Oct 3 (EN) The UK has pledged 10 million pounds to promote peacebuilding and dialogue, support resettlement and livelihoods for displaced communities and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. The pledge was made during a visit by Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia and PM’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon. “The UK announced over £10m of new funding to support long-term stability in Sri Lanka, more..

Oct 3 (FT) Shilpa Abhimani 2019, the Presidential Handicrafts Competition, Exhibition and Awards Ceremony showcasing the collective and creative conscience of SL’s traditional and contemporary handicrafts, will kick off today at BMICH. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the Chief Guest at the event, organised by the National Crafts Council (NCC), along with Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and more..

Oct 3 (AD) United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarian Kumara Welgama has decided to contest at the upcoming Presidential Election. Welgama will contest at the Presidential Election 2019 as an independent candidate through the Organization to protect the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. The Secretary of the organization Attorney –at-Law Rajika Kodithuwakku stated that SLFP Leader Chairman Maithripala Sirisena has been informed of this decision. more..

Oct 3 (AD) A mother and a son of the same family have been sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court over a case of murder. The order was issued by HC Judge Pradeep Hettiarachchi when the case was taken up today. The convicted mother and son had murdered the wife of the son by setting on fire back in 2007. The incident which had taken place in 2007 had, reportedly, been the result of a family issue. Following an extensive hearing, the 75-year-old mother and the 35-year-old son were more..

Oct 3 (AD) The Court of Appeal concluded the consideration of the petition, filed against recognizing the citizenship of former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for the day. The court session concluded at 6.15 in the evening. The consideration is scheduled to continue again at 9.30 am tomorrow (04). The petition was filed by two social activists Gamini Viyangoda and Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara on Monday (30). more..

Oct 3 (AD) A petition has been file moving the Supreme Court to invalidate the Gazette notification declaring the Prez Election 2019. The petition filed by the former Mayor of Galle Methsiri de Silva has named Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, the members of the commission and the Attorney General as its respondents. Petitioners point out that the incumbent Prez Sirisena was elected as President on Jan 8, 2015, for a term of six years. more..

Oct 3 (CT) It is not the leaders of the SLFP and the SLPP who should be deciding on the symbol to be used by the Prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he himself should decide on it, said UPFA MP Dilan Perera. Gotabaya himself should say which symbol he prefers and whether he is going to change the symbol from the lotus bud to another, he added. Speaking to the Media, Perera emphasised that Prez candidate should have the freedom to compete under whichever symbol he likes. more..

Oct 3 (CT) Election Commission Media Centre, set up in collaboration with the Dept of Govt Information on 1 Oct, is raising awareness among the public about activities pertaining to the Prez Election scheduled for 16 Nov 2019, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said. He revealed that as of 1 Oct 17 candidates had paid their deposits, and among them are nine candidates from recognised more..

Oct 3 (NR) Ministry of Education says schools of three divisions of the Colombo education zone and three schools in the Sri J'pura education zone will be closed on Monday for security reasons owing to the submission of nominations for the upcoming Prez Election. Accordingly, schools in Borella, South Colombo and Central Colombo as well as the President’s College, Sri J'pura Kotte, Hewavitharana Maha Vidyalaya Rajagiriya and the Hewavitharana Primary School will be closed. more..

Oct 3 (RN) Accusing railway trade unions of being duped by the Joint Opposition, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today that the problems faced by railway workers were already resolved last year. Addressing the media, Samaraweera claimed that the SLPP is using the railway workers as a political weapon. “We have already provided all possible welfare to the railway workers. It was because of the railway workers that we appointed a presidential commission. more..

Oct 3 (DM) UPFA or Prez Sirisena did not want to make Gotabaya Rajapaksa the president on personal preference or for political agenda but they believe that it would lead to the betterment of the country, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said. "We are still conducting discussions with the SLPP. We have presented several proposals. If we get a positive response there will be no more discussions and there will be no more..

Oct 3 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa says that there is a legal impediment for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to contest from a different symbol other than the ‘lotus bloom’ (pohottuwa). The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader stated that deposits have already made at the Elections Commission to contest under the ‘lotus bloom’ symbol. Speaking to journalists in Pepiliyana, Rajapaksa said that it is not legally possible to change this. more..

Oct 3 (AD) The gazette notification declaring the railways an Essential Service is set to be issued before midnight today. The relevant gazette notification, signed by Prez Sirisena, has been forwarded to the Dept Of Govt Printing. The railway service resorted to indefinite strike action from midnight on Sept 25th inconveniencing a massive number of commuters. State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe stressed that continuing the strike is unfair even after the authorities responded more..

Oct 3 (AD) Permanent High Court at Bar today granted permission to former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to travel overseas for a medical checkup from 9th to 12th of Oct. The case against the former Defence Secretary, filed by the Attorney General, for allegedly misappropriating state funds amounting to Rs 33.9 million during the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana, more..

Oct 3 (DM) Chandragupta Thenuwara’s brother Indranatha today said his brother's decision to file a petition against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship was indecent at this juncture and said he could have done it some years ago. He was responding to Prof. Thenuwara and L.A.C. Uyangoda who filed the writ petition disputing the citizenship of Mr. Rajapaksa. Mr. Thenuwara said breaking the leg of a rival candidate cannot be accepted and said what should have more..

Oct 3 (NR) General Secretary of the UNP Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says the aspirations of certain individuals that the UNP would divide owing to the Prez Election have been shattered at present. Speaking at the UNP Convention today the Minister said the UNP will always be protected. He noted everyone must unconditionally commit themselves towards ensuring victory for Minister Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Prez Election. UNP Gen. Secretary said through obtaining victory, more..

Oct 3 (DM) Transport State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe today took a stern stance not to negotiate with the Railway Trade Unions until the train strike is called off. He said the Railways Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) launched its trade union action without informing the ministry. After making the Railway Service as an essential service, the ministry would be able to take strict legal action against railway strikers. more..

Oct 4 (DN) The ratification of Sajith Premadasa as the prez candidate of the UNP and the coalition it leads, the UNF last Thursday added a new dimension to the presidential election, now due in less than fifty days. The confirmation of Premadasa, the UNP’s deputy leader, was not without its anxious moments and was preceded by weeks of back-room discussions and manoeuvring within two factions of the UNP, one loyal to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the other backing Minister Premadasa. more..

Oct 4 (CT) The race for the Presidency is in full swing. The discourse so far is disappointingly trivial. We have had an Executive Presidency for over twenty years, and six tenancies. Is it not time for us to assess the worth of this system? Considering the overwhelming power of this position, there is good reason for alarm. It is time to consider whether any of the six EP’s we have had, has the qualities adequate to match the inordinate power (and expense) that the position entails? more..

Oct 4 (CT) MP and Propaganda Secretary of JVP Vijitha Herath says people have trust in them because of the service they have rendered to the country. "That is why various organisations joined hands with the NPP to form a broader force. People rallied around us because of the trust they have in the JVP and by default the newly formed NPP," Herath said. Q: In 1982, your former leader Rohana Wijeweera contested the Prez Election to urge people to more..

Oct 4 (CT) The island’s peaceful Muslim community, subjected to organized persecution since the end of the ethnic war in 2009 by the Rajapaksa and Maithri-Ranil govts, are discussing the possibility of supporting the JVP, in the Nov 16 prez elections. Dismissed as racists and atheist, Muslims in general never supported the JVP. However the situation is changing fast. Already east based Muslim party – National Front for Good Governance-NFGG, has aligned itself with the JVP. more..

Oct 4 (DN) Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre (RIMC) established its Colombo office for the convenience of local patients at No. 01, Botheju Road, Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo 5, recently. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rela has performed successful liver transplants in over 100 Sri Lankan patients. All of them, including adults and children, are leading a healthy life. Prof. Rela worked in various hospitals in the UK before joining King’s College Hospital, London, in 1991, where he continues to be more..

Oct 4 (SO) Minister of Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne appeared before the PCoI investigating corruption in the current administration on Sept 24. He gave evidence on the acquisition of the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) to the government. Dr. Senaratne told the PCoI that he had presented the Cabinet with a proposal on August 31, 2019, to acquire the assets of the NFTH. more..

Oct 4 (CT) Now that the battle lines have been drawn for another presidential election, it will be for the next President, and the Parliament to be elected thereafter, to take steps to abolish the Executive Presidency, fulfilling the long-felt need. Although President Maithripala Sirisena succeeded in reducing the excessive powers of the Executive Presidency, to a large extent, fulfilling a part of his manifesto promise in the last presidential election campaign, more..

Oct 4 (Island) Minister Sajith Premadasa is walking on air. The UNP, at a special convention, yesterday, endorsed his presidential candidacy, unanimously. That feat is doubtlessly a high watermark of his political career. He had to fight quite a battle to secure party nominations to run for President, and it was thought, in some quarters, that he was fighting a losing battle. But for his determined struggle over the last several weeks, he would not have been able to achieve his objective. more..

Oct 4 (DM) As the day of nomination for the presidential elections approaches fast, uncertainty and anxiety engage the minds of voters over the latest developments. Litigation filed challenging the citizenship of SLPP’s nominee for prez candidacy Gotabaya Rajapaksa triggered nervousness among his supporters, fearing whether he would be disqualified from contesting. It was a matter pending before the Court of Appeal. So, one cannot comment on merits and demerits of it at this hour. more..

Oct 4 (Island) Cassandra considers the hullabaloo over presidential candidates and speeches galore and simmering since the toiling and boiling is still to come. Usually simmering is a good cooking time, as food aromas pervade the surroundings and one’s appetite is aroused and anticipation of a good spiced dish gives joy. She recalls her childhood in Kandy when a pot on a hearth built outside the kitchen simmered through the night on smouldering paddy seed husks (dahaiya) and more..

Oct 4 (TM) The struggle to restore the court complex in Hultsdorf saw further developments with the Minister of Justice charging that she was being unfairly blamed while the BASL reached out to the international community as an alternative. On 16 Sept, the roof of the Colombo High Court building collapsed after decades of neglect and lack of maintenance. Lawyers, litigants, and court employees continued working in this building, more..

Oct 4 (Island) Sajith Premadasa finally clinched the governing UNP’s nomination for the prez election through the formal decision of the UNP’s Working Committee and that decision is to be ratified at their annual convention scheduled for 3rd Oct. The election itself is only a short six weeks away, the Election Commission having issued the gazette for the date of polling as 16th Nov 2019. Soon after clinching the nomination, the basic framework of the political pitch and path of Minister and more..

Oct 4 (ST) Veteran cricket journalist (Sinhala) Sarath Jayasinghe invites cricket loving readers to contribute to his forthcoming issue of Sri Lankaave Jagath Ekdina Cricket Puraanaya (ODI Cricket History of Sri Lanka). The contributions should be factual accounts of rare incidents, special achievements of players, interesting stories, on and off the field, valuable pictures of Sri Lanka’s ODI cricket history, which commenced from the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975. more..

Oct 4 (ST) SL’s canned fish manufacturers are now grappling to survive due to a flood of imported canned fish as a result of lowering import duty. Finance Ministry has reduced the import duty to Rs. 50 from Rs. 102 per kg bringing down the price of canned fish which has resulted in the flood of imported salmon tins in the local market. These importers have been benefited by this move as they have been able to increase their sales by more..

Oct 4 (Island) SL’s very own food delivery platform PickMe Food launched its services in the city of Negombo last week in a bid to provide the convenience of doorstep food delivery to it’s growing user-base. The latest venture of PickMe – SL technology driven mobility solutions provider, PickMe Food has been immensely successful in creating a fast and hassle-free order and delivery system between restaurants and patrons in Colombo, its suburbs, Maharagama, Kottawa more..

Oct 4 (Island) Global auto giant Mahindra & Mahindra in India, with the policy support of the govt of Sri Lanka and the ground support of the local partner Ideal Motors, is looking to use more Made in Sri Lanka auto parts of global standards at their new car assembly facility in Welipenna. Efforts are already underway to achieve this objective starting off with their KUV100 petrol K6+ model, which they expect would be recognised as a proud national car in the time to come. more..

Oct 4 (DN) A total of 328 animals living in the Zoos run by the National Zoological Gardens Dept have died within the 2016 and 2017 two-year period, a performance audit report by AG’s Dept has revealed. Of them, 77 animals have died due to pneumonia, tension and conflict between animals and as a result of being eaten by predators. The objective of the audit was to evaluate whether the Zoological Development & Welfare Fund more..

Oct 4 (FT) A massive investment worth $ 20 billion for a mega refinery project in Hambantota by a Singapore firm has been approved by the Cabinet. “Cabinet gave approval for a refinery and related products project by Sugih Energy International (SEI), Singapore at the Hambantota Port,” Minister Malik Samarawickrama said. He said the BOI, too, has approved the project proposal. “The company will invest in two phases. In the first phase, they have committed an investment of $14.8 billion more..

Oct 4 (DM) EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya reportedly told political party representatives that his office would face a logistic problem in the accommodation of polling booth agents representing the record number of candidates in the fray this time. Mr. Deshapriya said by Wednesday deposits had been made for 20 candidates and it was a record. Two polling booth agents can be nominated on behalf of each candidate. There would be at least 40 such agents at each polling station this year. more..

Oct 4 (BBC) Two rugby players who died after taking drugs in Sri Lanka would not have known what they were taking, an inquest has been told. Thomas Howard, 25, and Thomas Baty, 26, died while on tour with Durham-based Clems Pirates RFC in May 2018. They were said to have paid a local taxi driver to get them drugs, but were not regular users and would have been unaware it was heroin they were taking. more..

Oct 4 (PMD) Fourteen new ambassadors and high commissioners concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka presented their credentials to Prez Sirisena at the President’s House. The Envoys who presented credentials are: Mlondi Solomon Dlamini, High Commissioner of Eswatini, Francois Delhaye, Ambassador of Belgium, Makarimi Adechoubou, Ambassador of Benin, Carlos Jose de Marques, Ambassador of Portugal, Muhamed Cenqic, Ambassador of Bosnia & Herzegovina more..

Oct 4 (FT) Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing life insurer Softlogic Life as made it to the Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion 2019 list, a business ranking which spotlights Asia’s 200 top-performing listed companies with less than $ 1 billion in revenue with consistent top- and bottom-line growth. Softlogic Life is the only company in Sri Lanka and one of the only two insurance companies in the Asian region to achieve this momentous feat. Forbes shortlisted Softlogic Life from 1,400 finalists, more..