Oct 22 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna fixed 1 Nov for further hearing of the case against State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, who has been charged with making a statement on the resurgence of the LTTE. Organized Crimes Preventive Division (OCPD), prosecuting, said that investigations into the incident have now been concluded and the case file has been directed to the Attorney General his is yet to give them instructions. Accordingly, OCPD requested hearing be more..

Oct 22 (DM) Prez Sirisena said his attention has been drawn towards a request made by Royal Park murder convict Shramantha Jayamaha's party seeking a presidential pardon. Prez expressed these views while addressing the 3rd summit of the National Youth Model UN held in Colombo on Sunday. While highlighting the importance of the youth practising tolerance and patience, Prez said tolerance was more..

Oct 22 (AD) Chairman of Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya has convened a meeting between the presidential candidates and the representatives of political parties. The meeting will take place at around 10.30 am at the Election Commission this morning (22). The Election Commission has decided to brief the presidential candidates and political party representatives on what should be and should not be done on the day of the election and afterwards. more..

Oct 22 (GN) The UAE Embassy in Colombo has issued a fresh alert to travellers, warning them not to visit the South Asian country of Sri Lanka. On its official Twitter account, the UAE mission said: “UAE nationals should not travel to Sri Lanka except in extreme cases. In the event of an emergency, citizens should call the embassy on +94 112-301-601, or contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation's call center on +971 800-444-44.” more..

Oct 22 (CT) The officers from Election Commission (EC), were able to bust a large-scale election violation racket, when they raided the Ministry of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment yesterday following a complaint received. According to the EC, a programme had been lined up to distribute cheques to the value of Rs 1 million each, to over 100 Samurdhi Managers, through Minister Daya Gamage, more..

Oct 22 (FT) Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) National Coordinator Manjula Gajanayaka has said that the election watchdog has allocated Rs. 7 million to monitor how much the nominees will be spending for their respective presidential campaigns. Gajanayaka, speaking at a workshop on election reporting organised by Internews, noted that the initiative was expected to lend transparency to the campaign finances of candidates and parties. Increasing political commitment more..

Oct 22 (DN) The writ petition filed by Center for Environmental Justice seeking an order directing the authorities to take necessary steps to implement the draft regulation on visual pollution through banners, hoardings and posters during elections was yesterday fixed for support by the Court of Appeal. Court of Appeal Justices Janak de Silva and Nissanka Karunaratne fixed the matter for support on Oct 31. The Attorney General yesterday sought further time to obtain instructions from more..

Oct 22 (Island) Attorney-at-law Maj. (retd) Ajith Prasanna urged the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) which probed the Easter Sunday carnage, Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri, not to release his report until SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem appeared before the PSC. The former UPFA SPC member pointed out that Minister Hakeem, as a member of Kumarasiri’s PSC, owed the outfit as well as the public more..

Oct 22 (DM) A few days ago, I was watching the replay of Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa’s maiden election rally address. There were seven youth with me and one of them pointed up his finger towards the speaker and asked me,” Do you think he is the right person?” I responded, “What do you think?” His reply took me by surprise. “I believe we need some type of a stern but humane dictator.” He gave me the reasons for his opinion and his argument goes like this: more..

Oct 22 (DM) The unprecedented turnout for inaugural rally at the Galle Face Green— the record crowd that filled not only the Green but vast stretches of Galle Road and the surrounding areas on the previous day had a definite influence on the result, as it inspired the floating voters at Elpitiya. Premadasa group correctly surmised this against, as we are told, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s wish was that the election should precede rally. If Sajith conceded to this idea, & rally was held subsequently, more..

Oct 22 (DM) Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal responded to a few questions posed to him by viewers during a live interview conducted on Facebook. Here, he spoke about the growth of the economy during his tenure, where it has gone wrong, allegations on bond issues and the future of certain political factions. Q: The economy grew from USD 24 billion to USD 79 billion during your period as the Governor. more..

Oct 22 (ST) As the first passenger jet touched down at Jaffna International Airport, bringing hope of a revival to the north’s war-battered economy, PM Ranil Wickremasinghe revealed that the April 21 Easter attack nearly derailed the airport’s fast-tracked inauguration. “After the Easter Sunday attacks [in April], there were some at the Cabinet who raised concerns about the need for this airport and going ahead with this project but more..

Oct 22 (TM) As Sri Lanka prepares to elect its next president on 16 Nov, legal experts noted that under the 19th Amendment (19A), the next PM and Parliament will have more powers than the president. Constitutional law expert MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne said that the new president will not be able to hold any ministries, which means the ministries the current Prez is holding, including the Ministries of Defence more..

Oct 22 (TM) The Sunday Morning reliably learnt that authority to take key operational decisions related to the upcoming prez election was vested with the Commissioner General of Elections while statutory powers related to key policy decisions were vested with EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya. Despite the important role played by the Commissioner General of Elections, the post remained vacant until last Wednesday (16), more..

Oct 22 (ND) Australia has spent $30 million and is employing 100 staff to detain just one family on Christmas Island – who are fighting deportation to Sri Lanka. The extraordinary cost of housing a Tamil family from the central Queensland town of Biloela was outlined in Senate estimates hearings on Monday night, as officials defended the decision to fly the family on a chartered jet to the island. more..

Oct 22 (TL) The SLPP has sought the support of the JVP to secure the second preferential vote for SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa had recently made the proposal to the JVP leadership during a telephone conversation. The revelation about Basil’s request from the JVP was made by JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake during a public discussion. However, Ratnayake noted that more..

Oct 22 (Island) TNA would announce who it would support at the coming Prez election on Oct 24, TNA MP Charles Nirmalanathan said. He said that all TNA MPs would hold a two-day discussion, October 23 and 24, in Colombo. The discussion would be led by TNA leader, R. Sampanthan. Outcome of those meetings would be announced on the same day. MP added that he was aware that none of the two main candidates, more..

Oct 22 (DM) At least five people lost their lives and more than 8,200 people displaced due to heavy rains experienced in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, North-Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern Provinces, the DMC said yesterday. It said some 2,250 families had been affected by the showery weather conditions that fully damaged 27 houses and partially damaged 690. They said 11 people were injured and more..

Oct 22 (EN) Thirty long-term observers (LTOs) were deployed in all nine provinces of Sri Lanka this morning as part of a European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) tasked with monitoring the upcoming prez election. This is the EU’s sixth election observation mission in the country, having monitored prez and parliamentary elections from 2000 to 2015, on the invitation of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 22 (AD) The United States District Court for the Central District of California has dismissed and denied the claims raised by Ahimsa Wickrematunge against Gotabaya Rajapaksa. On the 15th of July 2019, Ahimsa Wickrematunge had lodged the case against presidential hopeful, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, alleging him for extra judicial killing, crimes against humanity and torture. more..

Oct 22 (CT) Geopolitical developments over the past 40 years or even lesser have exacerbated complications affecting the deeply tragic mental attitudes of many senior Tamils, especially politicians, across the whole political divide in the North and the East, is a hidden fact that not many have cared to delve into. Such developments could even have over these forty odd years contributed largely to magnifying the Tamil homelands issues which ultimately led to the beguiling of more..

Oct 22 (FT) This series is based on business leader Dhammika Perera’s recently revealed Economic Growth Strategy and Action Plan to increase GDP Per Capita from $ 4,000 to $ 12,000. The document outlines goals and action plans for 23 ministries and today’s column focuses on the Ministry of Tourism. GOALS: 10 million visitors; $ 18 billion earnings from tourism. ACTION PLAN: 1. Introduce a Nation Branding Strategy for Sri Lanka focusing on 1. Tourism 2. Exports 3. Governance 4. Culture more..

Oct 22 (DM) There is a countrywide shortage of domestic gas because of the recent drone attack on Saudi oil facilities and the decrease in the gas prices, a senior official of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said. He said the shortage of gas in the local market would continue for at least another week. The official said most of the liquid gas arrives from Saudi Arabia but after the recent drone attack on Saudi oil facilities the shipments to Sri Lanka had been delayed. more..

Oct 22 (AD) An employee of the Duty-Free Zone at the BIA has been arrested by the Customs Narcotics Unit over an attempt to smuggle out gold. The arrest has been made at around 9 am this morning, according to the Acting Media Spokesperson for SL Customs Lal Weerakoon. Arrested 26-year-old from Wattala is an employee of an electronic equipment shop at the Duty-Free Zone in BIA. Reportedly, he had been arrested on two previous occasions by the Customs for smuggling out gold from airport. more..

Oct 22 (AD) Prez candidate of NPP General Mahesh Senanayake has been hospitalized this afternoon due to sudden illness. According to reports, former Commander of the Army had arrived at Balangoda area this morning for a political discussion to that was held with the members of his party. The discussion took place at the private resort in Balangoda. Following the discussion, he had spoken to media persons more..

Oct 22 (AD) The Jaffna International Airport, which was declared open recently, has inundated due to the prevailing showery condition in the area. Ada Derana reporter said heavy rainfall had plagued the area for several areas. Jaffna International Airport was declared open under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena last Thursday (17). It is the third international airport in Sri Lanka and was constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,250 million in Palaly in the Northern Province. more..

Oct 22 (AD) The Colombo High Court has ordered the Superintendent of Prisons to produce the remanded Chairman of Avant-Garde Maritime Services, Nissanka Senadhipathi, before the court on the 14th of November. The case against Avant-Garde chairman and former Rakna Lanka Retired Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando for soliciting a bribe of Rs 355 million was taken up before the Colombo High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran today. The second defendant of the case, more..

Oct 22 (RN) Conservationists and animal rights groups are up in arms over an alleged Cabinet proposal approved earlier this month to release illegally captured baby elephants that are now in Wildlife Department custody back to their captors. Justice for Animals, a group of conservationists working under the Sri Bodhiraja Foundation, accused the Govt of the move. Wildlife Protection Society (WPS) Secretary more..

Oct 22 (EN) LTL Holdings, a 63% owned unit of state-run CEB could be listed to end a stalemate with a parliamentary oversight committee and provide a return to the state for its share, it has been suggested. Parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises headed by Sunil Handunetti, a legislator from the Marxist JVP, backed by legal interpretations has been trying to gain oversight of LTL Holdings. “Practical situation is that this company has been operating as separate unit for a long time” more..

Oct 22 (AD) The Tamil Muslim National Alliance has confirmed that it would support SLPP’s candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Prez Election. The chairman of the Alliance, Attorney-at-Law Abdul Raheem stated that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to ensure the safety of Tamil and Muslim communities in the country. He said concerns existed with regard to the security of Muslims on the occasion that Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins the Prez Election, however, more..

Oct 22 (DM) Minister of Media and State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene today (21) said that the Indian Ocean region (IOR) maritime domain and its affairs have become one of the crucial factors that decide and influence present, as well as future maritime affairs. Making the Keynote Address, Wijewardene said that cooperation and partnership among nations have become a realistic approach in addressing global issues more..

Oct 22 (EN) Sri Lanka is likely to get higher than normal rainfall, for the upcoming Maha main cultivation season but water levels of irrigation tanks are still low, the Department of Agriculture has said. Based on computer projections rainfall in Oct and Nov are likely to be higher than the long term average, the agency said. Due to favourble El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole conditions, Sri Lanka has a higher probability of getting strongs rains during the North East monsoon in December. more..

Oct 22 (AD) Leader of SLMC Minister Rauff Hakeem is due to make a special statement in the Parliament tomorrow with regard to the controversial video released to the media containing an alleged meeting between him and the ringleader of Easter Sunday attacks, Zahran Hashim. Minister stated this speaking to the media after visiting chief incumbent of Malwatta Thera today. He said he would make a revelation on the people seen in the controversial video. Certain people are attempting to more..

Oct 22 (TM) Ahimsa Wickramatunga, daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge says she will challenge the U.S. court decision to dismiss her case against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse. On 15 July Ahimsa Wickrematunge filed a case against Rajapaksa alleging him of the extrajudicial killing of her father late Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday Leader, crimes against humanity and torture. more..

Oct 22 (EN) Sri Lanka’s central bank has issued a warning on illegally forex trading scams operated by some companies where people have lost money. The central bank said there were unauthorized illegal forex trading dealers and platforms advertising their services through the internet and media. People who lost money through such operations had complained to the central bank. The central bank said only Commercial Banks in SL are authorized to trade foreign exchange. more..

Oct 22 (EN) Omega Line, which makes lingerie sold by Italian brands, plans to expand its Sri Lankan factory with an investment of about 24 million US dollars, the investment promotion agency said. The Board of Investment said it signed an agreement with Omega Line Limited to reconstruct the factory building complex at the existing premises at Sandalankawa as an expansion of the existing project. Vincenzo Joppolo, chairman of Omega Line Group in Sri Lanka, said more..

Oct 22 (DM) The rains which prevailed during the past few days will continue while minor flood threat in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts had lessened somewhat, DMC Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said. He said according to the Irrigation Dept, that as of last afternoon the water levels at the Nagalagama Street had reached alert level. He said the residents living downstream along the banks of the Kelani River and more..

Oct 22 (NR) Prez candidate of the NDF Minister Sajith Premadasa says he will grant the opportunity for media outlets to engage in duties independently free of regulations. Minister Premadasa said he intends on creating a democratic media industry in the country. He pledged to work towards strengthening media freedom adding he will refrain from creating legal frameworks and interfering in media freedom. Minister noted the govt should not have to intervene to ensure regulations more..

Oct 22 (AD) SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the security of the country can only be reaffirmed in a Rajapaksa era which has a security system with well-guided and planned intelligence units. The former Defense Secretary stated this addressing a public meeting held in Middeniya yesterday. There was no concern for national security and priority for national security since the current govt came to power, states Rajapaksa. He says that they humiliated and more..