Nov 24 (NS) Renowned dramatist cum scholar S. Maunaguru praised the initiative of the Peradeniya University Engineering Batch 82, for coming forward to present Hanthana Pirumpuma -a walk through arts and drama, in keeping with the University’s age old tradition. Professor Maunaguru who is also a theatre analyst, director, writer, and a renowned traditional Tamil theatre artist believes that initiative of such nature is of paramount importance to strengthen the ethnic harmony in a nation more..

Nov 24 (CT) Whether PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was summoned, requested or he volunteered to present himself before the PCoI investigating the alleged Treasury Bond Scams is immaterial. The bottom line is that he must be applauded for being a model of probity worthy of emulation by other world leaders to come before the PCoI (with a large retinue of ministers and MPs) in circumstances where seemingly the PCoI considered his evidence to be only of marginal significance. more..

Nov 24 (SO) In the early hours of Nov 12, eighteen-year-old Amaan Kitchil, a student of a leading school in Colombo lost his life in an accident that can only be described as tragic. The accident which could have been avoided also left several other students of the school seriously injured and fighting for their lives, shaking the very core of Colombo society. As the incident met with outpouring grief from family, friends, teachers more..

Nov 24 (CT) Efficiency in revenue generation is the key to true economic development, and it, in turn, shall become meaningful only if the revenue generated is the most efficient input combination. Taken and treated separately, like any other commercial activity, Dairy Industry also shall have its own pre-requisites. Trying to imitate dairy farming in temperate zones has given a somewhat misleading impression that no dairy can be developed unless such mild temperate climatic conditions more..

Nov 24 (Island) Our political leaders keep saying, ad nauseam, that children are the future of this country. One cannot agree with them more. They never miss an opportunity to wax eloquent on their commitment to fulfilling children’s needs. But, between saying and doing many a pair of shoes is said to be worn out. We learn that 12 schoolchildren (including six girls) have had to raise funds, on their own, to travel to Hong Kong to take part in the Asian Schools Cross Country Championships (2017), more..

Nov 24 (CT) Shame is not a feeling that is wholesome. It refers after all to a sense of humiliation caused by being conscious of having done wrong or having been foolish. Fear is not a wholesome attribute. It is after all associated with timidity and cowardice. Shamelessness is about lacking shame, about being barefaced and brazen. That’s not necessarily applauded. Fearlessness on the other hand is positive; the connotations are of bravery, courage and daring. more..

Nov 24 (Island) The Shorter Oxford Dictionary describes masochism as a form of sexual perversion in which one finds pleasure in abuse and cruelty from his or her associates. Since the term is named after a novelist, I thought I could take liberties with it! I believe this term could be well used to describe our present political arena wherein we derive a perverted pleasure in abuse and cruelty from our associates-US UK etc. Of course, while in the sexual field masochistic pleasure is an end itself more..

Nov 24 (CI) Imagine this. At a critical moment in a finely balanced Ashes Test or India-Australia match, a batsman is given out lbw to a ball that nips back into him. He proceeds to walk a few steps towards his dressing room, only to turn abruptly and ask for a review. Replays show ball striking pad outside off stump. Umpire has to reverse his decision. Imagine the uproar from the opposition, the media noise, and spillover of more..

Nov 24 (Island) What Yasantha Kodagoda, PC, did a few days ago, at the Commission was more far reaching than the great bank robbery itself. What he did opened a mythical Pandora’s Box. It contained all the evils of the world and exposed the charlatans and showed what they possessed beneath their veneer of sainthood, which hit them so badly that they had to hold press conferences at Sirikotha, which could be akin to a plea to exculpate their guilt. Suddenly hitherto unknown, more..

Nov 24 (CT) The lawyers of former Minister Mervyn Silva's son Malaka, who has been slapped with a bail condition preventing him from entering nightclubs following an alleged assault on a British couple at a Colombo discotheque on 22 Nov last year, submitted a request to Colombo Additional Magistrate Jeyaram Trotsky, seeking to overturn the said bail condition imposed on their client. The Court having considered the request which was submitted by way of a motion also issued notice to more..

Nov 24 (CI) Conditions in Nagpur will not assist seam-bowling to the extent they did in Kolkata, according to Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka captain. There is a fair amount of grass on the VCA Stadium pitch as well, in line with India's desire to test themselves in pace-friendly conditions ahead of their tour of South Africa. Chandimal, however, felt there would be a more even contest between bat and ball here. more..

Nov 24 (DN) Indian captain Virat Kohli said that he liked the competiveness shown by SL’s wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella during the Sri Lanka second innings of the first Test at Kolkata which ended in a thrilling draw. Dickwella’s time wasting tactics to deprive India of a win didn’t go down well with the Indian captain during the tense moments of the match but Kohli also being a cricketer who plays the game hard welcomed the competitive attitude displayed by Dickwella. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Cabinet this week approved a proposal made by Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake to procure 72,000 metric tons of urea (prilled) from JAT Holdings Ltd. Following a call for tenders to supply 72,000 MT of urea (prilled), 30000MT of MOP and 30000MT of TSP under DA terms, Ministry received only five bids for urea, one bid for TSP and no bid for MOP. Ministry has also re-advertised a second call for bids to supply MOP and TSP, hoping to attract interested parties. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Special Assignments Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama yesterday threw a searchlight on loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs), urging officials to utilise the assets under institutions more effectively and called on the public to understand how their losses affected State balance sheets.  Minister, who rarely addresses the press, announced that he would hold media briefings every Thursday to create awareness of how more..

Nov 24 (FT) Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando, recently emphasised the importance of the tasks entrusted to criminal investigation officials. He said that their task was of immense importance to the quest for justice and fighting crime, corruption and fraud. Outlining the difficulties and challenges faced by officials, Fernando said that when there was a political regime changed, the criminal investigating officers conducting inquires into allegations of corruption and fraud more..

Nov 24 (DM) Indo-Sri Lanka trade has the potential to reach new heights if the island nation is ready to do away with its obsession with Tamil Nadu, a top economist said, a move according to him, would also help to iron out the issues in boosting Lankan exports to the neighbouring giant. According to former Govt of India Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary Dr. S. Narayan, who is a trained economist, Sri Lanka’s obsession with TN, due to historical, political & emotional reasons, more..

Nov 24 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena says the govt will provide all the facilities necessary for the advancement of the indigenous traditional medicine of Sri Lanka while giving due respect to the field. Prez Sirisena said that even though the traditional indigenous medicine methods declined when the people turned towards the speedy treatments with the development of the innovations and researches of the Western more..

Nov 24 (EN) Sri Lankan tea exports rose 10% or by 2.6 million kilos to 25.5 million kilos in October 2017 from a year ago, Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said. Earnings rose 24.4% or by Rs 5.1 billion to Rs20.9 billion in October 2017 from the previous year as prices improved sharply. “This also has resulted in the FOB (free on board) value realizing Rs 819.55 a kilo, a gain of Rs127.35 when compared to Rs 692.20 of October 2016,” the brokers said in a report. more..

Nov 24 (SLA) A group of foreign students from Raffles Institute of Singapore, now in Sri Lanka on tour made a trip down to the demining sites in Kokkuthuduvai North on Tuesday after a request to that effect was made to the Commander of the Army by those students. The team comprised of 56 Singaporean students, 6 teachers & 2 travel guides of Aitken Spence Travels saw themselves how Army de-miners using manual, mechanical and mine dogs were clearing mine fields. more..

Nov 24 (Island) The govt couldn’t interfere with the ongoing judicial investigations pertaining to the assassination of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle during the war, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Admitting that there had been an inordinate delay in the judicial process, he said the govt couldn’t intervene on behalf of anyone. He said so when The Island sought an explanation regarding govt’s failure to address more..

Nov 24 (PSL) Sri Lanka for the third time, won World No Tobacco Day Award – 2017, bestowed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. The award was officially presented to President Sirisena by the Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Region Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh today (23). President then handed over the award to the Chairman- National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Dr. Palitha Abeykoon. more..

Nov 24 (CT) Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday confirmed he had ordered Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to take stern action against league defending champions Kandy Sports Club if they refuse to release the national sevens players who have been contracted. Last week SLR named 20 men and 16 women players and gave them one year contracts, which commenced from November till next year's Asian Games in Indonesia. Players from other clubs who have been contracted more..

Nov 24 (MoD) General Amnesty extended to Army absentees ended at midnight, Wednesday (22). Total of 11,232 Army deserters including 15 Officers, 9 Officer Cadets and 11,208 Other Rank personnel had reported to their respective Regimental Centers seeking legal discharge during the Amnesty period. Month long Amnesty period was offered to SL Army personnel, who are considered as AWOL more..

Nov 24 (FT) Insisting that beer prices should not be reduced as proposed in Budget 2018, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that Finance Minister was furnished with the wrong information on liquor consumption by a researcher. “Colombo University has not done a study. It was one academic who has done analysis based on census and statistics data in his personal capacity. He too has not conducted any research but done the analysis based on secondary data. So this has become unreliable,” more..

Nov 24 (Island) The Dollar Academy Pipers from Scotland are currently in Sri Lanka. The 10 piece band is in Colombo ahead of the National Day of Scotland St. Andrew’s Day – celebrated each year on the 30th of November. The Pipers will be performing at a series of events in Colombo, including at the St Andrew’s Ball on 24th Nov and at the St Andrew’s Scots Kirk on Galle Road on Sunday 26th Nov. The Dollar Academy pipe band has won the Scottish Championship for more..

Nov 24 (CT) A No-Confidence Motion against Minister Faiszer Musthapha was submitted to Parliament by the JO yesterday. It contained 12 signatures of JO MPs. Through the motion the JO charged that the Minister had failed to ensure that the LG Elections are held on schedule. "Minister has failed to hold the LG elections on schedule, although the power has been granted to Election Commission to hold the elections. more..

Nov 24 (DN) Senior Consulant Paediatrician Dr Ramya De Silva has won the Medical Journal (BMJ) South Asia award for ‘Healthcare Innovation of the Year’ 2017 in India. Neonatal Transport Project carried out by Dr Ramya de Silva, at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo won the British Medical Journal (BMJ) South Asia awards 2017 in the Healthcare Innovation of the Year category. Dr de Silva received the award from India’s Health & Family Welfare Minister more..

Nov 24 (TOI) In a decision that is in keeping with its political objectives while also addressing environmental concerns, the govt has decided not to go ahead with the original alignment of Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project or any other alignment that damages the Ram Sethu or Adam's Bridge. The canal was proposed by the UPA, more particularly by DMK that held charge of the shipping portfolio, and was vigorously opposed by BJP on the grounds that this will harm more..

Nov 24 (EN) Simmering tensions within SL's governing coalition came to a head in parliament Thursday with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's party firing what it called the first salvo against the President. Two backbenchers from UNP blamed Prez Sirisena's faction of the SLFP for delaying local council elections. UNP MP Kavinda Jayawardena, blamed minister Faiszer Musthapha for a fiasco in drawing electoral boundaries more..

Nov 24 (DM) A purohita was jogging with a group of buddies in tandem. And another purohita is seen jogging followed by a group of his pals from the opposite direction. The purohita ‘B’ on seeing his colleague heading towards them, stops in his tracks and shouts: “Amethithuma, why are you going round calling me a thief?”  The purohita ‘A’ too comes to a halt. He looks angry. “What’s wrong with calling you that…? That’s the truth…” The purohita ‘B’: “How dare you call me that?” more..

Nov 24 (GDI) A program is launched to assist Sri Lankan children adopted by foreign parents to find their biological parents. Minister Senaratne provided information of the program during an interview in the Netherlands, recently. Minister had stated that there are around 4,000 Sri Lankan children seeking their biological, SL parents. He said a database of all 4,000 children will be set up and DNA tests will be conducted with the assistance of the Medical Faculty of the Colombo University. more..

Nov 24 (DN) Indian PM Narendra Modi who held bilateral talks with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe informed the latter that India would like to have fast tracked the implementation of Indian joint ventures in Sri Lanka. He added that this should be brought to the attention of President Maithripala Sirisena and these joint ventures started as soon as possible. PM Modi explained that this would not only improve SL’s economic assets more..

Nov 24 (DM) Widespread speculation, contradictions and confusion along with questions as to who is trying to do what have arisen, after the Court of Appeal issued an interim stay order, on a gazette notification relating to delimitation. The CA interim order was granted on the gazette notification issued on Feb 17 this year. The notification related to the Delimitation Committee Report on the boundaries of local authorities, number of members and the constituent parts of wards. more..

Nov 24 (DM) Not too long ago before the American election unfolded and upset what was predicted to be a Hillary Clinton victory, I posted the following comment: “Clinton is a domestic dove and foreign policy dove. Trump a domestic hawk and foreign policy dove.” This was a simplification on my part, but one that was based on the belief we held as sacrosanct at the time that Donald Trump would deliver on his promises and take the United States away from the interventionist streak more..

Nov 24 (CT) In the wake of an accelerating trend among the people to propagate fake news, it has become a dire need to critically evaluate the way we use social media at present. Over the years, attempts to impose regulation of social media had been thwarted by civil society activists who advocate the right to free expression. Yet, inferring from present and past circumstances, regulation of social media appears to be more..

Nov 24 (CT) Nobel Laureate, Dr. Barbara Lopes Cardozo will visit Sri Lanka to conduct research about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of war victims in the North. Dr. Cardozo is a founding member of Doctors Without Borders–Holland (MSF) and served in several countries. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. She has treated victims of natural disasters and man-made disasters. more..

Nov 24 (ST) A barrage of criticism has come in the wake of the govt’s decision to slash the tax on beer. The govt should have a serious re-think of this particular budgetary proposal — allegedly made on the basis of a so-called research now under fire — gracefully accept the criticism and change it in the public interest, was the consensus when the Sunday Times contacted numerous people. Slashing of beer prices will immediately pave the way for more..

Nov 24 (Island) Chief Food and Drug Inspector of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Amith Perera, said the number of medicinal drug abuse cases filed from January till October 31 had increased to 46. Last year there were 28 cases from January to December. Perera said the NMRA had been informed of medicinal drug abuse cases by the police, the STF, the Coast Guard and the Navy. more..

Nov 24 (Island) SLFP General Secretary and Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said certain demands put forwarded by the Joint Opposition (JO) were aimed at preventing a possible reunification of the divided SLFP. Amaraweera said so in response to the JO’s position that it wouldn’t engage in talks on reunification unless it was given either the premiership or the Opposition Leader’s post. more..