Nov 27 (CT) The Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) has launched an investigation to identify those responsible for hoisting the LTTE flags and putting up posters bearing the LTTE insignia, to mark the birthday of slain LTTE Leader, V Prabhakaran, which is followed by the outfit's Martyrs' Day, observed in the North and East of the country. An officer attached to the TID said they have received reports of such LTTE flags more..

Nov 28 (NS) Our politicians in the ruling party have failed us. And God will address their matter. But, before that divine judgment, must come, the judgment of the people. It is your responsibility as opposition politicians to deliver this well-deserved judgment on behalf of the good and oppressed people of this country. Your status as opposition politician is attained upon the loss of an election or political post whether or not that post was secured through the ruling party. more..

Nov 28 (GV) As any species, we have longevity. The human race is at its peak. In two centuries, we have evolved so far, for the best as for the worst. Our progress is also our failure. We have, in our hand, an unequalled potential of destruction. We could worry about our evolution and about the sustainability of our specie but we are in inter-religious, inter-cultural fights, we are in social, ethnic, splits meanwhile we are destroying the base of our existence, Earth and its ecosystem. more..

Nov 28 (ST) In every walk of life there are silent contributors who are always willing to shoulder their share of the burden and a little more, yet they hardly get noticed as they make little or no din about it. Dinesh Nuwan Kulasekara definitely falls into this category. Always with a smile which I interpret as naturally genuine, Nuwan even operates in the middle with the gesture, but eyes say the story of his life – one of dedication and determination. more..

Nov 28 (DBS) With all the media focus on the militarization of the Northern land, some issues of bread and butter concern have escaped the attention. The damage inflicted by the three-decade old Tiger insurgency was extensive. The fact that it is not easy to make the area turn a corner has made the issue nobody’s case. A lot of effort is needed and the effort must be followed by careful planning. Neither of these priorities is visible and as of now, the rural Tamil North is years away from more..

Nov 28 (DBS) Gratitude is one thing. Receiving step-motherly treatment is something else, altogether. While the former remains a distant memory, three years after the end of the war, the latter is what a group of valiant soldiers, assigned to the once embattled North, are complaining of today. The battle-hardened soldiers, who were prepared to sacrifice life and limb for the country, now, feel slighted, mistreated and even abused by their superiors, leading comfortable lives in more..

Nov 28 (CT) Last week, the popularly elected President of Egypt, Mohammed Morsi, issued a Constitutional Declaration barring judicial authorities from overturning any decision made by him. Seeing in this measure an attempt to undermine the judiciary and place the president above the law, the country burst out in protest. Egyptians of all walks of life and every political persuasion, and none, spoke and more..

Nov 28 (CT) In 17th century England, the Stuart Kings seriously undermined the independence of the judiciary by the practice of dismissing judges who gave decisions unfavourable to them. Consequently, in 1701, as part of the revolution settlement on the accession of William and Mary, the English Parliament enacted the Act of Settlement which guaranteed the tenure of judges “during good behaviour”, and provided for their removal only “upon the address of both Houses of more..

Nov 28 (NS) The storm clouds revolving around the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake gathered momentum this week with numerous petitions being filed in the higher courts, questioning its validity. Some petitions questioned the role of Parliament in sitting in judgement over the judiciary and argued that this would be in contravention of what was envisaged in the Constitution. Another petition, also filed this week, questioned the propriety of ministers Wimal more..

Nov 27 (SO) Nadaraja Disanthiny, with tears rolling down her round cheeks, clasped Shanika's hands tight. It was time to bid farewell to her friend. ...she did not have the heart to do so, it was not till the last moment that their hands departed and the lips whispered a sad goodbye. The two promised each other to call and keep in touch and meet again at the first opportunity, even if that meant after many years. From totally more..

Nov 28 (Island) The western medical profession and the legal profession in Sri Lanka are arguably the oldest elite western professions in Sri Lanka. At least some of the practitioners of the professions are supposed to have expert knowledge in their respective fields and ordinary folk have been instilled with fear of the professions. The western medical practitioners are no Vedamahaththayas who are respected by villagers. However, the social status, not to mention the income enjoyed by more..

Nov 28 (Island) Minister Mervyn Silva has apparently experienced an epiphany and a spiritual flash. (That happens to some people when the moon waxes.) He announced a few days ago that he intended to ban the sale of meat and fish in his fiefdom, Kelaniya. Later, he got cold feet and changed his tune. Someone must have reminded him that the country's biggest fish market was located in his electorate. Now, he tells us that before banning meat and fish stalls, he would more..

Nov 28 (Island) Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford paid a glowing tribute to middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera yesterday when he said the 36-year-old should be emulated by young cricketers. Samaraweera, renowned for his hard work and mental toughness, batted for over three hours yesterday with pain killers and stitches to help Sri Lanka to a respectable position in the second Test against New Zealand. He came to the crease with Sri Lanka five down for 103 and he was more..

Nov 28 (RI) The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC) has announced the winners of the 2012 NEMBC Broadcasting Awards at their Gala Dinner. The Sri Lankan Sinhala Show from Mountain District Radio 97.1 FM took the prize for top program of the year. The program is presented in Sinhala, the language spoken by the majority of Sri Lankans. It engages with different sections of the community (i.e. early and recent migrants, those who do not have strong more..

Nov 28 (FT) The contentious acquisition of two dozen enterprises and assets either underperforming or underutilised under the Revival Act last year have since being put to productive use or firmed up for regeneration of economic value. According to Finance Ministry sources, 12 enterprises have been released to investors, both new and former owners, based on new business plans, whilst several have been transferred more..

Nov 28 (Island) Volumes at the Colombo port have been impacted by the slowdown in both regional and global trade, however the Central Bank is optimistic 2013 will see an improvement. "Performance of port activities remained moderate during the first eight months of 2012 owing to the slowdown in global trade, particularly the slower growth in countries in the region. Compared to the corresponding period of 2011, total cargo handling increased by 2% to 43.7 million metric tonnes, while transshipment more..

Nov 28 (FT) The Police raided another financial institution suspected of using pirated and unlicensed software. The raid took place in Colombo on 16 November. Upon inspection and identification of suspected pirated software, the Police seized over 50 computers installed with suspected pirated software, all of which were taken into Police custody for further inspection and to be produced in Court. The focus of the Police is on taking action on an ongoing basis against companies more..

Nov 28 (Island) The country’s international airport has handled 3.5 million passengers during the first half of this year with the number of aircraft handled increasing 13% year-on-year while the govt has commenced several ambitious projects to develop the aviation sector. "The civil aviation sector registered a significant growth during the first half of 2012. Increased tourist arrivals during the first six months of 2012 resulted in an increase in more..

Nov 28 (FT) Flying with losses and fat hopes for a profitable landing, State-owned Mihin – dubbed the ‘whimsy carrier’ – will be adding Madurai as its newest destination next month. As per COPE sources, the cumulative loss of Mihin Lanka since its inception in 2007 is a staggering Rs. 8.5 billion with last financial year’s (2011/12) figure being Rs. 1.9 billion. Notwithstanding the growing financial burden to the State, the Budget carrier, airborne out of a dream of President Rajapaksa, recently more..

Nov 28 (FT) The mid-year fiscal position report for a particular year that states the reasons for shortfall in the estimated revenue or cash flow or an excess in the estimated expenditure or borrowings came into the limelight yesterday, with Dr. Harsha de Silva highlighting recent deviations from the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act No. 3 of 2003. “According to Section 12 of the Act, it is stated that the midyear fiscal position report in respect of a financial shall contain a statement of more..

Nov 28 (CT) The United Nations’ team leader for Political Affairs of the Asia-Pacific Division, Hitoki Den, regretted withdrawing UN officials from the war-torn areas in the Vanni region when the war was in progress. Den expressed his dismay over the decision by the UN officials to withdraw from the war-torn area when he met Bishop of Jaffna, Thomas Savuntharanayagam, in Jaffna yesterday. Bishop, explaining the current more..

Nov 28 (Island) A private bus strike organized by the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) together with the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ Federation (ACPBOF) and scheduled to be launched from midnight yesterday was called off as the Western Province Transport Ministry and the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority (WPRPTA) postpone the revision of log sheet, route permit and bus transfer fees until next year. LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne more..

Nov 28 (Island) Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara yesterday accused coconut traders of unfairly increasing coconut oil prices at a time when the country was reaping a big coconut harvest. He said that the coconut harvest up to September this year had amounted to 2,380 million nuts. Compared to the corresponding output last year, it was an increase by 770 million nuts. The traders should sell coconuts and coconut oil at reasonable more..

Nov 28 (TOI) On Tuesday late evening, more than 400 people, including 100 women and children, gathered at Puliyoor, a non-descript village in Salem district, and lit candles to remember the fallen heroes of a war fought across the seas. The LTTE has been wiped out from Sri Lanka, but the Tigers are a living presence for the villagers here. At Ponnammaan Memorial Bus Shelter at Puliyoor Pirivu here, men, women and more..

Nov 28 (DN) The last eclipse out of the four eclipses (two solar and two lunar) due for this year will occur today when the shadow of the earth falls on the moon. This is a penumbral lunar eclipse, occurring with the moonrise from the eastern horizon today, Prof Chandana Jayaratne of Department of Physics, Colombo University said. The eclipse begins at 5.45pm today with the moon entering the penumbra of the earth's shadow and ends at 10.21pm when the moon leaves the penumbra, he said. more..

Nov 28 (Island) Sri Lanka Railways has promised to improve passenger and goods transport on the up-country line from next year, as passenger traffic there is increasing gradually. According to the Department, the CGR is to cover losses suffered due to increase of fuel prices through increased transport of goods. CGR currently transports 60 percent of the fuel by rail, while attention has been drawn to streamline the goods transport on up country line as well. more..

Nov 28 (CT) General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake warned today that sabotage will not be tolerated at the 54th Party Convention, scheduled for 1 December. He said the party would be cautious about members who attempt to create internal conflicts. "We are strongly against anyone who is planning to create conflicts within the party. Plenty of work has to be done to stabilize the party next year. Therefore, unity more..

Nov 28 (TOI) Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage, who is at Iffi for the screening of his film With or Without You, said that India has a major role to play in maintaining peace in Sri Lanka. His film speaks about how the conflict between Sri Lanka and Tamilians affected the lives of ordinary Sri Lankans who are not on either side of the war. "For some India is a big brother in Sri Lanka. For others, it is the land of Buddha. For some it is the country of Shah Rukh Khan. more..

Nov 28 (IHC) India-Sri Lanka Foundation is supporting participation of 3 faculty members from the University of Peradeniya, University of Jaffna and University of Rajarata in the PHYSWARE 2012, being held in University of Delhi from 26 Nov to 7 Dec, 2012. PHYSWARE 2012 is a two week collaborative International “Educate the Educator” workshop on low-cost equipment and appropriate technologies that promote undergraduate level hands-on physics education more..

Nov 28 (FT) President Rajapaksa in a message to mark the launch of the satellite said he shares the pride and joy of all Sri Lankans as the country moves to the realm of space taking the SupremeSAT 1 satellite into orbit carrying the national flag into the new frontier of space. “This is a major beginning for Sri Lanka to benefit from space technology in communications, and give the country a strong position in satellite and space more..

Nov 28 (DN) Sri Lanka is moving to upgrade its $ 9.5 million wood and furniture industry with latest technology and machinery training. This is in the wake of demand for wood and furniture growing in Sri Lanka with the growth of tourism and the country facing shortage of skilled woodcrafters, “It is time that we start upgrading the wood and furniture industry workforce. We believe that our support will help create more skilled woodcrafters who can cater to surging market needs powered by more..

Nov 28 (DN) Dengue claimed 211 lives while 48,000 dengue cases had been reported so far this year, a Health Ministry spokesman said. The mosquito density was increasing rapidly due to the present rains. The majority of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province. 24% out of the total number of deaths are those between the five to 15 age group while the balance 76% is in the 15 and 50 and over 50 age groups. Neglect of the disease and delay in treatment can endanger a patient's more..

Nov 28 (Island) State media reported that the COPE had warned the management of state-owned banking giant Bank of Ceylon ‘to be cautious and prudent in their investments in the stock market and even state ventures’. ‘The COPE, Chaired by Minister DEW Gunasekera, had made this observation when representatives of BOC were summoned for the annual examination of accounts and performance. The committee had also more..

Nov 28 (TS) A Parliamentary Caucus on the Abuse of Human Rights in Sri Lanka has been set up, announced Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz. Nazri said members from both sides of the divide agreed to the caucus as they viewed with great concern the alleged human rights violation in Sri Lanka, including against the ethnic Tamil minority group there. The caucus will continue to monitor the progress of the United Nation’s resolution on the matter. more..

Nov 28 (CI) One of the most startling stories in Sri Lankan cricket is that of Thilan Samaraweera's machine gun celebration. In Lahore in March 2009, he nestled his bat under his armpit and sprayed pretend bullets out of the handle for the first time in international cricket. He had capered thus many times before in first-class cricket, he says, but as even the old man and his dog have long since taken their leave of domestic cricket in Sri Lanka, only his team-mates and maybe the groundstaff more..

Nov 28 (Island) Police investigating Monday night’s fire at the Colombo Kachcheri have not ruled out the possibility of some hidden hand being behind it. The fire destroyed the entire second floor of the building. The Colombo Crimes Division commenced a special investigation to ascertain whether someone set the building on fire to destroy documents, including deeds and instruments of lands, worth millions of rupees. more..

Nov 28 (DM) Time-tested and time-honoured spiritual values and principles show us that those who wish to take leadership must be ready and willing to be the servants of all. This was underlined by great spiritual leaders including Lord Buddha and Lord Jesus Christ who gave up all they had and were ready to sacrifice everything including their lives for the common good and liberation of the people. Even in secular terms the constitutions of many countries including more..

Nov 28 (DM) This budget has hit the root of the proletariat. Not only the wage increase is totally insufficient to balance the heavy price increase but also the terrible rise in goods and services tax has created a near unbearable situation. Day by day they see the effect of this terrible situation. Even the professionals, who had a reasonable existence, now are desperate to balance their domestic budget. The govt has bridged the budget by making it impossible for people to make ends meet. more..

Nov 28 (FMT) Sri Lanka is not participating or sending anyone as speakers to the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) that is scheduled to be held next week in Johor Baru. This was confirmed by the organisers WIEF Foundation secretariat and the Sri Lanka High Commission envoy today. On the WIEF list of 63 dignitaries and speakers, which also includes Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Minister Mustapa Mohamed, more..