Nov 9 (DM) A section of the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway between Peliyagoda Interchange and the Kelani Bridge is temporarily closed from today because of the construction work on the proposed Kelani Bridge, the RDA said. Vehicles travelling towards Colombo on the Colombo-Puttalam Road and Colombo-Kandy road will not be allowed to enter the Expressway via the Peliyagoda Interchange and also vehicles travelling from Colombo will not be allowed to enter these more..

Nov 9 (AD) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered Onella Karunanayake, the daughter of former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, to appear before the court on Monday (12) with all relevant documents in order to provide a statement to the CID. The CID had sought to record a statement from Onella Karunanayake with regard to the investigation against her father for allegedly provide false evidence before the Bond Commission. more..

Nov 9 (GDI) Sri Lanka Police which was controlled by the Ministry of Law and Order has been moved under the purview of the Minister of Defense. A gazette notification announcing the distribution of subjects for respective ministers notes that 17 govt bodies including the 03 armed forces, Civil Security Dept, National Cadet Corps, Dept of Coast Conservation & National Media Center have been assigned to the Ministry of Defense more..

Nov 9 (AD) UPFA Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa has been sworn in as the Minister of Housing and Social Welfare. He took oath before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo this morning (9). Secretary to the President Udaya R Seneviratne was also present on this occasion, the PMD said. Weerawansa had also served as Housing Minister under the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa. more..

Nov 9 (AD) The Permanent High Court-at-Bar has lifted the overseas travel ban imposed on former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the period of one month from December 14. The case was taken up before the Permanent High Court judge bench consisting of Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne this morning (09). The judge bench ordered to release the passport of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which is currently in custody of more..

Nov 9 (CI) England ended the longest winless streak in overseas Tests in their history with a crushing victory over Sri Lanka. England's win was not only their largest in terms of runs over Sri Lanka (though there have been innings victories) but their first in Galle. It was their first win in 14 overseas Tests stretching back to the 22-run victory over Bangladesh in Chittagong in Oct 2016. For all the talk of risk taking and courage more..

Nov 9 (NR) The Colombo Fort Magistrate Court once again ordered the CID to arrest the Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and produce him before Court immediately. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake this afternoon. Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is suspected of allegedly assisting the chief suspect in the case, Lieutenant Commander Prasad Hettiarachchi, accused of the abduction of 11 youth between 2008-2009, more..

Nov 9 (CT) A 9-member delegation from the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), visited the Muhamalai demining site on 7 Nov, where Sri Lanka Army deminers are at work. Commanding Officer, 10 Field Engineer Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit (HDU), Major Waruna Ponnamperuma briefed the delegation about the demining project in Muhamalai and adjoining areas. Army demining teams staged field demonstrations and allowed the delegates more..

Nov 9 (DM) The decision by Leaders of both the SLMC and ACMC Rauff Hakeem and Rishad Bathiudeen respectively to leave the country in a hurry on Tuesday night had invited much speculation and tongue wagging in local circles. The reasons for this sudden departure had many persons in political circles wondering whether this was a precursor to them leaving the Ranil faction and going over to the Mahinda faction. more..

Nov 9 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena should immediately dissolve parliament and call a general election, Convenor of the Federation for National Organisations (FNO), Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara says. He said a general election would strengthen the wise and patriotic decision taken by the President as the people will be able to give their verdict. "During last three years we have strongly criticised President Sirisena. That is not because we had a personal grudge against him. more..

Nov 9 (DN) Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake granted permission for Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) beneficiary owner Arjun Aloysius’s father Geoffrey Aloysius to go abroad between November 9 and 21. The Magistrate released his passport on a personal surety of Rs.10 million. Meanwhile, Perpetual Treasuries beneficiary owner Arjun Aloysius and its CEO Kasun Palisena were also ordered to be re-remanded till November 21 by the Magistrate over the magisterial more..

Nov 9 (AD) A group of individuals are attempting to bring forth an impeachment move against President Maithripala Sirisena, however, none of the MPs of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) will support this action, says former minister Mano Ganesan. He stated this addressing a meeting held in Hatton today, to educate the estate workers on the political crisis that has arisen in the country. Commenting further he stated that TPA is more..

Nov 9 (FT) The Govt of Japan has extended a total sum of $ 625,000 (Rs. 97 million) in grant aid for humanitarian demining in northern Sri Lanka, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP). The Project for Humanitarian Mine Clearance for Resettlement and Livelihood in Northern Sri Lanka will be implemented by the HALO Trust and the Grant Contract was signed between Ambassador of Japan in SL Akira Sugiyama and HALO Trust more..

Nov 9 (DM) UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera yesterday charged that a sum of Rs.4 billion had gone out of Sri Lanka as the net outflow from the equity market as a result of the decision by President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a new Prime Minister. “This reaction by foreign investors will have a negative effect on the Sri Lankan economy especially in the face of the prevailing global economic crisis,” Mr. Samaraweera said in a statement issued last evening. more..

Nov 9 (DM) The real objective of removing UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Premier is obvious when going by the remarks made by newly-appointed Justice Minister Susil Premajayantha, UNP MP Ajith P. Perera said today. He said that the statement made by the new justice minister that his first act would be to abolish the Special Courts established under the Judicature (Amendment) Act and more..

Nov 9 (NF) A captain of a Sri Lankan-flagged vessel appeared in court in Seychelles after being arrested for allegedly fishing illegally in the waters of Seychelles, while a second captain is being investigated after two boats were intercepted by the Seychelles Coast Guard. The announcement of the interception of two foreign fishing vessels by the Seychelles Coast Guard was made by the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces. The two Sri Lankan-flagged vessels were first spotted by more..

Nov 9 (NR) UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna has charged a new government has been formed together with the President with the intention of concealing cases filed against theft and corruption during the previous tenure by abolishing the special High Court. MP Rajakaruna said the such intent was confirmed through a statement that was made by Susil Premajayanth yesterday claiming the UPFA has directed its attention towards dissolving the special High Court at bar. more..

Nov 9 (AFP) Two weeks into a showdown between rival prime ministers, the SL president's party admitted for the first time Friday that it does not have a majority to get its candidate through a parliamentary vote of confidence. Prez Sirisena named authoritarian former president Mahinda Rajapakse as PM after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe on Oct 26. Mr Wickremesinghe has since refused to leave the premier's official more..

Nov 9 (DM) The country is currently facing a non-righteous debt situation and it could lead to a debt crisis if not tackled early, Governor of Central Bank Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. The Governor made these observations when he testified at the PCoI on Wednesday (7). He told the Commission that his colleagues in the debt department were capable of managing the situation but highlighted that it is the duty of each citizen to be aware of govt policy. Mr. Coomaraswamy added that more..

Nov 9 (DM) The JVP said today it was dangerous to go for an election under a government which obtained power through unconstitutional means and stressed the need to rectify the present political crisis before going for a national election. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference that the approval of a two-thirds majority in parliament should be obtained after rectifying this unconstitutional political coup before announcing an election. more..

Nov 9 (CI) England laid traps and SL's batsmen sometimes fell into them with such willingness, it was as if they were school kids. That was Sri Lanka head coach Chandika Hathurusingha's take, following the 211-run drubbing at Galle - a match in which SL mustered scores of only 203 and 250, after England racked up 342 and 322 for 6. Several SL batsmen made starts and appeared confident at the crease in both more..

Nov 10 (CT) Have you heard about the Orange Book Liberal, Nick Clegg? He is in our constitution, stealthily creeped in through the 19th Amendment in Article 70. Luckily most strange (or Orange) theories are still in Ranil Wickremesinghe’s (RW) head, not in the constitution. Can you remember he (RW) touted the idea of an Executive PM system in late 1990s? He did that based on the system in Israel at that time (1992-2003), but then Israel themselves changed the idea, after disastrous results. more..

Nov 10 (CT) I have argued before that the political system in Sri Lanka is not a democracy; the events on Oct 26th explained it well. The oligarchy lead by Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated the other oligarchy lead by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Mahinda occupied the PM’s office and Ranil retreated to the PM’s residence (Araliyagaha Mandiraya). The theatrics of both oligarchy groups are not over yet; it has been made very entertaining with some leading sidekicks emerging as butterflies and leeches. more..

Nov 10 (Roar) Colombo’s food landscape has significantly diversified over the last decade. The average Colombo resident today has a much wider range of cuisines to choose from, and there is practically a new restaurant on every street. One of the segments that is experiencing rapid growth is fast food. The first international fast food chain to open in Sri Lanka was Pizza Hut, in 1993. more..

Nov 10 (DN) Can you think of two personalities more contrasting than former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and President Maithripala Sirisena? Few who are in favour of the former endorse the latter and few would see anything in common between them, especially today. But critics of President Sirisena do not stop to ask themselves why as President, both personalities did the very same thing to the very same Prime Minister—in 2003/4 and 2018 respectively! more..

Nov 10 (DN) Sri Lanka’s Parliament will be the cynosure of all eyes when it is reconvened next Wednesday, November 14 as the country grapples with a constitutional riddle triggered by the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM of a new govt by President Maithripala Sirisena. The current political storm began when, in a surprise move, President Sirisena swore in Rajapaksa as PM in a ceremony that was conducted without much fanfare on Friday, October 26. more..

Nov 10 (Island) The current political crisis has descended to very worrying depths. In a matter of days we have observed an alarming cycle of vindictive politics charged with scheming and aggression. Political rhetoric is turning slanderous and the onslaught against the Speaker sends a wider message that, however independent they may be, opinions that do not endorse the President’s position will be shot down as partial. more..

Nov 10 (Island) Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has, in a strongly-worded letter, flayed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya for entertaining, at the latter’s office, foreign ambassadors despite the prorogation of Parliament. He has taken exception to the Speaker powwowing with foreign envoys on matters concerning the President, the PM and the state. His consternation is understandable. Nanayakkara has rhetorically asked the Speaker whether the countries which the meddlesome more..

Nov 10 (Island) Isn’t this the greatest reunion the world has ever seen? Yes, it’s like a heavenly wonder, a meeting of two stars. Mahinda tells Sirisena we can now get on together. But, when did they not get on? Sirisena was a perfectly silent member in Mahinda’s Cabinets. And silence is even more golden in such positions. He was silent even at that Hopper Session where he didn’t say goodbye to the Big Boss. It certainly was a Hopper Session that was also a starry wonder. more..

Nov 10 (ST) Plans have been finalised to host the 1st International Masters Badminton Tournament, the Senior International Masters Badminton Tournament 2018 organised by the Ceylon Masters Badminton Association (CMBA) from Nov 26-28, at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The endorsement of the Ministry of Sports and the World Badminton Federation (WBF) has been received to conduct this tournament. Over 100 Shuttlers from India, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Australia, Nepal, more..

Nov 10 (CI) Ben Foakes has said he would be quite happy if Jonny Bairstow replaces him for the second Test in Pallekele, despite winning Man of the Match for his performances on debut in Galle. Deputising for the injured Bairstow, Foakes laid the platform for England's match-defining first-innings total with a century and followed it with an outstanding display of keeping. In the process he became not only the first England keeper to make a Test century in Asia (and only the second to make a century on debut) more..

Nov 10 (FT) The 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that brought hostilities in World War One to an end will be marked at ceremonies around the world on Sunday. British HC in Colombo will mark Remembrance Day with a commemoration ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Liveramentu Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Colombo. The simple ceremony will include readings and prayers. more..

Nov 10 (DN) With Rangana Herath on the verge of quitting from international cricket at the end of the first cricket Test against England at Galle, Sri Lanka’s spin bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge said that left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara has been line up to take his place in the second Test starting in Pallekele on November 14. “Dilruwan Perera is going to take the lead from Herath. We have Akila Dananjaya, and we have brought in Malinda Pushpakumara. more..

Nov 10 (ST) Ana Punchihewa was never a good cricketer, nor would he ever be. Having said that, he had a good drive. On the golf course, he covered a decent 18 holes. So he knew what sport is all about and besides, he also had good business acumen. So he drove his family business with assiduous finesse, until the little Coca-Cola bottler Pure Beverages Company Limited in Sri Lanka became an enviable blue chip, where almost every salesperson wanted to be employed. more..

Nov 10 (DN) The decision of the Govt to slash the telecommunication levy from 25% to 15% will be operational from today. The reduction of the Telecom Levy will be operational on both land (ground phones and mobile phones). However, the NBT and the VAT will remain unchanged, TRC’s Deputy Director Indrajith Handapangoda said. He also said that it was on Wednesday that the TRC had intimated more..

Nov 10 (Island) 1. Why did he have to leave the country in a hurry no sooner he quit his newly acquired Ministerial portfolio? 2. What countries did he travel to? Did it include Singapore? 3. Who helped him to get his Visa approved so soon? Usually, we ordinary folk have to wait for weeks or months to get this clearance, and that too after a rigorous process. 4. What was the cost of the Visa? 5. By what airline did he travel? How was he able to get a seat in the plane so soon when we, more..

Nov 10 (FT) The Sri Lanka-NORDIC Business Council along with the Norwegian Business Association Sri Lanka, and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held an ICT breakfast forum and networking event at Cinnamon Grand yesterday (9). Norwegian Embassy supported the event in cooperation with SLASSCOM and ICT Norway. The event was held with the aim to facilitate possible collaborations between an ICT delegation from Norway and ICT companies in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 10 (DN) Convener of the Truth Seekers Movement Premnath Dolawatta lodged a complaint at Police Headquarters against ministers of the former regime for the alleged misuse of official vehicles and properties under their purview. So far, only former Minister Rajitha Senaratne had given up his official vehicle conceding to the fact that he was no longer a minister. more..