Jan 15 (AFP) Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews admitted Pakistan's confusion over what pitches to employ in the series worked to his team's advantage. Sri Lanka goes into the third Test 1-0 up after winning the second Test by nine wickets on a seaming track in Dubai stadium. The third and final Test starts in Sharjah from Thursday and the pitch will once again be in the focus. Mathews said pitches were different. more..

Jan 15 (CT) “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and weak minds discuss people.” This is a quote attributed to both Eleanor Roosevelt and Socrates. Some observers do not agree with it and they say that everyone discusses everything at one point or another. But some people observe that everyone discusses all those things at some point, but the saying is clearly referring, to the proclivities of said minds or in other words it explains a tendency to do more..

Jan 15 (ST) An organised crime gang led by a woman that is alleged to have crushed the limbs of three people in a bloody turf war involving pimps, prostitutes and drug pedlars in the Metropolis, was busted earlier this week, police said yesterday. They said the gang had operated for a considerable period of time in several parts of the city that housed casinos, night clubs and other places of entertainment. The gang was arrested in a sting operation conducted by police more..

Jan 15 (CT) The suspect who had allegedly stolen a laptop computer and several bottles of liquor from the house of UNP MP, Mangala Samaraweera, situated in Panadura, has since been found to have had homosexual relations with the Member of Parliament, President's Counsel, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya told the Panadura Magistrate, Ruchira Weliwatta, yesterday. He therefore requested the Court to hold an more..

Jan 15 (Island) SLMC will contest the forthcoming provincial council polls separately under the Tree symbol while being part of the ruing UPFA coalition. SLMC General Secretary Hassen Ali said that they would go solo at the Western Provincial Council polls, but had not made a final decision on the fielding of candidates in the Southern Province. Ali said his party had joined the UPFA govt in 2011 and since then it had contested every election separately under its own Tree symbol. more..

Jan 15 (DN) Work on a number of rural bridges out of a total of 26 under construction in the Kegalle district are already nearing completion under the program to build 210 bridges country-wide for linking villages with towns and cities, launched under Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s direction. These rural bridges coming up in 11 Divisional Secretariat areas in nine electorates in Kegalle District will help improve the economic conditions of nearly 300,000 people, according to District Secretary more..

Jan 15 (Island) Raising public awareness of the issues confronting the nation at the present juncture was the need of the hour, and the SLFP organisations consistings of the political leadership at the local level had a vital role to play in educating the masses, Minister G.L. Peiris said at Tissamaharama on Monday. He was addressing a meeting of the SLFP Bala Mandalaya of Tissamaharama, presided over by more..

Jan 15 (AD) Court today remanded seven suspects including 3 army soldiers, arrested for engaging in illegal excavations near the Ancient Gallen Rajamaha Viharaya in Mahakachchakodiya, Vavuniya. The suspects were arrested last evening following a search operation carried out by officers of the Vavuniya artifacts protection unit, acting on information received. Various equipment used by them to carry out the digging was also seized, police said. more..

Jan 15 (DN) The Skype complaining system introduced by the Private Transport Services Ministry has so far received 34 complaints from passengers against private buses, since its inception on January 1 this year. Ministry Secretary Padmasiri Jayamanna said out of the total number of complaints, 32 have been received against inter-provincial long distance private bus service and the other two complaints against provincial level private bus services. more..

Jan 15 (AD) The owner of the Kosgoda turtle hatchery and an employee were arrested for lodging a false complaint with police claiming that an albino turtle was missing, police said. The albino turtle that went missing from the Kosgoda turtle hatchery was allegedly found yesterday after a similar turtle was discovered in a home in Ambalangoda. However, reports indicate that weight of the turtle that has been found more..

Jan 15 (DM) Cabinet approval has been given to draft new bills which, if enacted, will empower mayors and chairmen of local authorities to remain in office further despite the defeat of annual budgets. Accordingly, the govt will amend the Municipal Council Ordinance, Urban Council Ordinance, Pradeshiya Sabha Act and the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance. Govt has sought to introduce new bills by amending these four laws already in operation since the recent defeat more..

Jan 15 (Island) There has been a dramatic increase in dengue cases in recent weeks in the country. The Colombo NHSL, LRH, Colombo South Teaching hospital have reported an increasing number of dengue victims being rushed in. The Health Ministry yesterday requested people to visit govt hospitals if they had persistent fever lasting for more than two days. Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Maheepala told The Island that more dengue cases had been reported. more..

Jan 15 (PTI) A pro-govt Tamil party in Sri Lanka has initiated a move to form a new alliance of political parties representing the minority community. A committee was formed to work out an agreement where several Tamil political parties would be banded together for the alliance, said Nelson Edirisingha, whose EPDP the main backer of the plan. The committee would come up with a joint political communique within a week and more..

Jan 15 (Island) Low quality drugs had flooded the markets and the state-run hospitals as there was no national drug policy, JVP affiliated All-Ceylon Medical Officers’ Association General Secretary Dr. Jayantha Bandara charged. He said there were no signs of the promised national medicinal drug policy being implemented. For want of a price control system, drugs were being sold at exorbitant prices. A generic drug priced at Rs. 3 was sold at Rs. 35 under the brand name, he said. more..

Jan 15 (IANS) Director M.S. Anand`s forthcoming drama `Yazh`, about the forgotten culture of Tamils in Sri Lanka, will be a trendsetter as the film`s cast and crew comprises actors and technicians from the island nation. "I thought it would make sense to cast Sri Lankan actors in a story about Sri Lankan Tamil culture. I wanted actors already aware of the culture, tradition and language," Anand told IANS. "I believe this is the first time that a Tamil film will feature Sri Lankan actors. A romantic thriller, more..

Jan 15 (PTI) Reacting to the possibility of being sent to a Sri Lankan govt—run rehabilitation camp meant for LTTE detainees, a TNA woman councillor of the northern provincial council has said she would resist the move. Ananthi Saseetharan said that putting her under rehabilitation would require her arrest and any attempt to do so would have international repercussions for the govt. more..

Jan 15 (DM) The Civil Security Department (CSD) today said the water levels at the Maduru Oya and the Kuda Oya in Polonnaruwa have risen because of the heavy rains in the area. “The CSD, the District Secretariat and the Police have adopted safety measures in case of floods,” Polonnaruwa CSD Commander K.D. Chandrapala said. Meanwhile residents of Samankaduwa, Lankapura, Manampitiya and Gallella were warned of possible floods because ten sluice gates of the more..

Jan 15 (ST) Recent research into the working conditions of Sri Lankan migrants working at resorts in the Maldives has concluded that “[many] of the issues faced by Sri Lankan workers in Sri Lankan resorts are similar to those faced by Sri Lankans in foreign owned and managed resorts. However, these issues are of a less severe nature than those faced by other nationalities in the same locations”. Further, Sri Lankan companies identified included “Aitken Spence, John Keells Holdings and more..

Jan 15 (AFP) Sri Lanka is to go ahead with a tour to Bangladesh later this month after carrying out its own security assessment in the violence-plagued country, cricket board officials said Wednesday. "We are very positive about playing in Bangladesh," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Nishantha Ranatunga told AFP. "We look forward to playing there." Confirmation that the tour is going ahead comes after SLC more..

Jan 15 (FNA) Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen, in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi in Tehran on Wednesday, called for the partnership of Iranian investors in the development projects of his country. Bathiyutheen described Iran-Sri Lanka relations as friendly and strong, and said his country is willing to benefit from Iran’s capacities, technical and engineering experiences as well as the partnership of investors from different more..

Jan 15 (CT) Sri Lankan refugee Nimal is coming to Australia. This may not seem a newsworthy event, except that, in 2009 and 2010 this man played a leading role in one of the most extraordinary events in the annals of asylum-seeking. Nimal was one of a group of 254 Tamil asylum seekers heading to Australia by boat when then prime minister Kevin Rudd, alarmed at a sharp rise in arrivals, phoned Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to ask a favour. more..

Jan 15 (PTI) India and Sri Lanka today agreed to free all fishermen and release their vessels under their custody "immediately", Sri Lankan Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. The process of releasing the fishermen and vessels would start from tomorrow, he said, adding he would be directing his ministry and the Attorney General's department in this regard. "About 160 Sri Lankan fishermen and four vessels are to be released from India. more..

Jan 16 (NS) In December 2012, at the annual symposium of the Center for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) and titled “Reimagining development”, Dr. Harni Amarasuriya, in her address, made one of the most significant observations on development that I have heard in recent times from anywhere in the world. Referring to log-frame analysis, she said “We discuss in particular the column that is titled ‘assumptions’ and we reflect on how the assumptions columns describe in detail more..

Jan 16 (NS) If history is made by men, and not just preordained forces, then our politicians can claim a starring role. No single fraternity, over the last two decades or so, has done as much as to shape the history of Sri Lanka. And no single entity has as much to answer for in the court of historical judgment than our legislators. The verdict of history, however, is too remote for the millions of ordinary citizens affected by the actions of their legislators. The verdict of history, however, more..

Jan 16 (SO) It wasn't entirely a bright sunny day over the mildly aggressive seas off the shores of the Colombo harbour that was blanketed with a heavy gloomy sky with the horizon barely visible. The clock struck ten in ante meridian inside the seven storeyed Port Control Tower where the officers were already busy radio communicating with an arriving vessel that was scheduled to enter the port in few moments. more..

Jan 16 (CT) South Asia has been facing a crisis of waning republican values for long. An invigorated discourse on the idea of the state as a Republic is an imperative need requiring immediate attention. It seems these states have confronted with an impasse beyond which the life of the Republic cannot be prolonged, as the social contract has lost its original meanings. Unless an otherwise the social contract finds new interpretations through restoring and redefining republican values, more..

Jan 16 (CT) It was the dawn of another day. German newspaper Editor, Fritsch Gerlish, was at home taking his breakfast. His newly wedded wife was watering the pots of flowering plants when suddenly the telephone rang. Gerlish interrupting his breakfast for a moment and ran to the phone.“The press manager, here,” a voice at the other end of the phone said. “Yes... go ahead... I am Gerlish here.” “Now what have you sent here for printing? The information about Hitler’s SA storm troopers. more..

Jan 16 (CT) Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of election watchdog, People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), requests political parties not to grant nominations to actors and actresses. He urged the political parties to not only look at fame, when selecting candidates for future representatives of the public. Q: Is PAFFREL against granting nominations to actors and sportsmen? more..

Jan 16 (SL) Going by media reports of the past weeks/months, it’s no more about ‘accountability issues’ against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. Instead, there now seems to be an emerging competition for credit-taking. After visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron, the now-visiting US Ambassador on War Crimes, Stephen J Rapp, is quoted as saying that his Govt would be moving a harsher resolution in the March session at Geneva, than the two already standing in the latter’s name. more..

Jan 16 (CT) Mr. Neville D. Jayaweera, of good report is too well known for me to introduce or write about. I invoke his name to recall two quips of his on the Food Production Drive of Dudley 1966 -70, the part he played in it and the fate he suffered. With conviction about the need for this effort and probably enamoured of the success surrounding it, he devoted much time of the SLBC to sing its praise. He was the first Chairman of that institution. This had earned him the ire of Srimao more..

Jan 16 (CT) In the Middle Ages, it had been tradition that Catholic Popes and Bishops passed on their titles to their nephews. Having taken a vow of celibacy, it was not possible for them to produce offspring, and relied on their nephews (nepos in Latin) to continue the religious dynasties, giving rise to the condemned practice of nepotism. Popes and Bishops took vows of chastity that prevented them from having children, but more..

Jan 16 (Island) India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or the Common Man Party has become a source of inspiration for anti-corruption activists not only in India but also in the region. In Pakistan, as we have reported, some concerned citizens are trying to float their own version of AAP. Sri Lankans, too, have pinned their hopes on campaigners against corruption and even voted them into office in a bid to make this country a better place. In 1994, it may be recalled, the SLFP-led People’s Alliance more..

Jan 16 (Island) The Oxford Dictionary of Law defines Obiter Dictum as a Latin term that refers to, ‘a remark in passing; something said by a judge while pronouncing judgment that was not essential to the decision in the case. It does not form part of the ratio decidendi of the case and therefore creates no binding precedent, but may be cited as persuasive authority in later cases’. While reading leading judgments of courts local and foreign, in the study of law, I have observed judges, more..

Jan 16 (FT) Bible burning and church razing – that is the horrific legacy of 18 months of carte blanche for extremist forces masquerading as Buddhist religious movements. It is the bequest of unchecked hate speech from public platforms of the Bodu Bala Sena and the Sihala Ravaya which has coloured the teachings and the discourse in every Buddhist temple, from the smallest villages to the largest towns across the island. more..

Jan 16 (CI) Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, wants his side to put in extra effort to win the final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. Pakistan are down 0-1 and are hoping to square the series before going into a nine-month Test drought. This is Pakistan's fifth series since trouncing England 3-0 almost two years ago, but they are yet to record another series win. "It's a do or die situation for us," said Misbah. "We have to put some effort and get the result we want to level the series and more..

Jan 16 (CI) As an engrossing tour winds up, Pakistan find themselves in need of a considerable change in momentum to draw the series, while Sri Lanka seek to build on the significant improvements they have achieved in the Tests so far. Suggestions that Pakistan were favourites, in the approach to the contest, seem distant now. Pakistan might have entered the series on a high, but find themselves on the back foot in the final Test. Their pace attack remains a decent threat, more..

Jan 16 (CI) Unlike the first two Tests, the Sharjah match will be a trial by spin, Angelo Mathews said after inspecting the pitch on the eve of the game. Uncharacteristically for a series played in the UAE, fast bowlers have been the primary wicket-takers for both teams. Herath and Ajmal are the two top-ranked spinners in the world, but neither has been able to generate substantial turn in the series, save for with a handful of deliveries. more..

Jan 16 (Island) Apropos our news item, ‘Northern CM agrees to give gifts to all Hindus in prison’ on Jan. 13, 2014, N. Manmatharajan Coordinating Secretary to Chief Minister of the Northern Province C. V. Vigneswaran has said: "The CM asked for permission over a month ago to hand over some gifts to the Tamil speaking prisoners to whom Thai Pongal might be an occasion to rejoice. The request was allowed by the Prison authorities and when the CM met Mr. Emil Ranjan, more..

Jan 16 (Island) The Industry and Commerce Ministry kicked-off its 2014 sessions -with a difference. Employees of Industry and Commerce became the lucky fulcrum of an unusual event as 2014 sessions popped on 07 January with an unusual seasonal hamper. Minister Rishad Bathiudeen distributed more than 300 hampers that contained not festive items but essential household provisions to more than 300 employees of Industry and Commerce on 7 Jan at the Ministry premises more..

Jan 16 (Island) The US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report for 2013 has placed Sri Lanka in what is described as its Tier 2 Watch List. Tier 2 countries comprise those ‘countries whose governments do not fully comply with the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.’ more..