Oct 14 (TM) The candidates contesting the upcoming prez election have secured large sums of funds for their campaigns, especially the two main candidates. The campaigns carried out by UNF prez candidate Sajith Premadasa and SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa have already seen large sums of money spent. The expenses, which have already run into the millions, includes money spent on online, social media, and print more..

Oct 14 (TM) Prez candidate of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Duminda Nagamuwa asserted that his party was the only political group that wanted to change the socioeconomic conditions of the country in order to address the issues of the common man. Q: What made you decide to contest the prez election? A: We are contesting this election because in the last 70 years, the real problems have never been addressed. more..

Oct 14 (SO) Slamming the media for distorting his remarks, Professor Chandraguptha Thenuwara explained that his ranawirugaaya reference was to persons who used military personnel to serve their own political agendas. Prof. Thenuwara said that he was simply commenting on the fact that it was those who spoke the most about ranaviruwo who never treated the veterans of war with the respect they deserved. more..

Oct 14 (Island) Astrological predictions has come to influence political decision-making process thanks the superstitious leaders who have ruled the country since Independence, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says. Addressing a ceremony to commemorate emeritus Prof Carlo Fonseka, who passed away last month, Dissanayake said: "The myth-makers have been given official status by the govt and media. more..

Oct 14 (Island) Apropos news item headlined ULF reviewing decision to back JVP, likely to support Sajith carried on Oct 12, 2019 edition of The Island, General Secretary of the United Left Front (ULF) Lal Wijenayake, has sent us the following statement: "The report is highly misleading and whoever has passed on the information has done so mischievously to cause confusion among our supporters or to try to show that they are more..

Oct 14 (Island) Ven. Dambara Amila Thera, Prof. Chandragupta Thenuwara and Saman Ratnapriya, yesterday, downplayed the importance of the SLPP’s victory at Elpitiya PS election on Oct 11. Addressing the media, on behalf of the Civil Society and their Trade Unions’ Collective, Ven Amila, Prof. Thenuwara and Ratnapriya emphasized that the Elpitiya result didn’t reflect the situation in the country. more..

Oct 14 (EN) A new non-profit, apolitical outfit led by Sri Lankan professionals will launch an online portal to accredit candidates running for public office, rating them on criteria like educational qualifications and getting them to declare their assets. Citizens for Accountable Governance (Guarantee) Limited (CAG LANKA) said it aims to empower voters with required information on the candidates they are hoping to vote on at elections. more..

Oct 14 (TM) In response to the information technology professionals’ lashing out at UNP presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa for misleading the public, the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry said the objective of the presentation was to demonstrate the concept of scientific governance to the public. The Association of Information Technology Professionals said earlier that it was deeply saddened when more..

Oct 14 (DM) The LTTE effectively chose the Prez of SL in 2005. Yes, the Tigers did it - a few empty ballot boxes from Omanthai moaned their way back to the counting centres. CMEV called upon Commissioner to use his power and authority as Commissioner of Elections to call for a re-poll of the north and east in order to ensure a free and fair election. An almost total absence of participation in the polls and an atmosphere of violence and intimidation in much of the N&E significantly affected these elections. more..

Oct 14 (FT) What do you think of a private company which is indebted to the hilt, does not earn enough to repay its debt and experiences a low sales growth which is declining year after year? Surely, it is a problem company needing quick fixing. If its capital has completely been eaten up, it is said to be a bankrupt company which, as those in the market would say, is in the red. To convert it into green, capital has to be brought in from outside, while its operations are restructured. more..

Oct 14 (AD) Four foreign election monitoring teams will arrive in the island to observe the upcoming prez elections. Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi stated that a team from the European Union (EU) and a team from the Commonwealth are among the foreign election monitoring groups observing this poll. He said that the Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA), which is an election monitoring group with close ties to the Election Commission more..

Oct 14 (AD) TNA MP S. Viyalendiran says he will support SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the upcoming Prez Election. The MP made this announcement during a press conference this morning at the Batticaloa office of his party, the Progressive Tamil Organisation. Viyalendiran was elected to parliament from the Batticaloa District after contesting under the ITAK, the political arty under which the TNA contests elections, at the 2015 general election. more..

Oct 14 (AD) One person has been injured and hospitalised after police opened fire at a vehicle which had failed to heed orders to stop at Ariviyal Nagar, Kilinochchi. The incident had reportedly occurred at around 6.20 a.m. this morning (14). Based on information received by officers of the Kilinochchi division anti-vice unit that a large stock of cannabis is being transported in this vehicle, a team of officers were dispatched to more..

Oct 14 (DM) The govt has evolved a piece of legislation to be enacted by parliament to prevent offences such as match-fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports. The bill titled the prevention of offences relating to sports was already gazetted by the govt and will be tabled in parliament shortly. The bill, if enacted, seeks to strengthen national and international co-operation among sports organisations, law enforcement agencies and betting operators to exchange more..

Oct 14 (Island) A group of persons who stormed the Gurukanda Temple in Naayaru, last Friday, claiming that they had a stake in the temple, threatened to cause bodily harm to the temple’s Chief Incumbent and the caretaker of the temple. Those who forced themselves into the temple were identified as some local politicians and devotees of the adjoining Neeraviadi Kovil. When the Maullaitivu police arrived at the scene and attempted to restore order, the devotees of the Pillayar Kovil started more..

Oct 14 (RN) Appearing at the inaugural session of the Meet the Candidate discussion series organised by the American Chamber of Commerce last week, UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa called for a rational, meritocratic approach to governance. The event, held on Friday at the Colombo Hilton, saw Premadasa field questions from representatives of the business community on his vision for more..

Oct 14 (LBO) Italian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Rita Mannella says that the Italian govt is ready to provide technical assistance and investment opportunities to generate electricity using the waste which is a growing issue in the country. The Ambassador said that Sri Lanka could face the growing demand for electricity in the future and that there is a need to prepare for it. The ambassador made this statement during an official discussion with the Power Minister Ravi Karunanayake. more..

Oct 14 (AD) Minister Harin Fernando says that politics is not about distributing Sil clothes and other goods to obtain votes and that the country faces a gloomy future if it fails to elect a leader with a clear vision. Addressing a public rally, he also expressed views on the results of the recent Elpitiya PS Election, which the SLPP won by a significant margin. “People are talking about the Elpitiya election. Elpitiya election is a very small election. It is not an election we give five cents about. more..

Oct 14 (GDI) A MoU was signed for the first cable car project in Sri Lanka to be built in Nuwara Eliya yesterday. The relevant agreement was signed under the patronage of the Minister Navin Dissanayake, at the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council premises. The US$50 million cable car project in Nuwara Eliya to promote the Tourism Sector received cabinet approval in July 2019. It is expected to further enhance tourist attraction more..

Oct 14 (GDI) The UGC stated that the academic activities of all universities will commence from today (14) following a temporary shut down over trade union action of non-academic university employees. Reportedly, the UGC has been informed that the strike action of the non-academic of universities, which lasted for 33 consecutive days, has come to a conclusion. Accordingly, all universities will be opened for academic activities from today and conduct the relevant courses. more..

Oct 14 (AD) Police have recovered two Claymore mines at Kondavil in Jaffna based on information provided by the former LTTE cadre who was recently arrested in Serunuwara. Claymore mines, also known as side charges, weighing 15kg each, were found buried in a land in the Warani area in Kondavil. The discovery was made based on the information uncovered through the interrogation of Joseph Robinson (36), a former LTTE cadre arrested by security forces and handed over more..

Oct 14 (DM) The results of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) election reflected not only the opinion of the Sinhalese but also of the Tamils and Muslims countrywide, the SLPP said today. SLPP Chairman and Professor G.L. Peiris said the issues in the country were not limited to people in Elpitiya and therefore the PS results reflected the opinion of all communities. “Plights including unemployment, economic downturn and more..

Oct 14 (EN) Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday issued a public warning against a telemarketing securities scam where callers claimed to sell shares in foreign companies. “The SEC has become aware of a growing number of unsolicited phone calls from persons claiming to be agents of international stock broker firms, offering to facilitate your investement in shares of companies traded on offshore jurisdictions with a promise of guaranteed high returns.” more..

Oct 14 (CT) Due to increasing number of road accidents involving motorcycles, Police have banned motorcycles from travelling on the Dehiwala Flyover. Police stated that this decision was taken by the Road Safety Committee of the Mount Lavinia Division, together with the Road Development Authority (RDA) Ratmalana. SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the decision was taken after taking into account the large number of accidents occurring in the Mt. Lavinia area. more..

Oct 14 (DM) Denouncing the claim made by some that the next president of SL would be a scarecrow as a result of the 19th Amendment, UNF alliance’s candidate Sajith Premadasa said he will not act like a powerless leader but will be a leader who would be working hard for the people. Addressing an election rally, Mr Premadasa said he will turn the Presidential Secretariat into a place that works 24 hours a day. more..

Oct 14 (CT) SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara has written to former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga justifying the Party's decision to support SLPP Prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Earlier, Kumaratunga, in a letter to Jayasekara, had questioned the decision to support Gotabaya Rajapaksa. She was of the opinion that this decision was a betrayal of the Party, since many Party organisers did not approve of it. The SLFP General Secretary had expressed his regret regarding more..

Oct 14 (Bernama) The police have their own reasons as to why they arrested the individuals suspected of having links to the LTTE terrorist group, Tun Dr Mahathir said. The PM said police had briefed him on the matter and he was satisfied with the reasons given for the arrests. “I was briefed by the police (on the arrests), and they gave me the reasons behind their action, and I am satisfied with them (reasons),” he told reporters briefly after delivering the keynote address at more..

Oct 14 (DM) Prez candidate of SLPP Gotabaya Rajapaksa stressed the need for a departure from the present political culture in the greater interest of society. Addressing a mammoth election rally in Mahara, he said he was committed to make Sri Lanka a secure, prosperous nation where all the communities could co-exist in harmony. He said there should be a positive political culture in the country. “We cannot behave aggressively. more..

Oct 14 (CT) Prez hopeful Sajith Premadasa, on Friday (10), assured the audience at the American Chamber of Commerce that if he wins the Presidential Election, his administration will hold a correct and authentic legal process and move forward with the Bonds scam, in which former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran was involved and is wanted by the Govt and Court. "I must confess that this will happen only if I am elected at the upcoming Prez poll," he added. more..

Oct 14 (EN) Sri Lanka’s imports fell 16.6% from a year earlier to US$ 1,574 million in the August 2019, while exports also fell 0.4% to US$ 1,033 million. The trade deficit contracted to US$ 540 million from US$ 850 million last year, central bank data showed. In the nine months to August exports grew 2.4% to US$ 8,031 million and imports fell 14.4% to US$ 12,886 million. Imports fell 19.9% to US$ 2,380 million. Sri Lanka’s trade gap and imports have contracted amid a credit contraction more..

Oct 14 (PTI) The PCB has expressed its disappointment at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief, Shammi Silva's remark that his team felt stifled by the strict security arrangements during their recently-concluded tour of Pakistan. The SL team played a three-match ODI series in Karachi followed by a three-match T20 series in Lahore, where they registered a historic 3-0 win over the top-ranked hosts. On returning to Colombo, Silva had more..

Oct 15 (Island) Despite the long presidential ballot paper, the real contest for Sri Lanka’s highest office is between Cabinet Minister, Sajith Premadasa contesting from the UNP led NDF, under the swan symbol and his challenger from the opposition, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, contesting from the SLPP, under their symbol, the lotus bud. One of these two would be declared as the President elect of Sri Lanka on 17th Nov and take the oath of office shortly thereafter. more..

Oct 15 (CT) The victory of the SLPP at the long-postponed pradeshiya sabha election in Elpitiya did not come as a surprise. This had been an area that has consistently supported the SLFP from which the SLPP has taken the larger part. Virtually all local authorities in the Southern Province went to the SLPP at the last local govt elections held in Feb 2018. Therefore it was to be expected that Elpitiya would go the same way. However, the psychological boost to the SLPP of winning this election more..

Oct 15 (CT) Former Governor of the Eastern Province M.L.A.M. Hizbullah asserted that he didn’t want to become prez and that he was only contesting the prez election to make a strong president for SL. Q: What made you decide to contest the prez election? I’m contesting the upcoming prez election to get the Muslim vote and to unite the Muslims. In addition, I want to support the Muslim community and demand the rights more..

Oct 15 (ST) Two weeks ago, the wife of a US official based in the UK killed a teenage motorcyclist in a road accident while driving away from a Royal Air Force base where her husband was stationed. Although the police here said that Anne Sacoolas, the driver of the vehicle, had told them she would be available if required she fled the country claiming diplomatic immunity, very probably under instructions from the US Embassy in London. Whether she would ever return to the UK to more..

Oct 15 (ST) The economic challenges facing the country are formidable. The country is pre-occupied with the forthcoming Prez election, while the economy is in dire straits. A root cause of this economic predicament is the country’s electoral politics. This year’s economic growth is dipping below 3% and the fiscal imbalance is growing. The public debt that consists of domestic and foreign debt is over 80% of the GDP. Meeting the debt servicing obligations & reviving the economy more..

Oct 15 (TM) Businessman and former SL Ambassador to Qatar A.S.P. Liyanage said he believed alternative political candidates would have a better chance of faring well at the upcoming prez election as they would garner a larger percentage of the floating vote than before. Q: What made you decide to contest the prez election? A: Actually, I contested last 2 prez elections. But this time, I felt that it was even more apt for me to contest. more..

Oct 15 (Roar) Growing up around Kitulgala, Sameera was no stranger to the adventures that are connected to the famous river. From a young age, Sameera and his brother Ravi took to exploring the wild rapids of the river whenever they had free time. But what started out as childhood curiosity and a hobby soon became a passion as they discovered a new and extreme way to conquer the rapids: riverboarding. Q: How did you go from rafting to riverboarding? A: We grew up near this river. more..

Oct 15 (Roar) Q: When did you start biking? A: I think I started around the age of 10 or 11 when I cycled to school. I grew up near the Galle Fort and cycling was how everyone got around – waiting for buses and taxis was not common for us. And every day after school instead of going straight home I liked to ride around a bit, exploring different areas nearby. Q: How did cycling to school evolve into mountain biking? A: I think it evolved with my love of discovering new places, new experiences. more..