Nov 29 (DN) Sri Lanka’s National Single Window (NSW), when implemented, will allow businesses to lodge information and documents with a single entry point, to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. The implementation of the NSW is also a legal obligation under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which Sri Lanka ratified to improve its business competitiveness. NSW initiatives are complex and lengthy projects, more..

Nov 29 (DN) According to epidemiologists, there is a possibility of a dengue outbreak in the next few weeks with the ongoing rains and the significant increase of dengue mosquito density in several areas of the country. It is important to take early steps to prevent a dengue outbreak. According to the Epidemiology Unit sources, a total of 43,803 dengue cases and 50 deaths had been reported from all parts of the country this year by November 27 (last Monday). more..

Nov 29 (Roar) In 1958, the invention of a simple computer program, Tennis for Two, ushered in a new form of entertainment built around interactivity. From the gaming arcades of the 1980’s to virtual-reality today, improvements in computing power, and wider availability have made computer games a global industry. Initially the realm of hobbyists and enthusiasts, today gaming is an activity enjoyed by many different people, more..

Nov 29 (Island) A great multitude of evils are done by politicians in Sri Lanka. Plots are planned and carried out by men who had let dominant evil rise in their hearts. The evils they have done have become so unbearable to the people and have thrown the whole country into an unprecedented disarray. People are experiencing deception even by the President who evades keeping the promise to do justice by punishing corruption and upholding goodness and right. more..

Nov 29 (CT) Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), headed by its President Lasitha Goonaratne, has appointed a five-member committee to review all Rugby matches played in the Dialog Inter Club Tournament which is now in progress. After several complaints by the playing clubs’ coaches and their officials, SLR has taken this initiative in order to develop the rugby referees’ standards. The five-member panel will comprise former players, referees and match commissioners who represented at top levels more..

Nov 29 (ST) May be that cricket has taken a back seat now with the ongoing unparliamentary sports meets with new sports like Chili Throwing and the Chair Throwing taking pride of place. Yet, perennially cricket has been our favourite pastime and will remain to be so for the next umpteen number of years. Having said that, we keep asking, Are we happy with the status quo? Are we ready for the 2019 World Cup more..

Nov 29 (DN) Sri Lanka will co-host the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2018 along with Pakist an, which will have 8 teams, competing in two groups. Sri Lanka will host the group A matches, knockout stage matches and the finals of the tournament; while Pakistan will host the group B matches. The Group A of the tournament consists of Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan and Oman; whilst the Group B consist of Pakistan, Bangladesh; UAE and Hong Kong. The tournament will kick start with Group B more..

Nov 29 (CT) Two members of a fringe Tamil nationalist party were arrested on 27 November for putting up banners with slain LTTE chief V. Prabhakaran's photos at the Mehul Circle in Mulund's New Junction. Mathiyajagan Sundaram (33) and Palanivel Ravindra (24) have been booked for defacing public property. The members of Naam Tamilar Katchi, led by film director-turned-politician Seeman, erected the banners for Prabhakaran's 64th birth anniversary, on 26 Nov. more..

Nov 29 (AT) India, a big country with a large population drawn from diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic communities sharing commonalities with other groups in the neighborhood, has tended to perceive threats to its territorial integrity from adverse political developments in the South Asian region. For instance, East Pakistan’s (now Bangladesh) desire to seek independence from West Pakistan (now Pakistan proper) and the latter’s attempt to subdue it led to a massive influx more..

Nov 29 (DM) The Govt said it was optimistic that a majority of MPs would vote to pass the Vote on Account (VoA) as it was a matter of national interest. Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said if the VoA had any relevance to the MPs and the MPs were interested in the VoA, they would vote for it irrespective of political differences. “VoA is not a political issue but a matter which affects the entire country. It is about the expenditures of the country. MPs will vote for it based on the effect VoA more..

Nov 29 (DN) Sri Lanka will have a very bright 2019 though the end of 2018 has been unsteady, said Ranjit Page, CEO at Cargills (Ceylon) Plc. He was speaking at the SL Retailers Association (SLRA) AGM at Ramada Colombo. “Year 2019 would have tremendous opportunities for the retail sector and I am very excited looking forward to it.” The Lonely Planet recognizing SL as the best tourism destination to travel in 2019 will create huge more..

Nov 29 (CT) The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Women’s Committee is calling for nominations from Sri Lankans for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sports Awards 2019, to promote the advancement of gender equality in sports. This award is given globally under two categories: International Global Award and one each for Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. Chairperson of the NOCSL Women’s Committee Niloo Jayatilake addressing more..

Nov 29 (Island) HNB’s Managing Director and CEO, Jonathan Alles was elected Chair of the Asian Bankers Association by its board of directors, at the conclusion of their 35th Annual General Meeting and Conference, held at Kurumba resort in the Maldives, a position he will hold for the two year period 2018 to 2020. Alles takes over the mantle from outgoing chairman and President of CFTB Financial Institute Taiwan, Daniel Wu. Some 150 bankers from the Asia Pacific, the Middle-East and more..

Nov 29 (DN) SL Masters shuttlers came up with a brilliant performance on the final day of the first ever Masters Badminton Tournament winning 9 finals out of 29 finals at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. India won 6 finals and the other wins were shared by China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Macau in different age classes. Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong China and Taipei too fared well but were not able win any events and more..

Nov 29 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) said that a strategic investor was evaluating investing in the unsubscribed shares of its recent Rights Issue. “A strategic investor is in the process of carrying out a detailed evaluation of NDB as well as the current market conditions,” the bank said. This is with a view to investing in unsubscribed shares arising from the Rights Issue of NDB. “As such, such shares may be allotted and listed in due course as previously informed,” NDB said in a filing to the CSE. more..

Nov 29 (SLN) The 534th Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant installed by the Sri Lanka Navy was recently declared open for the use of indigenous people (Veddas) in Dambana. Going by the visionary concept of the President His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena to enhance facilities of welfare and preventative matters to patients affected with Chronic Kidney Disease, the Navy’s Research and Development Unit takes much interest in installation of these units across the country, more..

Nov 29 (Island) Prof. Camena Gunaratne, a member of the Panel of Experts (PoE) involved in the drafting of a new constitution on Monday (26) strongly opposed early general election to settle political crisis triggered by Prez Sirisena sacking PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences emphasized that early general election wasn’t acceptable under any circumstances. more..

Nov 29 (PSL) The report of the Special Presidential Commission to review Public Sector Salaries was handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, today (28). Chairman of the Commission Mr. S. Ranugge presented the report to the President and other members of the Commission also presented on this occasion. The President appointed this Special Commission to make recommendations to provide solutions to minimize salary anomalies in Public Service more..

Nov 29 (FT) Insisting that the Vote on Account (VoT) prepared to access funds to finance State affairs for the first three months of 2019 was illegal, UNP MP and former Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake yesterday challenged the document to be placed before Parliament for a vote. Speaking at a media briefing, Karunanayake said that the move by the President Maithripala Sirisena-appointed Cabinet was illegal as there is no Cabinet and a Govt in Sri Lanka at the moment. more..

Nov 29 (FT) Stunning scenes unfolded outside the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when the country’s highest ranking military official, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijeguneratne, was remanded for allegedly protecting the leader of a Navy abduction racket, accused of the kidnapping and suspected murder of 11 Tamil youths during the height of the war. Fort Magistrate Ranga Dassanayake, more..

Nov 29 (DN) Holding a General Election at the earliest, is the best option to overcome the current political impasse, the Anunayake of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera said. Speaking at the National Convention of the Peoples Movement for Parliamentary Polls, the Anunayake Thera said all political parties should agree to hold a General Election and let the people’s sovereignty prevail. Thera said all people should unite to oppose divisional politics. more..

Nov 29 (FT) A six-member delegation from Shanghai Municipal Govt met with the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) to discuss how Shanghai and South and East Asian countries cooperate under the framework of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) of China and to evaluate how Shanghai enterprises are performing in the region including SL. The two sides frank and cordial exchange of views and opinions on SL and China/Shanghai’s cooperation within the framework of the BRI; the progress made and more..

Nov 29 (FT) Noting that the Govt has put emphasis on appointing experienced and qualified professionals as Chairpersons and Director Board Members to accomplish the objectives and goals of Statutory Boards, minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a Committee to make recommendations for high level appointments in Govt institutions. more..

Nov 29 (FT) The Power and Energy Ministry this week received approval for the construction of 150 Mw solar and 60 Mw of wind power plants from the Cabinet of Ministers appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena. The proposal to initiate the procurement process to construct the plants as per the Sri Lanka Electricity Generation Plan was presented to the meeting chaired by President Sirisena this week. The proposal takes note that as per country’s electricity generation plan, more..

Nov 29 (FT) The Motion challenging the use of public funds by the Secretary to the PM will be taken up for debate in Parliament this morning when the House meets at 10.30am. The motion, signed by UNP lawmakers Navin Dissanayake, Ravi Karunanayake, Nalaka Prasad Colonne, Kavinda Jayawardana, Hector Appuhamy, and Chathura SSenaratne, challenges the use of funds by MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is not recognised as the PM by Parliament, following the statement by more..

Nov 29 (AD) Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara says that the decision on whether govt MPs will be attending tomorrow’s parliamentary session would be reached at their parliamentary group meeting, scheduled to be held tomorrow morning. Legislators representing the govt party boycotted parliament for a second day Tuesday, accusing the speaker of bias during a political crisis that has engulfed the island for nearly a month. more..

Nov 29 (DM) Commencing Nov 25 - the date designated by the UN - to Eliminate Violence Against Women and continuing for a 16-day period up to Dec 10 (the Int'l Human Rights Day), the world commemorates 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Throughout the 16 days, govts, UN agencies, civil society, and activists come together to raise awareness on this issue that knows no social, economic, or national boundaries. More than a third of women worldwide have more..

Nov 29 (DM) What’s the talk of the town? The town of course can be anything from Cinnamon Gardens to Hokandara to Debarawewa. If you are talking about Cinnamon Gardens as the trope that it is for a significant portion of the decision-makers of the UNP and those who balk at power shifting to Debarawewa (or Kebithigollewa or Karandeniya or Kachchativu), then the talk is all about democracy. Here are some of the low-tone rumbles that are making the rounds in that particular echo more..

Nov 29 (DM) Former Leader of the House, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella, speaks about the current political crisis and the way forward. He says the traditions of the British parliamentary system should be followed in case of ambiguity in our laws governing parliamentary affairs. He says the President should respect the opinion of the UNP parliamentary group in selecting someone as the PM as present PM Mahinda more..

Nov 29 (DN) The political scenario of October 26 is an expression of the economic, social, political, and cultural crisis that has existed in the country for a long time. A general election is the only shortest possible way towards finding a solution to this problem, international news analyst and critic, Mohan Samaranayake said. He said the ongoing parliament has consistently failed to find solutions to this crisis at a press conference organized by more..

Nov 29 (ST) After being held by the Maldivians authrities for months on cooked up charges, Lahiru Madhushanka, 30, was set free from the Dhooni prison on Wednesday. He was reunited with his family after 37 months in custody over an alleged plot to assassinate former President Abdulla Yameen. Yamen was ousted in the September elections after a five-year term. “I never thought that I would be released, but the Maldivian govt more..

Nov 29 (DM) Within a period of 10 days in the month of Oct, 2018 three neonatal deaths and one maternal deaths were reported from the Chilaw District General Hospital, raising concern as to whether something was seriously wrong in the medical set-up. Rasika Jeewani, a 34-year-old mother and her baby died on Oct 28. Her husband Aruna Priyanga says that she was in good health when she was admitted to the hospital. more..

Nov 29 (FT) Nayake Thero Ven Dambara Amila attached to the Nalanda University College has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court in relation to the acts of the President on the purported removal of Ranil Wickremesinghe from the office of the PM and the purported appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa to the same. In the petition filed through Moahan Balendra, he impugns that the purported removal of more..

Nov 29 (DM) Behind the conflicting statements from various limbs of the State, a clearer picture is emerging of the circumstances surrounding the abortive attempt to remove Police Inspector Adrian Nishantha Silva from the CID, and to transfer the officer to the Negombo Police Division. The order from the IGP for Silva’s transfer came on the night of Nov 18, 2018 citing essential service requirements. more..

Nov 29 (USE) The number of Sri Lankan students in the US continues to grow, according to the 2018 Open Doors Report on Int'l Educational Exchange. Currently, 3,309 Sri Lankans are enrolled in higher education institutions in the US, which remains the top host of international students globally. The number of Sri Lankans enrolled in graduate programs in the US grew by more than seven percent last year. more..

Nov 29 (EN) Sri Lanka's exports grew 4.4% in September 2018 to US$ 1,055 million from a year ago, exceeding a billion dollars for the fourth straight month, but the trade gap widened as import spending rose faster. The central bank said spending on merchandise imports increased by 6.1% to US$ 1,768 million in September 2018 from a year ago mainly due to high expenditure incurred on fuel and personal vehicle imports. more..

Nov 29 (Island) The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday recorded statements regarding alleged attempts to bribe lawmakers. The following is the text of statement issued by the TISL. Transparency International SL (TISL) provided a detailed statement to the CIABOC pursuant to a complaint filed by TISL on Nov 5, relating to allegations of attempts to bribe MPs. more..

Nov 29 (AD) The motion to suspend the expenditures of the PM’s Office was passed in Parliament with 123 votes as the govt MPs were absent during the vote due to boycotting today’s session. The motion to suspend was presented to the Parliament by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake this morning and was seconded by UNP MP Navin Dissanayake. The motion states that the Secretary to the PM has no authority to approve more..