Dec 7 (CT) From ancient times, Sri Lankan society has upheld the importance of the concept of good governance. Even though, thinkers like Plato in the West developed the concept, it has been practically utilised by Asians in India and Sri Lanka for centuries. According to the teachings of the Buddha, to fulfil the characteristics of a Dharma Rajya, a government has to achieve the following qualities. (1) Generosity and charity of govt. (2) High moral character. more..

Dec 7 (SO) Outside Colombo, people are of the opinion that benefits of development are limited to the city itself. But a traveller in Modera, Mattakkuliya, Colombo, would not have a beautiful picture of the country’s capital. Due to various reasons such as dilapidated roads, poor drainage system with overflowing toilets, unauthorised constructions, a canal system blocked by plastic and polythene, one cannot help more..

Dec 7 (Island) A group of young Buddhist monks has called upon the UNP to deny some of its MPs, accused of having caused an affront to the dignity of the Maha Sangha, nominations to contest the next general election. As these monks have pointed out, certain politicians of the previous dispensation apparently derived some perverse pleasure from bashing bhikkhus. This is what happens to politicians when power goes to their heads. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe himself has more..

Dec 7 (SO) Many people look at persons with disabilities, with compassion. All they really want is just their rights. However, the Disabled People’s Organisations Joint Front (DOJF) is in a battle with successive governments (for nearly two decades), to create a society where the rights of persons with disabilities are guaranteed. While the entire world is celebrating and organising awareness activities targeting International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Chairperson of DOJF, more..

Dec 7 (SO) Last Wednesday was a day for women, when both genders gathered en masse to discuss the less-spoken topic sexual bribery. Of all claims and questions that filled the air, Women’s Rights Activist Shreen Saroor, identified the issue as the law. “There are so many laws in the country that makes women vulnerable to give sexual bribes. We have unequal laws and policies. The problem starts with women being unable to head a household,” said Saroor, a panelist, more..

Dec 7 (Island) Jagath Savanadasa recalls the close relationship D. S. Senanayake had with Piyadasa Sirisena as freedom fighters. He speaks of socio-political milieu in which Sirisena, his grandfather, lived, wrote and inspired the public and the transformation the country underwent during one of the tectonic shifts in its political history. Savanadasa takes a stroll down memory lane in an interview conducted by veteran broadcaster, Sampath Salpitakorala, for Sinhala Comm. Services more..

Dec 7 (Island) We are caught in a dual crisis. There is the unusual silence of Switzerland over the alleged complaint of its employee about a renewed white van situation. There is also the situation of leadership in the opposition. Govt voices and the media has big focus on the Swiss silence, which is not unusual given the current political situation, of a new national leadership, and alleged attempts to raise old accusations. more..

Dec 7 (CT) Every year, Colombo loses more of this rich network of natural and man-made wetland habitats, which take the form of active and abandoned paddy fields and tanks, UNDP said. A conservationist, recently, pointed out that wetlands provide a variety of important ecological and hydrological services to the metropolis, adding that marshes function as lungs, by scrubbing airborne pollutants, especially from exhaust fumes from the atmosphere helping maintain a comfortable more..

Dec 7 (DN) The Sri Lankan U-19 captain Nipun Dananjaya, leading his team into, what would be the final window of opportunity prior to the U19 World Cup, has set his sights in becoming the best fielding side in the tournament. “If we achieve that, we can win this tournament easily,” Dananjaya said, ahead of the team’s departure yesterday for the West Indies-Sri Lanka- England tri-series to be held in the Caribbean. The captain defended, that the team was armed with individual powers. more..

Dec 7 (DN) New cricket coach South African Mickey Arthur said that Sri Lanka has to play a brand of cricket that is going to make them successful in T20 Internationals. Arthur was replying to a question raised by the media at a press conference held on Thursday. “Months before the World T-20 we cannot put a team together so the tour of India is going to be crucial for us,” said Arthur who held his first practice session with more..

Dec 7 (FT) Defence Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratne assumed duties as the Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL), yesterday. Addressing the TRCSL staff at its Head Office, he said people had high expectations that this Government would put the country back into the correct track to development, and the State sector had to fulfil their aspirations by performing well. “We now have a good leadership under President Gotabaya more..

Dec 7 (FT) Sri Lanka’s authorities must end discrimination against LGBTI people, Amnesty International said yesterday, as the human rights organisation published a comic book recounting the struggles of LGBTI people in SL. Spectrum: Four Stories of Discrimination Faced by LGBTI People in Sri Lanka is a comic book that tells four true stories of how LGBTI people in Sri Lanka have suffered discrimination and violence in their daily lives, from workplace bullying to police harassment. more..

Dec 7 (DN) Sri Lanka men’s relay team shattered the 4x100 metres relay record by clocking 39.14 seconds to erase the 15-year-old record held by India at the ongoing 13th South Asian Games at Dasarath Stadium yesterday. On a day that Sri Lanka grabbed eight gold medals, three from the track and field events, the Lankan relay team comprising Himasa Eashan, Chanuka Sandeep, Vinoj Suranjaya and Yupun Priyadashana more..

Dec 7 (TM) Hambantota International Port (HIP) recently reached its 1 million MT benchmark for 2019 with volumes from three sectors namely RORO, Bulk and Liquid cargo, HIP said in a statement. “The HIP had a busy week with 6 RORO ships calling at the port, discharging 18,288 vehicles of which 16, 830 vehicles were for transshipment and 1458 vehicles were for local agencies. The discharging operation for these vessels were carried out simultaneously,” the statement said. more..

Dec 7 (Island) Around 20,000 children, between the ages of 5 and 17, drop out of SL schools each year. The 2016 survey on this subject indicated that this figure was moving up. Broken homes, children conceived outside wedlock and similar social problems were among the root causes for this crisis of acute concern, Commissioner, Dept of Probation and Child Care Services Ms. Chandima Sigera disclosed. 'School drop outs were observed to a large extent in Northern, Southern Provinces more..

Dec 7 (DN) In a move to strengthen the state bureaucracy and protect public officers from future political reprisal, Govt is to undertake a probe into political witch-hunts against certain targeted public officers during the last govt. New laws and mechanisms are also under consideration to ensure greater protection for the state bureaucracy in the future, it was announced. A Special Prez Commission of Inquiry (SPCoI), more..

Dec 7 (TM) Senior Lecturer Dr Charitha Herath says he intends to contest the forthcoming general elections. Herath said due to this he would not be taking up the Chairmanship of state-run, Lake House. “I don’t want to take up the ministry position, as I want to concentrate on contesting the upcoming election,” Herath said. “There’s an internal party agreement that whoever takes up a position in the 3 month interim govt wouldn’t get party nominations for the forthcoming general elections,” more..

Dec 7 (MFA) Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid conveyed on Thursday to Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena his country’s appreciation for SL’s longstanding partnership in socio-economic development with the Maldives, adding that this cooperation is reflective of the deep-rooted friendship which reinforces the mutual trust, respect and goodwill that exist between the two countries. The Foreign Minister of Maldives is currently on a three-day official visit to SL, more..

Dec 7 (CT) The CIABOC yesterday, re-filed indictments against former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne, before Colombo HC Judge Manjula Thilakarathne, over the alleged misappropriation of Rs 330,000 in SriLankan Catering Company funds. Previously, the Commission sought and received permission from the Court to withdraw the charges filed by them as they had been filed sans the written approval of the three Commissioners of the CIABOC. more..

Dec 7 (Island) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reinforced its commitment to partner with the government of Sri Lanka and stakeholders towards realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Marking 40 years of its representation in Sri Lanka, FAO underscored how food and agriculture lies at the very heart of sustainable development, from nourishing people to responding to climate change and managing natural resources. more..

Dec 7 (FT) In an effort to protect local small scale agriculture exporters, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has issued two Gazette notifications banning the import and re-export of nine crops and also restricted imports of garbage or refuse to be recycled and re-exported from Sri Lanka. Finance Ministry issuing a statement yesterday said that the steps were taken to protect Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as farmers. more..

Dec 7 (Island) Election Commission (EC) member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole has found fault with the EC for involving a private enterprise, Lanka Software Foundation (LSF), in the issuance of prez poll results. Prof. Hoole expressed serious concerns over the way the LSF had been brought into the EC operation. He criticized the EC move after EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya paid a glowing tribute to the LSF. more..

Dec 7 (DN) The appeal petition filed by the seven accused who were sentenced to death for the murder and gang rape of Sivaloganathan Vidya was yesterday fixed support by the Supreme Court. Seven accused including Mahalingam Shashikumar alias Swiss Kumar, were convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Sivaloganathan Vidya of Punguduthivu in 2015 by Jaffna HC Trial-at-Bar on Sept 27. SC 3-judge-bench headed by Justice Preethi Padman Suraena fixed the appeal more..

Dec 7 (RN) More than 30,000 people belonging to some 9,000 families have been affected by the adverse weather conditions prevalent across the island over the past few days, the DMC said. The daily downpours are likely to continue. Showers or thundershowers will occur at various intervals in the Eastern, Uva and Central provinces and the Polonnaruwa and Hambantota districts, with several spells of showers expected in the Northern province and the Anuradhapura district, Met Dept said. more..

Dec 7 (AD) Lack of any Muslim Ministers in SL’s new Cabinet is just fine, says Leader of ACMC Rishad Bathiudeen. Addressing a press briefing for Colombo-based foreign correspondents former Minister said the new govt takes all people as Sri Lankans. “They won with a majority. They can appoint the Cabinet as they want-that’s their right. If they see too as Sri Lankans and if they treat us equally, that is enough for us,” more..

Dec 7 (DM) Sajith Premadasa who was named as the new Opposition Leader should be given the opportunity of discharging his duties including paving the way for him to function as a member of the Constitutional Council (CC), former UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake said yesterday. He told journalists that Mr. Premadasa should also be provided with all the facilities he needs to function as the Leader of the Opposition. “As we understand the CC is meeting on Dec 12, 2019. more..

Dec 7 (DN) The accountant of a private company who was found guilty of defrauding over Rs.2 million from the company by presenting forged documents was yesterday sentenced to 367 years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) by the Colombo High Court. The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran and the verdict was announced by Colombo High Court Mudliar Interpreter M.M.A. Afrar. The accused, Hikkaduwa Liyanage Nandasiri was not present in court. more..

Dec 7 (AD) Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London today (6) imposed a fine of Sterling Pounds (GBP) 2,400 on former Defence Attaché at SL High Commission in London Brigadier Priyanka Fernando who was charged for making a threatening gesture towards a group of LTTE supporters back in 2018. The hearing of the case was taken up before Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot, who found Brig. Fernando guilty more..

Dec 7 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday paid a glowing tribute to late Ratnapura District MP Ranjith de Zoysa. Issuing a condolence message on his death, PM Rajapaksa said: I was shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely passing away of Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Ranjith de Zoysa while receiving treatment at a hospital in Singapore. He was a hero to the political forces that came together to form the Joint Opposition and later the SLPP after January 2015. more..

Dec 7 (FT) Govt has established a National Authority under the Defence Ministry to ensure safe use of scheduled chemicals in the industrial sector without hindering their proper functioning, Defence Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen.(Rtd) Kamal Gunaratne said. He said Sri Lanka had already implemented the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Sri Lankan through an Act passed by the Parliament in 2007 and had a proper system of implementing the Convention mainly through National Authority more..

Dec 7 (DM) While condemning the series of coordinated bombings that occurred on Easter Sunday, Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith today informed the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks, the country’s Security Council and other relevant security institutions should have acted fast before the Easter Sunday Bombings since the information was available, without taking serious matters as a joke. more..

Dec 7 (DM) One of the world’s greatest statesmen, Mahatma Gandhi has said that, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy. It is in this amazing spirit of living for others and serving the country to build a just and fair society that the UN on Dec 5 marked the International Volunteer Day more..

Dec 7 (DM) Sri Lanka’s Land Registry will operate electronically with the new law BimSaviya as practised in England and Wales and some other nations which is referred to as Torrens Law in those countries. Are we ready to operate with this foreign law? The extensive knowledge necessary for land owners to own land under the new law is given in the following article written by a barrister of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and a solicitor of the SC of England & Wales. more..

Dec 7 (DM) At his second and last swearing in nine years ago, Mahinda Rajapaksa told the people that he was only a temporary custodian of the nation. After his first and last swearing in 5 years later, Maithripala Sirisena in Kandy referred to himself as the first servant of the people. In A'pura two weeks ago, by contrast, Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not deign to describe himself or the role he would be playing for next few years. more..

Dec 7 (ST) The environmental police has deployed 1,500 people islandwide this week in a stepped up campaign to clean up the main towns, beaches and roads. Environmental protection range DIG Nimal Perera, told the Sunday Times that, they are working together with the local govt authorities and closely monitoring the private companies contracted for cleaning. “Our main aim is to raise awareness among people about more..

Dec 7 (SCMP) Sri Lanka’s new govt wants China to hand back a port it was given two years ago to cover its debts – but its chances of success appear slim. The port, located at the heart of a busy shipping route in southern Sri Lanka, has been held up by critics as a symbol of the worst aspects of China’s debt trap diplomacy with many locals regarding it as a sign of subordination to Beijing. more..

Dec 7 (IE) As part of the India-SL joint military exercise, which is focused on Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism (CI-CT) operations, the participants are receiving lessons in perception management and information warfare, along with human rights and humanitarian law. Contingents from the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army and Gemunu Watch infantry regiment of SL are currently undergoing a joint exercise more..

Dec 7 (ST) Despite the availability of laws, responsible institutions and resources, Sri Lanka has failed to gain public support for zero tolerance of gender-based violence. Experts said this is due to the lacklustre attitude of authorities to implement and continue programmes that provide lasting solutions, delays in police investigations and the filing of plaints and progress of cases through the courts. more..

Dec 7 (DM) More than 1000 Sri Lankan migrant workers have lost their lives during the last three years while working in various foreign countries, stated SLBEF statistics. According to the SLBEF data, a total of 1043 Sri Lankans died in 29 destination countries as migrant workers, due to various reasons such as natural, traumatic injuries, road traffic accidents, suicides, work-related injuries & intentional self-harm. more..