Oct 13 (CT) I now very seldom go to the cinema but, encouraged by my wife’s willingness to accompany me, saw Black Klansman directed by African-American Spike Lee (2018). In turn, this led me to Ron Stallworth’s memoir, Black Klansman. Reading is a horizon that forever recedes because one book leads to another, and that to yet another. So it is that I found myself reading a 1905 novel, The Clansman, by Thomas Frederick Dixon and watching D W Griffith’s film version of it, Birth of a Nation. more..

Oct 13 (DN) What did George Bernard-Shaw mean by his statement, All professions are conspiracies against the laity: Professions acquire status, authority and wealth by taking unto themselves, (in Sri Lankan context thanks to free education), a body of knowledge and proficiency and only renounce it in small amounts in exchange for a fee. Named after Hulft, the Dutch General who was shot by a Portuguese soldier in 1656— the village where the gruesome murder took place happened to be more..

Oct 13 (Roar) We’ve all had that moment of frustration: you’re away from a wi-fi zone, checking out cute puppy videos on Instagram, and then BAM—you get that dreaded message from your service provider informing you that you have only 100MB remaining from your allocated data quota. This is especially annoying when you know you topped up just a little while ago. How could it finish so fast, and where does all that data more..

Oct 13 (CT) To get the govt and the economy working for the people. To put people first. To get country’ priorities back. To fix schools and hospitals. To ease pressure on family budgets. To stand up for workers. To invest in cheaper, cleaner energy. To build a strong economy that works for all. The first three points above are rather preambular, the last five being the main components of the action plan. There is a strong feeling in the ranks of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), more..

Oct 13 (DN) Sri Lanka is strategically located as an important island in the heart of the Indian Ocean with a land area of nearly 65,610 sq. kms and having sea base of over four times its’ land mass. Since, history the country has been in the middle of international attention as a crucial destination between the East and West shipping routes that attracted three maritime superpowers trading in that route for economic benefits to the said motherlands. They not only conducted trading, more..

Oct 13 (SO) Story of ancient SL begins in the Stone Age. It is during this period that we find early man who lived in caves with family members, eating fruits, yams and bush meat. Many of these characteristics have survived among the Aadivasi community today, and it is widely supposed that people of Stone Age bear a close resemblance to them. Rocky caves became their homes, where they lived in small family groups. more..

Oct 13 (Island) 1968 seems as yesterday. It was a watershed year in our lives. The year is steeped in memory like an inscription. In that year, we came from far flung areas of the island to the premiere higher learning centre in the country for a higher purpose. Once it was reserved for the children of elite families seeking knowledge and initiation to higher office. Thus, even before setting foot on the campus in some say we felt somewhat privileged. Our parents and close relatives made heavy more..

Oct 13 (Island) Disturbing news has come from the North that schoolchildren and teachers were made to take part in a recent protest march, demanding the release of LTTE suspects in custody. Some sinister elements seem to be working overtime to catch them young. Political parties and other outfits can stage such protests, and their right to do so cannot be questioned. But on no grounds should students be allowed to be involved in them. The LTTE used children in its war and more..

Oct 13 (FT) I start with two confessions – firstly, I am no hero, in fact I am still but a victim who has hope of overcoming the said syndrome; on the other hand I have reaped the benefits of social media and the rapid ripple effect it can offer. Secondly, everything I present to you has been said before – if it is your desire to learn more about it, it is at your fingertips, waiting. In my independent research to prepare for a workshop on social media addiction, I decided the topic needs to be taken to more..

Oct 13 (FT) The ASPI decreased eight points or 0.14% to 5,872 on Wednesday 10 October from 5,880 in the previous trading session and on Thursday down to 5,840. Historically, the SL stock market (CSE All Share) reached an all-time high of 7,811.82 in February of 2011 and a record low of 4,258.80 in June of 2010. According to analysts, net foreign selling of SL’s stocks and bonds is nearing US$ 500 million for 2018. The outflows have been one of the key significant factor more..

Oct 13 (CI) Rinse and repeat. That is the strategy for the second ODI in Dambulla, after only 15 overs were possible in the first. Unfortunately, the chance of rain again playing a part remains high, which would be frustrating - if not entirely unpredictable, given the scheduling of this tour in the wettest part of the year in SL. Not too much could be gleaned from the opening exchanges on Wednesday, other than that England remain more..

Oct 13 (Island) Never before in its history of a century and a half has the Sri Lanka Police and the IGP come in for so much criticism and even downright condemnation The President says that Jayasundara is not fit to be the IGP. The Minister in charge of Law and Order and his Deputy do not think so. The nation is confused. The media is having a field day. A retired police driver who met me a few days back asked me, "Sir, why is the Prez gunning for IGP. Whom to believe Sir. more..

Oct 13 (Island) Race Course International Rugby Stadium, Colombo will be the venue for the third and final leg of the Asian Sevens Series 2018 today and tomorrow. Eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams will compete for silverware throughout the weekend in what would be an exciting two days of scintillating sevens rugby action. Japan have won all Cups on offer, winning both the men’s and women’s competition in Hong Kong and Korea in the previous legs. Kazakhstan finished second in more..

Oct 13 (Island) The US based athlete Charith Kapukotuwa established a new meet record when he hurled the hammer to a distance of 50.86 metres in the men’s hammer throw event on day one of the National Sports Festival athletics championship at Polonnaruwa on Friday. Sisira Kumara and S.R. Kumarasiri were well behind with throws of 46.97 metres and 46.84 metres respectively. more..

Oct 13 (Island) Western Provincial council a heavenly abode comprised with all the luxuries, wealth and treasures we only have heard in fairy tales is again in the limelite of news, Having ordered ultra comfort chairs at a cost of more than Rs 844000 each in foreign exchange, at a time the PM and Finance Minister imposing severe restrictions on foreign exchange outflows, and having installed a gold decorated entrance to the new building depicting sculpture of the Kotte era, more..

Oct 13 (CI) Over the last 3 years, ODI side that has fared the best against spin is India. That is pretty much as expected. What may be a little more of a surprise - though perhaps not any more - is that England are the second-best on that list, and they are second only by a whisker. Where India average 58.27 against spin through this period, England are currently at 56.83. These 2 sides are miles ahead of the competition. Pakistan, 3rd-best, average 41.45 runs for every wicket they lose to a spinner. more..

Oct 13 (Island) Rata Surakimu movement has requested the Elections Commission to furnish them with information on how many MPs have declared their assets while also requesting the Dept of Inland Revenue for information on how many MPs have declared their taxable incomes and keep tax records. They have have lodged these requests under the Law of Right-to-Information (RIT). "We have sought the same information more..

Oct 13 (DN) Sri Lanka emerged with a silver in the last field event when Nuwan Indika Gamage delivered the fourteenth medal in the Men's Long Jump T44, T62/64 at the Asian Para Games continued at Jakarta in Indonesia. Nuwan’s best jump of 6.09m came in the sixth attempt, which was enough to fetch him the silver medal. Eddy Bernard from Malaysia established new game record and won the gold with a season's best jump of 6.30m, which he managed in his fifth attempt. more..

Oct 13 (DN) Outgoing Chief Justice Priyasath Dep was accorded a ceremonial farewell by the Supreme Court. The judges of the Supreme Court and Appeal Court, AG Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala, Ministry officials, BASL President U.R.de Silva and lawyers attended the farewell ceremony at the Supreme Court yesterday morning. Chief Justice Priyasath Dep retired from service yesterday upon reaching the retirement age. He functioned as 45th Chief Justice of SL. more..

Oct 13 (FT) Department of Commerce yesterday announced that the second session of Kuwait-SL Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) held in Kuwait concluded on a successful note, while emphasising that private sector from both countries have a bigger role with a pioneering chamber to chamber MoU is now envisioned. “At the second session of the Kuwait-SL JMC on Trade and Technical Cooperation held in Kuwait from more..

Oct 13 (FT) State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene has stressed on the importance of strengthening defence cooperation with Thailand during an official visit to the Asian country. State Minister, who commenced a four-day official visit to Thailand from Monday upon an invitation extended by the Thai Government, met with Thai Minister of Defence General Pravit Wongsuwan at the City Hall of Defence on Tuesday (9). During the discussion, Thai Minister of Defence expressed his more..

Oct 13 (DN) As part of its comprehensive plans to develop tourism in the Northern Province, SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) opened the newly constructed Comfort Centres at Talaimannar for the use of local and foreign tourists visiting the beach. Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga and Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneshwaran declared the Comfort Centres, which marked the first step of a larger infrastructure more..

Oct 13 (DM) The controversial Ford Mustang which was reportedly imported by MP Namal Rajapaksa, was today returned to its current owner by the FCID. The vehicle was under FCID custody for more than two years after it was seized from Kaduwela in 2016. Counsel Premanath Dolawatta who appeared for the owner said the FCID had not arrested a single suspect in connection with the case. more..

Oct 13 (EN) Lion Brewery regrets leaving the Indian beer market to focus on its home market, a senior company official said, noting that many local firms are reluctant to risk venturing overseas and fear foreign competition. Suresh Shah, Executive Director of the Lion Brewery (Ceylon) Ltd., said they understood the risks and complexities of the Indian market when they entered, but withdrew to give priority to investments to grow the home market, recovering after the ethnic war. more..

Oct 13 (FT) Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has increased by 0.4% in August compared to a year earlier, Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) revealed yesterday. IIP reported for the month of August 2018 and 2017 were 109.4 and 109.0 respectively. The IIP for the month of August 2018 has been released by the Department of Census and Statistics. The IIP is an index which details out the growth of sub sectors of the industry sector in a given period of time. more..

Oct 13 (DN) Two Appeal petitions filed by former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge and former TRC Director General Anusha Palpita challenging the judgement of the Colombo High Court to convict them over the Sil Redi distribution case were yesterday fixed for Oct 19 by the Court of Appeal. When the matter came up before the Court of Appeal two-judge-Bench comprising Justice Deepali Wijesundara and more..

Oct 13 (DM) Demonstrating its commitment to Give Back Life to PET plastic bottles, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. along with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and Eco-Spindles Pvt Ltd. ( part of BPPL Group) recently launched an initiative to place Collection Bins and Educational Signage at strategic exit points along the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway for the convenience of motorists to dispose PET plastic bottles for recycling, without littering public spaces. more..

Oct 13 (Island) Civil society activist Namal Kumara, who recently alleged a conspiracy against President Maithripala Sirisena and wartime Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is now under investigation by CID following a complaint by the Presidential Secretariat. Dr. Samantha Kithalawaarachchi, Director, Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention yesterday said that a complaint had been lodged with the CID seeking an inquiry to ascertain whether Namal Kumara, a resident of more..

Oct 13 (Island) The amendment to the Commissions of Inquiry Act was intended to lower the duplicity of proceedings and expedite the judicial process, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told parliament yesterday. With the amendment, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act and the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act would be brought to an equal level, he said. He made these observations, opening more..

Oct 13 (Hindu) Honorary consul of Sri Lanka in Kerala Joemon Joseph died at a private hospital in Kochi on Friday. He was 43. Mr. Joseph had been under treatment for high blood pressure and other related complications for the past few days and breathed his last at 5.45 p.m. Mr. Joseph had taken charge as the honorary consul in 2013. He had secured master’s from the UN on conflictology and published two books in English titled CSR Business Racism & Sri Lanka’s post-conflict woes, more..

Oct 13 (Island) Track and field athletes did well to secure top positions in their respective heats on day one of the athletics competition of the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Thursday. Sir John Kothalawala College, Kurunegala sprinter Dilan Bogoda and Royal College high jumper Thenuka Amarasinghe were ranked overall fifth and fourth in their respective events as they did well in their heats. Bogoda clocked his personal best (48.52 sec) to finish third in the fourth heat more..

Oct 13 (FT) Commenting on the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court on former MP Duminda Silva’s death sentence, MP Hirunika Premachandra said she had mixed feelings about the ruling. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the appeals filed by former MP Duminda Silva and two others against their death penalties over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. “As a Buddhist I feel sad, more..

Oct 13 (AD) A wild elephant has died after it had fallen into a canal nearby a paddy field in Ruhunuketha, Welikanda. The elephant, aged nearly 30 years and around 8-and-a-half feet in height, had been wandering the Somawathiya National Park, according to Giritale veterinary surgeons’ office. The cause of death of the elephant is reportedly an intensified allergic reaction to a wound on one of its back legs. The elephant could not be saved despite giving him necessary medical treatment more..

Oct 13 (CT) Hot on the heels of a fuel price formula, now there is going to be a price formula for buses. The Govt hopes to introduce a new price formula to revise bus fares before the end of this year, Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Asoka Abeysinghe said yesterday. Replying to an Oral Question raised by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, the Deputy Minister further said Cabinet had appointed a committee to revise the current methodology of determining bus fares. more..

Oct 13 (CT) Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga, criticized the JVP over the spreading of false news on the joint venture project between SL and India, said to develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm. He thereafter requested the Party to refrain from doing so. Elsewhere Minister said in 2003, the UNP Govt had handed over a certain number of fuel tanks at the Farm on a 35-year lease to IOC. more..

Oct 13 (DM) In 1950, the Mills Brothers and in 1967, the famous American singer Al Martino sang a beautiful and heart-warming song about Daddy’s Little Girl. It goes like this: “You’re the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold, You’re daddy’s little girl to have and hold, A precious gem is what you are, You’re mommy’s bright and shining star, You’re the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree, You’re the Easter bunny to mommy and me, You’re sugar, you’re spice, you’re everything nice, more..

Oct 13 (DM) Those who encourage children to take up a sport often speak about the virtues. Sports build character. Sports teach many things, we have all heard: courage, teamwork, determination and the ability to be gracious in defeat and humble in victory, fairness, integrity, responsibility and respect. Not all of these can be taught or learned in a classroom, obviously. Now almost all children engage in sports and games, either in a formal, structured setting (in a school or club) or informally more..

Oct 13 (DM) All hell broke loose in the Govt after the news spread that President Maithripala Sirisena met with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Colombo residence of MP S. B. Dissanayake ostensibly to discuss the formation of a new Govt. In this instance, it created rumblings within the UNP which is the main constituent of the national Unity Govt. The UNP MPs started harbouring fear whether their govt would more..

Oct 13 (DM) Former British Prime Minister and renowned statesman Sir Winston Churchill in a memorable radio speech over the BBC in 1939 referred to Russia in this way - “It (Russia) is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” Keen observers of the current political scene in Sri Lanka may very well be excused if they veer around to the viewpoint that the island’s current Exec President too fits Churchill’s description more..