Oct 2 (DN) There was a time when village youth dreamed of the big city as their destination for a good life. But, that was a time of under-development and little business outside the metropolis other than traditional farming and the village kadé. Over 80% of rural youth were drifting into the city in search of income avenues. Today, thanks to gradual development and business dynamism, the trend is reversing – youth are coming back home or, are staying back in the village lured by more..

Oct 2 (Island) There is little to choose between the two principal prez candidates Sajith Premadasa (UNF) and Gotabhaya Rajapakse (SLPP) when it comes to election rhetoric. Both talk a lot about national unity, security, national sovereignty, economic prosperity, and social equity. These are very reasonable and highly desirable goals that nobody will challenge. But there is one key issue on which the two sides appear to differ. Rajapaksa and his supporters stress the importance of more..

Oct 2 (Island) UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa received UNP nomination as its 2019 prez candidate at the expense of a civil society grouping that had campaigned against him. Premadasa simply ignored the civil society project meant to bring in Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as the national candidate. The move divided the civil society to a certain extent, due to some backing Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe as the presidential candidate. National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) and more..

Oct 2 (EN) Sri Lanka is heading for record human and wild elephants deaths in 2019, with a probably expanding pachyderm population and pressure on their habitat as conflict with man escalates. In the first 10 months of 2019, 93 human and 293 elephants have already been killed in the conflict, compared to 96 humans and 319 elephants for the whole of 2018. “It is escalating,” Secretary to ministry of wildlife said. more..

Oct 2 (Island) IGP Pujith Jayasundera, currently on compulsory leave, was arrested, yesterday, for having manhandled a lift operator at the Police Hq, in 2017. One may wonder why on earth the police took so long to take action against the police chief for that incident in spite of the availability of irrefutable evidence against him. Video of the attack went viral on the Internet. But our judicial system is so efficient that no sooner had he been taken into custody than he was released on bail. more..

Oct 2 (CI) It wasn't as embarrassing as it could have been. At 28 for 5, SL were in danger of being crushed by more than 200 runs in the second ODI. Shehan Jayasuriya and Dasun Shanaka dragged SL almost back into the game, but the result, in the end, was a comfortable victory for Pakistan. This is the shape many SL matches have taken in the past two years. There have been moments of fight. But they have surrendered too much ground in the remainder of the game for those small passages of more..

Oct 2 (RN) Outlining wide-ranging policy proposals pertaining to children and the elderly, presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa promised today to reform preschool education, address malnutrition and revitalise care for the elderly in Sri Lanka, if elected. At a press conference, on World Children’s & Elders’ Day, Premadasa proposed a complete overhaul of preschool education, promising to standardise and regulate it and more..

Oct 2 (DN) Just when newspaper conglomerates like the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL) have treaded into an area which was exclusively for schoolboys for 40 years and are trying to broaden the horizons by recognising the performances of schoolgirl cricketers and bringing them on par with the boys, Sri Lanka Cricket has dealt a terrible blow to the girls’ future by failing to extend the contract of Apsari Tillakaratne, convenor of women’s cricket for the past three years. more..

Oct 2 (DN) Former Richmond College all-rounder Kamindu Mendis hit a career best 169 to enable Sri Lanka A draw the first unofficial test against Bangladesh A at Hambantota yesterday. In reply to Bangladesh A’s first innings of 360, SL A powered by Mendis’ 282-ball innings made 450 to take a first innings lead of 90. Bangladesh A batted for one over and scored one run in their second innings before the match petered out into a draw. Mendis who hit 19 fours in a display of solid concentration more..

Oct 2 (DN) The return of ODI cricket to Pakistan after a 10-year absence following a terrorist attack targeting a foreign team has coincided with a renewed plea from the country's cricket chief to recommence full, in-bound tours. Pakistan had a 67-run victory over SL on Monday to kick start the important cricket homecoming, which was delayed an extra couple of days because of the weather. It is the first time since SL's team bus more..

Oct 2 (EN) Cabinet of ministers had cleared a four month interim budget, ahead of Presidential polls scheduled for December. The vote-on-account will cover the period from January to April 2019. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera had earlier sought approval to present a four month budget, which would give a new president elected after election a free hand. The budget comes as revenue targets are missed for 2019 after a currency collapse in 2018 and current spending is rising. more..

Oct 2 (DN) A businessman stabbed by a gang three weeks ago at the Uppamadu Junction, Kopai, Jaffna died yesterday morning. The victim, Kandaiyah Kethiswaran (47), died at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Kethiswaran, a leading businessman in the area, hardware shop owner, was hacked to death with a sword on September 6 when he refused a ransom demanded by the gang. He was reportedly hacked to death by two suspects who arrived on a motorcycle. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Former Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told the PCoI that he would have to explore the possibility of taking legal action against Secretary to the Ministry of Power, Suren Batagoda for damaging his reputation. The PCoI earlier played a recording of a meeting attended by Batagoda, the representatives of Lakdhanavi Ltd and Windforce. Batagoda was heard telling the LTL representatives that more..

Oct 2 (FT) Prez Sirisena, marking Universal Children's Day yesterday, established a new trust fund for children who are in need of help due to various reasons. Daruwan Surakimu (Let's Protect Children) Trust was established by the Prez on 1 Oct. "Children are so precious for a nation. They represent the future of a country and are expected to be the leaders of the country. However, in each society, there are children who have lost their privileges due to various reasons. more..

Oct 2 (DN) The on- going progress of the vehicle assembling joint venture between Sri Lanka’s Ideal Motors and Mahendra Ltd., India, is now showing a significant and steady progress, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., Vice President Sanjay Jadhav said. He said so at a conference held in Mumbi, India, to create an awareness of Sri Lankan media on the current progress of the Sri Lanka – India vehicle assemble joint venture which commenced in August this year. more..

Oct 2 (DM) SL Excise Department has increased the amount of foreign liquor an individual could possess or transport up to 80 litres from the previous allowance of 7.5 litres with immediate effect. The department announced yesterday that under the Excise Notice 05 /2019 of Sept 27, 2019, issued by the subject Minister of Finance had made the order be effective to the entire country. This new regulation will pertain only for foreign liquor more..

Oct 2 (Island) UNP Ratnapura District MP Hesha Withanage was granted bail, yesterday, after he surrendered to courts following an arrest warrant issued on him. He was released on surety bail of Rs 100,000 by Embilipitiya Magistrate K.P.R.L. Widanagamage. The Embilipitiya Magistrate, on Monday, issued the arrest warrant on MP Withanage for not attending court on two occasions. A case has been filed against the MP by a businessman from Colombo J.V. Anura Mahendra, complaining more..

Oct 2 (CT) National Election Monitoring Centre (NEMC) said, as per provisions of the Act for the Election of a President, Section 2 (1), all candidates preparing to handover their nominations to contest the Prez Poll should declare their assets and liabilities as well. National Organiser of NEMC, if the respective nominees could declare their assets and liabilities as well, it will go a long way towards providing a clear picture of all candidates to the electorate prior to the election. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops in UN peacekeeping missions, overseas have generated revenue of Rs. 739.21 million last year, SLA's 2018 Annual Report released on 17 Sept said. Report was released before UN suspended SL peacekeeping missions. There are 14 peacekeeping missions led by UN Dept of Peacekeeping Operations and 1,900 vacancies to fill in its Mali Mission (MINUSMA). more..

Oct 2 (DN) The Railway service is to be made a ‘closed service’ as distinct from the rest of the public service, according to a Cabinet decision taken yesterday. A Cabinet memorandum to make the Railway service a ‘closed service’ was approved by the Cabinet of ministers at its meeting held yesterday. Accordingly steps would be taken in the future to remedy salary anomalies in various grades in the Railway service separately from the rest of the public service. more..

Oct 2 (DM) Chairman of the National Authority for Protection of Witnesses and Victims, Suhada Gamlath has said he would submit his resignation shortly but action is being taken by the Presidential Secretariat to remove him if he fails to do so by today, Minister Thalatha Athukorala said. She said that Mr. Gamlath had committed an offence as a public servant by talking to the media on certain issues. “I requested President Maithripala Sirisena to take action against him and more..

Oct 2 (DM) Former Solicitor General (SG) and Chairman of the SL National Authority for the Protection of Witnesses and Victims, Suhada Gamlath reiterated that he spoke the truth and said telling the truth had been construed as politics. He was responding to Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala, who said he has talked politics while holding a position in the public service. “If telling truth is construed as politics what is the more..

Oct 2 (TM) UNP Prez candidate Sajith Premadasa and JVP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake have both agreed to participate in an event organised by the March 12 Movement led by PAFFREL and AFRIEL. However SLPP Prez candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is yet to confirm his attendance at the Prez Election 2019—Public Platform scheduled on 5 Oct at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The event will host the top 3/4 prez candidates on a single platform to answer more..

Oct 2 (DN) Cabinet decided yesterday to approve the proposal presented by Minister Sajith Premadasa to grant the pension currently being paid to disabled war heroes to their spouses after their demise, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said. UNF Presidential candidate Premadasa had met the protesting veterans on Monday and assured them that he would act quickly to redress their issues, the most critical being the extension of full pensions to spouses after demise of soldier recipient. more..

Oct 2 (EN) Cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal to pay a 15,000 rupee executive allowance to administrative officers amid a wave of strikes by state workers. At a Sept 27 meeting it was proposed to pay an allowance between 3,000 to 15,000 rupees based on the length of service of the officer. The new decision is to pay 15,000 irrespective of the length of service. The teachers and principals will also more..

Oct 2 (Island) The TNA said that it would have discussions with all prez candidates before deciding to support one of them at the Nov 16 prez election. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, addressing media after a meeting with party activists in Jaffna, said that his party had decided to talk to each and every candidate individually before making a final decision on its stance at the prez poll. Sumanthiran, PC, said that they would ask each candidate what his or her stand on national question would be. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Former Chief Justice (CJ) Sarath Nanda Silva said, he firmly believes that there is no legal substance to file a case regarding the SL citizenship of SLPP Prez nominee Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He charged that the present regime had worked overtime to prevent Rajapaksa from being nominated to contest the 16 Nov Prez Poll under the SLPP ticket based on provisions of the 19th Amendment. Silva described the ongoing citizenship case filed against Rajapaksa at the CA, more..

Oct 2 (DM) The SLFP’s Central Committee chaired by Prez Sirisena will meet this Saturday to take a final decision on whether to support Sajith Premadasa or Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the prez election, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said. He said the CC had met on Monday to consider UNP General Secretary, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam's invitation to support Minister Premadasa while more..

Oct 2 (DM) What have a fifteen year-old schoolgirl from Sweden and anti-imperialist fighter Mohandas Gandhi got in common? And what sets them apart from others who actively work to promote causes they support from the environment or to rid themselves of the yolk of imperialism? In Aug 2018, a 15-year-old Swedish schoolgirl, Greta Thunberg began spending her school days outside the Swedish parliament to call for stronger action on global warming by holding up a sign saying more..

Oct 2 (DM) A 3-judge-bench comprising Court of Appeal (CA) Justices Yasantha Kodagoda (CA/President), Arjuna Obeysekara and Mahinda Samayawardena will consider the writ application challenging Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship status today. Romesh de Silva PC, appearing for the former Defence Secretary and SLPP prez candidate, is expected to object the application’s maintainability. Following are the legal arguments presented against the citizenship status of Mr. Rajapaksa by more..

Oct 2 (DM) Private bus drivers often get cursed by people for their haphazard ways of doing things such as excessive speeding, being negligent of road signs and violating traffic laws. Gemunu Wijeratne, much associated with the private buses, making a serious remark, said 50% of bus drivers and conductors island-wide were addicted to drugs. This issue is yet again another blow to the bus industry. However, it is vital to probe more..

Oct 2 (TM) A sharp rise was recorded in Non-Performing Loans (NPL), a sum of borrowed money upon which the debtor has not made scheduled payments for a specified period, with 95% of these NPLs resulting from the current state of the economy. CB Monetary Policy Consultative Committee Chairman Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne revealed that increase in NPL ratio of a country is not a healthy sign for its financial sector. more..

Oct 2 (EN) Cabinet had decided to launch an awareness campaign to educate the public on the politically motivated strikes launched by certain unions recently, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said, addressing the 84th annual meeting of the Public Health Inspectors’ Union, on Saturday. He said that, in the recent past, a decision had been taken to grant a salary increment to a number of govt officials during a meeting with trade union reps. more..

Oct 2 (Island) The World’s most successful and pioneer liver transplant specialist, Professor Mohamed Rela says that he and his medical team are ready to perform liver transplants on patients in Sri Lanka if the SL Govt provides necessary infrastructure. Professor Rela points out that the SL Govt should make a formal invitation to him and his medical team under a proper system in that regard. He would be able to launch such a successful more..

Oct 2 (TM) Senior Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam has been appointed as Acting Solicitor General by Public Service Commission(PSC) with immediate effect. Rajaratnam will replace Solicitor General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe who was interdicted by the PSC on the 24 September over an alleged incriminating tele conversation with Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi. more..

Oct 2 (PMD) Lord Tariq Ahmed of Wimbledon, British Minister of State for Commonwealth, UN and South Asia, commended the efforts taken by the govt of President Maithripala Sirisena to strengthen the process of reconciliation amidst the severe challenge posed by the dastardly terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday. He emphasized the need for international cooperation to fight terrorism in all its forms which has become a global threat. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Sri Lanka has given the clearance to license foreign airlines to operate flights between internal airports to boost the domestic aviation sector, the govt said. Under existing bilateral agreements foreign airlines operating to SL cannot carry traffic in between airports within the island, generally known as 6th freedom and beyond. But the cabinet of ministers has given clearance for civil aviation authority more..

Oct 2 (AD) A meeting between Prez Sirisena and UNP prez candidate Sajith Premadasa has taken place last night. Meeting was held at the President’s House. UNP’s General Secretary Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Minister Kabir Hashim had joined the as the representatives of their party. The decisions and agreements reached during the meeting which went on for several hours last night are yet to be revealed. more..

Oct 2 (AD) Supreme Court’s seven-judge bench has granted leave to proceed with the 12 Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando over the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The 12 FR petitions against the IGP and the former Defence Secretary for allegedly failing to prevent the coordinated terror attacks that claimed the lives of hundreds more..