin Lanka, a state-run budget carrier set up by the former regime. Govt spokesman Rajith Senaratne said ministers discussed losses of Mihin Lanka airline which was established by former presidentRajapaksa after his regime had a tiff with the national carrier Sri Lankan. "The cabinet discussed some matters that were not previously (regarding Mihin)," minister said. more..

Nov 1 (FT) We as a nation must face the reality that a large number of our leaders at all levels and sectors of our society are outdated and ill-equipped to make the paradigm shifts necessary to lead us through a technology-driven 21st Century. Owing to a sense of hopelessness and frustration, over the years some of the best and brightest Sri Lankans have left and continue to leave our shores. It is unlikely that this trend will be reversed if there is no radical change in attitudes within our society. more..

Nov 1 (AD) Vice Chancellors of Govt Universities have nodded approval for the decision given by President regarding controversial SAITM issue. Vice Chancellors’ Committee issued a statement in this regard today. Having studied at length the announcement issued by the govt on solutions submitted by the Presidential Committee on solving the issue arisen on the Medical Faculty of SAITM, VCs of Govt Universities, more..

Nov 1 (DN) Supreme Court is to deliver its judgment tomorrow regarding the appeal filed by Galle district MP Geetha Kumarasinghe challenging Court of Appeal judgment that she is not qualified to be elected as a parliamentarian since she holds dual citizenship. This judgment is to be delivered by Supreme Court Judge Sisira de Abrew who was a member of five-judge-bench which heard the appeal. On Oct 3, a five-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Buwaneka more..

Nov 1 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s proposed free trade agreement with China is not an economic agreement but an agreement with a very clear political nature, a top policy adviser said. Speaking at an event hosted by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja said China would also want a rules based order for the future investments in SL. “Free trade agreement with China is a political agreement; it’s not an economic agreement & you don’t negotiate with China more..

Nov 1 (WB) The most recent edition of the World Bank’s Sri Lanka Development Update—which analyses key developments in SL’s economy over the past six months—finds the country at a critical moment in time. Now firmly in the post-war era, the island nation must look to the future, embracing every opportunity to combat poverty, create new jobs and build a resilient, robust economy. Its best chance of success lies in more..

Nov 1 (NR) Opposition Leader R Sampanthan says a new Constitution is a prerequisite to sustainable peace, development and progress. Addressing the Constitutional Assembly he said the previous Presidents and govts who were in power tabled proposals for power devolution that went far beyond the 13th Amendment to Constitution. Opposition Leader quoted a statement by Former President Rajapaksa who said any solution must be seen as one that stretches to a maximum possible more..

Nov 1 (DM) If cricket in Sri Lanka was not pulled out of the rut it is in now, it would be impossible to win the World Cup in 2019, former test captain and Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said. The former skipper complained that the issue was not the players but the management of the sport who made decisions on popularity. “I am not worried about the players, they are talented. However, the people in the management are not those who can manage the team properly,” he said. more..

Nov 1 (DM) The govt should learn a lesson from the incident where the Catalan Region declared independence from Spain, a country which is considered Indivisible by its Constitution, PHU said. MP Udaya Gammanpila said only because a Constitution says a country is undividable or indivisible doesn’t mean a country could not be divided in reality. “Govt continues to say that it will include the term undividable or indivisible more..

Nov 1 (DN) Supreme Court today issued an Interim Order preventing authorities including the CMC from dumping garbage in the Muthurajawela Sanctuary until the final determination of a Fundamental Rights petition is made. Three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Eva Wanasundara and Justice Vijith Malalgoda made this order pursuant to a fundamental rights petition filed by 35 residents in the close proximity of the Muthurajawela Sanctuary more..

Nov 1 (Xinhua) Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met with visiting SL Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana in Beijing. Wang said China highly values its relations with Sri Lanka, and regards the country as an important cooperation partner in the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes and beyond. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. more..

Nov 1 (USE) The USAID has been working closely with the Govt of SL on disaster preparedness and response, to help address and mitigate the loss of lives and property resulting from the increased frequency of flash floods and landslides.  Most recently, USAID brought the lead designer of the World Meteorological Organization’s Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) Dr. Konstantine Georgakakos to SL to work with the Ministry of Disaster Management on including Sri Lanka more..

Nov 1 (K24) Sri Lanka on Tuesday officially opened its Honorary Consulate in the Kurdistan Regions, becoming the 38th foreign representative office in the region. The Head of the Department of Foreign Relations in the Kurdistan Region, Falah Bakir, received Ahmed Mustafa, the Consul of Sri Lanka in Erbil. Bakir expressed the Kurdistan Regional Govt's readiness to develop relations between both countries on various fronts, according to the DFR press office. more..

Nov 1 (PMD) The First Draft Report of the Presidential Expert Committee on Sustainable Sri Lanka 2030 Vision, which is appointed to outline the Govt’s strategies for achieving 2030 UN sustainable development goals, was presented to President Maithripala Sirisena by Prof. Mohan Munasinghe at the Presidential Secretariat, today. President appointed this Special Committee last January to prepare the national policy on more..

Nov 2 (CT) On 4th February 2018 Sri Lanka will be entering its 61st year of independence from colonialism. It is time that the citizens of the country at least its apolitical literati come together and collectively make an assessment of the overall achievements and failures made during the sixty years so that an informed balance sheet could be presented to be audited by the public. Such a balance sheet should counter the alternate facts presented by politicians. more..

Nov 2 (CT) Peradeniya undoubtedly was picturesque, but could it be said about its education as well? With the risk of gaining criticism, I am again critically relating my personal experiences at the university of Peradeniya (University of Ceylon) between 1964 and 1968, first year at the Colombo campus. I might come back on more theoretical stuff some other time. Peradeniya conformed more to our aspirations as school children obviously than Colombo campus. more..

Nov 2 (SO) On the last day of his mission to Sri Lanka, Pablo de Greiff, the UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparations and Guarantees of Non-recurrence held a press conference in Colombo to present a summary of his findings. His presentation covered the progress SL made on the transitional justice front in the last two years, and the outstanding issues and challenges we as a country face in implementing this crucial process. more..

Nov 2 (DN) In Sri Lanka the role of temple dancers did not carry any particular ritual purpose in the Sri Lankan Hindu temple traditions. Yet during the temple festivals these professional temple dancers performed dances in the temple premises as well as in the outer verandahs of the temples. Women of a particular caste were only supposed to perform this type of dance in the temples. The male members of this particular traditional class are still known Periyamelakarar because more..

Nov 2 (Island) The arrival of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group of the US navy at the Port of Colombo recently apparently passed without incident but it seems to have intrigued some local nationalist sections. Predictably, the historic visit of the US aircraft carriers, including the well known Nimitz, caused some worries as to whether Sri Lanka was further tilting towards the US in its foreign policy outlook. Simultaneous, however, to the visit by the aircraft carriers, more..

Nov 2 (CT) Leader of EPDP Douglas Devananda said that Amendments are the Constitution needs to amended and interested parties should decide what Amendments are to be made. He added that the confusion between the Orumiththa Nadu and Ayikkiya Nadu is mere word play of the TNA to deceive the Tamil People. Devananda denied any alliance with or support to JO's Podu Jana Peramuna more..

Nov 2 (CT) In the wake of Hollywood's most embarrassing scandal, the entire world is fixated on a big budget La La Land-esque cognitive dissonance. Over a period of 30 years, numerous allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape have been levelled against American film producer, Harvey Weinstein. The allegations keep coming, even though he has been fired from The Weinstein Company. Harvey Weinstein is the co-founder of The Weinstein Company. more..

Nov 2 (CT) Homer's Iliad, most memorable of epic poems, is full of stock phrases, used again and again to describe people and things throughout the poem. When scholars in the last century establishaed that the poem developed orally, they noted that these phrases were used to fill up the metre as the poet thought of how to move his narrative forward. But I believe too that they are literary devices, not merely functional, and they add to the impact of the tale. more..