Nov 8 (AD) SL’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sumith Dassanayake, said that SL is already participating in Hawassa Industrial Park in apparel textile industries. He noted that SL is keen to build strong relations with many nations, and Ethiopia comes in the forefront. At present, over 800 Sri Lankans are working in Ethiopia. Issabella and Hydramani SL companies have established their operations in Hawassa Industrial Park in textile sector. Currently, Sri Lanka’s textile companies have created more..

Nov 8 (DN) NPP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a campaign rally in A'pura that a massive land area extending over 8,000 acres was leased out to American companies during the Rajapaksa regime. He said that former Prez Rajapaksa, who pretends to be perturbed over the MCC agreement with the US, had leased out over 5,000 acres of land in Somawathiya, 2000 acres in Pelwatta and hundreds of acres more in Iginimitiya, to American companies for a song. more..

Nov 8 (AD) Prez hopeful of SLPP former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the TNA has chosen the party that can fulfil their separatist demands. Addressing a rally at Ratnapura, Rajapaksa said he has held neither parliamentary membership nor a ministerial position, but fulfilled the responsibility put on his shoulders. Referring to the prez front-runner Minister Sajith Premadasa’s campaign promises, more..

Nov 8 (AD) MUFG Bank, commercial banking entity of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, has awarded scholarships to 17 undergraduates from the Uni of Colombo. The scholarships, worth US$ 5,100 each, were awarded to students by Masaru Enomoto, Resident Representative of MUFG’s Colombo Representative Office on behalf of the Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation. These scholarships will cover their school fees for one academic year. The MUFG award recipients, who are in their 2nd, 3rd or more..

Nov 8 (MoD) SL Army will move into a new Headquarters complex built (within the Defence Complex) in Sri Jayawardenapura, today. President Maithripala Sirisena will declare open the new Army HQ complex during a ceremony. This new state of the art complex built with Army expertise will house all Directorates of the Army Headquarters which are, at present located in different places, under one roof. Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General (Retd) SHS Kottegoda had made several inspection more..

Nov 8 (RN) Allaying fears that the private sector will fall by the way side under his presidency’s socially conscious economic development drive, prez hopeful Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that the path to prosperity lies in the coexistence of the state sector and a regulated private sector. An investment-friendly environment facilitated by consistent fiscal policy and reduced political interference, among other measures, more..

Nov 8 (DM) While saying he could not further tolerate the hostility shown to him by the UNP, State Minister Wasantha Senanayake said that he had no intention of continuing politics with the UNP and its existing members even if Sajith Premadasa wins the prez election. “I will take some crucial decisions tomorrow and day after as well in my future endeavours,” he said. “Several powerful UNPers including PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa have telephoned more..

Nov 8 (CT) Tangalle High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida yesterday, handed down the death sentence to Geegana Gamage Amarasiri, alias Julampitiye Amare, who was convicted of a double murder committed during a JVP rally, held ahead of the Provincial Council (PC) Polls seven years ago. Justice Sapuwida said, as the prosecution had proved the charges against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, he was handing down the death sentence. more..

Nov 8 (Island) The TNA yesterday urged "all people, particularly the Tamils, whom it represents to vote for Sajith Premadasa, the NDF candidate contesting under the Swan symbol." R Sampanthan Leader of TNA, Mavai Senathirajah Leader - ITAK, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Leader – Tamil TELO and Dharmalingham Siddarthan Leader - PLOTE, said, in a media statement, that the "record of the Podujana Peramuna and more..

Nov 8 (DN) UNP has taken a decision that none of its members will participate in talk shows, debates and other programmmes aired on Hiru TV and the Hiru FM network. UNP General Secretary, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the UNP had decided to enforce this boycott of Hiru Media Network until and unless the network changes course and follows the media guidelines set by the Elections Commission for all broadcast and print media. “The freedom of the press is a sacred thing and essential to more..

Nov 8 (AD) Although the ballot paper for Prez Election 2019 is longer than usual, measures have been taken to make sure that voting can be carried out without hindrance, says Chairman of Elections Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya. He stated that the voted can, according to the Act, mark their vote by either marking an ‘X’ or writing the digit ‘1’ before the symbol and the name of the preferred contestant. The voter will have to place their ballot papers diagonally across the ballot booth more..

Nov 8 (Island) Govt and some opposition MPs, requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to take immediate action against those who had been found guilty of chilli powder attacks in the House, last year. Speaker Jayasuriya said that the relevant matter had been referred to AG's Department and measures were being taken to initiate action against the culprits. JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake demanded that Parliament take action against more..

Nov 8 (DM) Last week we read the news about a party organised through Facebook where several guests were arrested for possessing narcotics. The guests arrested during a raid were in the age range of 18-48. Teenagers being at this party, where the use of Cannabis is alleged, is serious. It seems parents have to control the use of Facebook and of possible attempts to entice these youngsters to be addictive to drugs. Organising parties through Facebook has been reported in past few yrs. more..

Nov 8 (DM) In the afterglow of the 1969 moon landing, a political analyst quipped that if politicians had been like Pinocchio, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin would have been disappointed to note that before they set foot on the moon, the noses of most of the earth’s politicians had already reached the surface of the moon. Today we may have to say that the points of their ever lengthening noses would be touching our galaxy’s black hole, some 27,000 light years away. more..

Nov 8 (DM) Although one of the smaller parties contesting the prez election, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) has a history of over half a century of active politics in Sri Lanka. In 1964 it broke away from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) when the old left party joined the Sirimavo Bandaranaike coalition. In 1968 the breakaway group formed as the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), and later in 1996 as the SEP. more..

Nov 8 (ST) This week, we bring you the transcript of the much-awaited live debate between the main candidates at the presidential election. In attendance were Sajith Premadasa (SP), Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR), Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and Mahesh Senanayake (MS). Moderating the debate is Mahinda Deshapriya, better known to the audience as MaKo. MaKo: Good evening everyone, this is a historic occasion more..

Nov 8 (DM) On Tuesday last, there was a surprising tweet that had copied a post from the FB account Bring Back Gota said to be managed by the SLPP social media group. The FB post very openly said, “Election Commission in SL is no more an independent Commission. It is a biased Commission. Prof Hooley (misspelled purposely?) is not independent, he is an appointee that represent Tamil Diaspora and Western interests. more..

Nov 8 (Island) Muslim Personal Law Reforms Action Group (MPLRAG) activist Hyshyama Hamin, recently, said that as Sudan and Malaysia had appointed Muslim women as chief justices, Sri Lanka had absolutely no excuse for not allowing Muslim women to be judges in the nation’s community based Quazi court system. Hyshama Hamin, a participant at the media briefing by MPLRAG & Hashtag Generation to highlight more..

Nov 8 (FT) Abans is stepping up efforts to boost its automobile business with a key agency deal with global giant Hyundai, rolling out multi-million-rupee investments for modern showrooms, service centres and other benefits to customers. An ultra-modern first-of-its kind Hyundai showroom set up with Rs. 20 million investment was opened yesterday at the Colombo City Centre (CCC) and an Abans Hyundai Service Centre more..

Nov 8 (YS) As the final countdown begins for the presidential elections in Sri Lanka, two major contestants Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 70, of the SLPP party and Sajith Premadasa, 52, of the UNP are seeking votes offering a contrasting agenda. As many as 16 million voters will choose the new president among 35 contestants on Nov. 16. While Rajapaksa, who as the secretary of defense played a key role to defeat the rebel Tamil tigers more..

Nov 8 (Island) MPs couldn’t challenge or undermine the unitary status of the country under any circumstances, Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL told the media. He said so in response to The Island query as why both local and foreign polls monitors were mum over ITAK led five-party grouping demanding abolition of unitary status as a prerequisite for extending its support to either Sajith Premadasa (NDF) or more..

Nov 8 (RN) Parliament will have a Special Sitting on Monday to debate a Bill on Prevention of Offences in Sports an important proposed law to crack down on corruption in sports. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ordered the special sitting on a request by PM. According to yesterday’s Order Paper, the National Innovation Agency Bill and three Regulations under the Section 41 read with Section 31 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 more..

Nov 8 (EN) Sri Lanka will change a deal with the IMF if a new administration under Gotabaya Rajapsaka comes to power, former CB Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Sri Lanka is now suffering low growth higher inflation (SL Stagflation) and bad loans are ticking up after two currency collapses occurred in quick succession as the central bank printed tens of billions of rupees a at a time to generate liquidity shocks and more..

Nov 8 (AD) The new Sri Lanka Army Headquarters complex, equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and high-tech security systems, was declared open a short while ago under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. The ceremony was attended by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene and many other distinguished guests this morning (08). more..

Nov 8 (CT) In the context of escalating air pollution in Colombo, possibly due to the high volumes of fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the City in particular, coupled with fossil -based electricity generation plants in the suburbs and in the neighbouring Wayamba Province, it may be moot to have policies that encourage the use of electric-powered vehicles and the use of renewable energy (RE) for electricity generation. This may be enhanced by the implementation of a low or no tax regime more..

Nov 8 (FT) Almost all the candidates who are genuinely contesting the Presidential Election have presented their election manifesto. But none of them have offered a practical vision to overcome the crisis that Sri Lanka is facing. The failure to build the nation can be considered the main problem that had caused the crisis of SL. It could be described as the core of the problem. The division of people based on religion and caste has rendered it difficult to integrate the people and build the nation. more..

Nov 8 (AD) Department of Meteorology has issued a special advisory for heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas for naval and fishing community in the Bay of Bengal sea area. The severe cyclonic storm Bulbul in the Bay of Bengal sea area has developed into a very severe cyclonic storm and is now located near latitude 17.2N, longitude 87.6E. It is very likely to intensify further during next 24 hours and move northwards, towards west Bengal (India) and Bangladesh coast, the warning said. more..

Nov 8 (DN) The main characters behind the series of assassinations and assaults that took place during the previous regime will be revealed to the country within the next two three days, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He argued that with these revelations, people will understand how the war heroes had become helpless due to the orders they were asked to follow by the then rulers to commit such crimes. Senaratne stated this when speaking at the ceremony to launch the War Heroes’ more..

Nov 8 (AD) The total number of complaints lodged with the Election Commission pertaining to the forthcoming Prez Election has increased to 3,214. The Commission said this includes 25 complaints against incidents on election violence. Meanwhile, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) said it has received 95 complaints regarding the Prez Election so far. Among these complaints, 23 pertain to the misuse of more..

Nov 8 (DM) A total of Rs.1, 257 million has been spent from Oct 14 till Nov 4 by five candidates contesting for the prez election on their election campaign, the Centre For Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said. Accordingly, the SLPP has spent a total of Rs.750 million for the election campaign for Gotabaya Rajapaksa while the DNF has spent a total of Rs.470 million for the election campaign of Sajith Premadasa. The SLPP has spent Rs.53 million for print media, more..

Nov 8 (EN) Net profits at Sampath Bank for the September quarter fell 0.7% to 2.6 billion rupees with taxes eating into the bottom line, interim financials showed. Sampath Bank, one of the three largest private banks in SL by assets, posted 6.81 rupees in earnings per share at group-level. For the first nine months of 2019, the group made 20.80 rupees in earnings per share. The Sampath Bank share closed at 165.10 rupees on Thursday. Group interest income in Sept quarter grew 7.2% more..

Nov 8 (RN) Two of politician S B Dissanayake’s bodyguards are to face an identification parade at the Hatton Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The two Ministerial Security Division officers are alleged to have opened fire at some people who are said to have obstructed the former Minister’s vehicle in Ginigathhena earlier this week. Hatton Magistrate Jeyaram Strosky remanded the two policemen until 11 Nov after more..

Nov 8 (Island) Some leading candidates had promised to provide free artificial fertilizer to farmers, but it was judicious to move away from agrochemical intensive farming, Prez Sirisena said yesterday in Matale. Addressing an event connected to Moragahakanda project, Sirisena said that the time had come to move towards more sustainable agricultural practices. "Most countries have realised the danger of agrochemical intensive farming. They are encouraging use of organic agriculture. more..

Nov 8 (AD) Court of Appeal has ordered the contempt of court application filed against Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero and 3 others to be considered on Feb 17, 2019. The petition, accusing the respondents of violating a court order concerning a contentious burial on Hindu temple grounds, was taken up before Appeals Court chairman Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Arjuna Obeysekara this morning (8). Respondents named in the application including more..

Nov 8 (CI) Can I have a selfie? The question came out of nowhere, a grating interruption to Danushka Gunathilaka's train of thought, and without any of the usual apologetic preamble for the interjection. It came from a middle-aged man, who obviously knew his cricket, as so many people do in Pakistan. But Gunathilaka was more than mildly annoyed by the intrusion - and perhaps the manner of it - gently but firmly declining, more..

Nov 8 (DN) The Health Ministry and the National Dengue Control Unit has warned the public that there is an outbreak of dengue. The Ministry requests the public to take an NS1 test at a state hospital within two days of fever. Dengue has already killed over 80 patients this year. The test helps to diagnose dengue fever accurately and quickly. The Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera requests the public to use Paracetamol only for all types of fever. more..

Nov 8 (DM) SLPP yesterday rejected the complaint made by State Minister Eran Wickramaratne based on a tweet that SLPP was planning a bomb attack in the coming week. Issuing a letter to the Elections Commission Chairman, SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa's spokesman MP Dullas Alahapperuma said it was unacceptable to make such allegations against the SLPP based on a Twitter message. “We don't have to remind you Mr. Chairman, that the UNP resorted to violence more..

Nov 8 (DM) The deterioration in the air quality experienced in Colombo had returned to normal by yesterday. However, it is expected to deteriorate again by next Wednesday. This information was released by NBRO Senior Scientist Sarath Premasiri. He also elaborated that as per the US Air Quality Index (AQI), the unhealthy values of air quality had gone up to more than 150 but returned to the normal (level of 50 to 60). more..

Nov 8 (AD) Permanent High Court-at-Bar today rejected the bail application filed by the former Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi. Trial-at-Bar comprising Justice Dhammika Ganepola, Adithya Patabendige and Manjula Thilakaratne rejected the request to release on bail the former Chairman of Avant-Garde Nissanka Senadhipathi, who is one of the accused in the Avant Garde high seas arms trafficking case. Delivering the decision, High Court Judge more..