Nov 19 (Island) Peliyagoda police on Friday arrested three suspects alleged to have been involved in the killing of Vishwanath Prashan alias Yakada Ranga near an ATM booth on Nuge Road in Peliyagoda. Officers of Peliyagoda police acted immediately and arrested the suspects within 24 hours of the shooting. Mahara Magistrate remanded the suspects till 27. Yakada Ranga died on Sunday night at the National Hospital, from the two gunshot injuries he had sustained to his stomach. more..

Nov 19 (NS) The Health Ministry has commenced discussions with the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) to commence a special diploma on Cosmetology for beauty salon and spa operators in the country. The course will be a “must for all” salon and spa operators as the Ministry much concern about the health and well being of the citizens. The move would help improve the standards of salons and spas in the country. more..

Nov 19 (LT) The protest march organized by People’s Movement for Democracy (PMD) under the theme “No third term for Mahinda! No illegal presidential eelction” in Colombo today (18) has been concluded and the rally is being held now at Prise Park at Gunasinghepura. Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, JVP Leader Anura Dissanayaka, Author and Translator Gamini Viyangoda, MP Vijitha Herath, Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, more..

Nov 19 (CT) Out of those fighting to be the common candidate of the Opposition, Leader of UNP, Ranil Wickremesinghe is the most suitable, the BBS said. Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera added that Wickremesinghe possessed certain political policies of relative merit. The names of Chairman of the UNP Leadership Council, Karu Jayasuriya, Former President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Former Chief Justice, Shirani Bandaranayake, DNA MP Arjuna Ranatunga, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera more..

Nov 19 (PO) Indian cricket board’s clout over Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board was so much that the Mudgal panel could not get to bottom of the incident involving a leading Indian batsman who was in the company of a girl in SL in 2010. Nishantha Ranatunga, who was (and still) the secretary at the time of incident was contacted but he didn’t provide the necessary details, which forced Mudgal panel to approach other competent authorities in SL more..

Nov 19 (CT) Fisher folk living along the coast in the vicinity of the Mathakal Fisheries Harbour, have threatened to commit suicide if surveying, for acquisition of land, continues in their area. They also prevented a land surveying attempt on Monday and told the surveyors that they would not allow their lands to be acquired. "We will not give our lands to anyone. We will commit suicide if you grab our lands by force. Our day to day livelihood activities are affected by interference of coastal security. more..

Nov 19 (Island) A speeding back-up security vehicle accompanying Uva Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa rammed into a stationary truck at Mahagodayaya in the Buttala police area in the early hours of yesterday killing three persons and causing injuries to four. The Chief Minister was on his way from Colombo for his public day when one of his vehicles, a Defender, carrying MSD personnel crashed into a Batticaloa bound truck carrying railway sleepers. more..

Nov 19 (CT) JVP alleged in Parliament that senior ministers have become so unimportant that even the Chairpersons of various companies have more power than them. JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti said the senior ministers had lost their respect and that they were treated worse than some deputy ministers and MPs. "At least the MPs have allocations. Total given to all senior ministers through Budget 2015 is Rs 529 million while more..

Nov 19 (Island) JVP says that it is not party to the discussions to nominate the Joint Oppositions Common Candidate, since it is of the view that the next presidential election will be illegal. JVP MP Vijitha Herath said that his party did not accept the Supreme Court opinion that President Rajapaksa could seek a third term. "We believe that it would be illegal for the incumbent to bid for re-election. It is on this basis that People’s Movement For Democracy would be holding a protest march more..

Nov 19 (PTI) Amid uncertainty over the release of five Indian fishermen facing death sentence in SL, a delegation of fishermen from TN met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and sought Centre's intervention for their "immediate release". The delegation, accompanied by senior BJP leaders from the state and Union Minister State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, held talks for 90 minutes and also sought Centre's intervention to release boats, more..

Nov 19 (Island) Minister G.L. Peiris said yesterday that the JHU’s actions wouldn’t hinder incumbent President Rajapaksa’s ongoing campaign, much less prevent his victory at the next presidential election. He was addressing the media in the wake of JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka and Western Province Minister Udaya Gammanpila giving up their ministerial portfolios over dispute with the SLFP. more..

Nov 19 (DM) November seems to be full of hard-luck stories for opposition parties. They were attempting to prevent President Rajapaksa from declaring a premature presidential election and contesting that election citing legal grounds. Those legal points were first mooted by none other than former CJ Sarath N. Silva, who was also a close friend of the President. Arguments put forward by Mr. Silva against the apparent plans by the President to call a premature presidential election more..

Nov 19 (DM) Some people have a permanent image problem. Those with criminal tendencies, severe personality disorders which are left untreated, and some politicians sons’ fall into this category. As long as such image problems remain as purely personal issues, they should not concern us too much. But when somebody’s image problem affects the whole country, becoming part of that country’s image problem, then we should be concerned. You don’t need to be a psychiatrist to realise more..

Nov 19 (SL) The Commission to Investigate Bribery and Corruption, which has hardly taken any action against reputed rogues, especially certain Ministers, MPs and higher officials in the govt, has now begun and extensive investigation against former Director Preventives, Sri Lanka Customs Kanagasabai Ranjan on his asset declarations. Bribery Commission has filed a case before Colombo Chief Magistrate against more..

Nov 19 (BR) Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody (Retd) while talking to the LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday has called for full exploitation of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Honorary Consulate of Sri Lanka in Lahore Eng Nadeem Zia Pirzada was also president on the occasion. more..

Nov 19 (DM) The Presidential polls in the offing have been contentious, to say the least. On the one hand there were issues raised over the legality of the incumbent President Rajapaksa contesting for a third term despite the implementation of the 18th Amendment; on the other hand was the move to prompt a change in the structure of governance by a ‘common opposition’ through a ‘common candidate’. By last week, issues raised over more..

Nov 19 (ST) It is the new frontier in modern medicine – surgery with the use of small tools managed by a robotic arm. Behind the robotic arm, of course, is the surgeon, controlling it from a remote console. Be the Asian centre for robotic surgery, is what Sri Lanka is being urged to achieve not just by one but two international specialists. For, one specialist who has achieved excellence in this emerging field is none other than more..

Nov 19 (Island) Democratic Party (DP) said that it was exploring the possibility of fielding a candidate of its own at the forthcoming presidential election in case the Opposition failed to reach an agreement on a common candidate. He said his party had two options. Gen. Fonseka said that the DP would throw its weight behind the Opposition project only if a suitable person was fielded as the common candidate. more..

Nov 19 (SF) Sri Lanka is one of the ten most generous countries in the world, according to the recently released World Giving Index (WGI) report. According to the annual report released by the Charities Aid Foundation, Sri Lanka with a strong Theravada Buddhist community is the top most generous country in the subcontinent placing 9th out of 135 countries with a score of 54. Sri Lanka ranked 3rd for participation in volunteering time more..

Nov 19 (AM) In a new development, Minister G.L. Peiris has underscored the significance of the JHU proposals presented to the govt while saying there were many important points among the 35 proposals. He said that the JHU decided to step down from ministerial positions, soon after the govt started to consider the JHU proposals. However, President Rajapaksa previously asserted that the govt was not in a position to go for more..

Nov 19 (Island) Operating theatres at the National Institute for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit (NINDTU) at Maligawatta remain closed due to an infection. Transplant operations had been suspended for about one month as the germ had affected the patients receiving post operative care. The unit had been performing two operations per week following since its commissioning last year. more..

Nov 19 (Island) Additional Magistrate M. Sahabdeen yesterday directed the Prisons Department to transfer Minister Mervyn Silva’s son, Malaka, from the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) to prison hospital as there was no longer a requirement to keep him there. The order was given when Malaka Silva was produced before him. Malaka is among seven persons produced before the Magistrate more..

Nov 19 (DM) President Rajapaksa is expected to issue the proclamation at 12.00 midnight today instructing the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya to conduct a presidential poll. Section-3 of the Constitution under executive presidency says notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding provisions of this Chapter, the President may, at any time after the expiration of four years from the commencement of his more..

Nov 19 (CT) The security at the country's Museum is at stake. Police said it was broken into a second time last Sunday but did not divulge whether valuable artifacts had been stolen. In the earlier robbery, valuable artifacts were removed by the robber and the Court case is still pending. It is regrettable that even after the first robbery that adequate security measures had not been enforced at the country's most important place that has historical values. more..

Nov 19 (CT) It is time that all those who believe in the ideals of the SLFP immediately gather around any opposition candidate who would genuinely work towards abolishing the executive presidency and save the future of the SLFP. Those who fail to act now will realize that a 3rd Term for Mahinda Rajapaksa would ensure that Gota will succeed him and the baton would be passed on to Namal and there is no hope for any in the SLFP to climb up the ladder of executive office for next 25 years more..

Nov 19 (CNN) Ahead of me, a trail of lights snakes up toward the sky, moving relentlessly, step-by-step, in the darkness. I've tackled quite a few mountains in my life, but never have I hiked with as many solemn spirits as on Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka. Barefoot pilgrims are all around me. There are women, whose bangles can be heard rattling against tired ankles, and monks, pulling their maroon robes over their left shoulders to more..

Nov 19 (Island) UNP found fault with govt for pruning down the allocations for education sector on instructions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and thereby causing the free education system to die a natural death with the passage of time. UNP MP D. M. Swaminathan, participating in the committee stage debate on budget 2015 under the expenditure heads of Ministry of Higher Education, said: "On the recommendation of IMF, the expenditure on education has been curtailed. more..

Nov 19 (Island) IGP N.K. Illanagakoon said that Sri Lanka was the first country in the South Asia to be a member of INTERPOL’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Expert Working Group and the police were proud that they used a locally developed software system. Addressing INTERPOL’s 29th Meeting of AFIS Expert Working Group which commenced at Galadari Hotel, IGP Illangakoon, who was the Chief Guest, praised Colombo University’s School of Computing more..

Nov 19 (Island) The unsuccessful Opposition candidate at the last presidential poll Gen. Sarath Fonseka lashed out at UNP MP Wijeyedasa Rajapakshe for the latter’s claim that the UNP had agreed a joint Opposition decision to field Fonseka though it knew he would not win. Responding to a query in a TV interview, MP Rajapakshe said that Opposition had realised Fonseka would certainly lose to president. more..

Nov 19 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee forwards traded steady on Wednesday despite importer dollar demand due to moral suasion from the central bank, dealers said. However, the local currency was under pressure as imports continue to rise in a stable exchange rate regime and a low interest rate environment, they said. The rupee will likely remain weak due to rising seasonal imports, at least through November and then start to inch up in December on remittances, they added. more..

Nov 19 (LBO) Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.31% lower with telco, tobacco and diversified stocks losing ground. All Share Price Index closed 23.13 points lower at 7,525.10, down 0.31%. The S&P SL20 closed 16.06 points lower at 4,188.81, down 0.38%. Turnover was 1.83 billion rupees, down from 3.83 billion rupees a day earlier with 76 stocks closed positive against 134 negative. Access Engineering closed 40 cents lower at 41.10 rupees with eight off market transactions more..

Nov 19 (IANS) MDMK leader Vaiko Wednesday called for grand celebrations Nov 26 to mark the 60th birth anniversary of the slain Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Vaiko urged people to burst crackers and offer special prayers at 7.18 p.m. -- which he said was the birth time of Prabhakaran. The celebrations should take place wherever Tamils live around the world, he said. It should "echo the cause of Tamil Eelam", more..

Nov 19 (GDI) Chief Government Whip and Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said this morning in Parliament that once minister resigns from his or her post, the portfolio automatically goes under the purview of the President according to the provisions of the Constitution that had been prepared by the UNP. If any MP has a question with regard to such a ministry, the Prime Minister or the Leader of the House would respond to that question on behalf of the President. more..

Nov 19 (Kyodo) The Osaka Family Court on Wednesday ordered that a 4-year-old child taken to Japan by its mother be returned to Sri Lanka to live with the father, in accordance with the Hague convention on child abduction. It’s the first such decision by a Japanese court since the country joined the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in April. Both parents are Japanese citizens in their 30s and 40s, the father’s attorney said. more..

Nov 19 (CG) UNP today urged the Govt to reconsider holding the Presidential elections in January next year. UNP MP John Amaratunga urged PM D.M Jayaratne to conduct the elections after January. He said that Catholics in Sri Lanka are looking forward to the arrival of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka. However he said holding of elections in January may affect the visit if the environment is not peaceful. more..

Nov 19 (Island) While tea smallholders underwent a lot of hardships without enough funds, the funds meant for them had been misused by the Tea Development Board, the UNP said in Parliament yesterday. UNP MP Thalatha Atukorale, opening the committee stage debate on Budget 2015, under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Plantations Industries, said that Rs. 15 million had been allocated from the Tea Development Fund for the development of Kingswood College Cricket. more..

Nov 19 (AM) President Rajapaksa has convened a sudden Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon just hours ahead of the announcement of the Presidential election. Govt sources confirmed that Presidential election will be announced tonight by the President. Election according to highly placed political sources will be held on Jan 2 or Jan 3. At the special Cabinet meeting today the President is to brief the Minsters about the forthcoming Presidential Election. more..

Nov 19 (AM) UPFA MP Dr. Rajiv Wijesinha said he would not be in a position to support President Rajapaksa if the govt did not respond to his proposals. He said his proposals with regard to strengthening good governance and democracy have been sent to the govt months ago. "But, my letters have not elicited any response," the MP said. He said in no uncertain terms that he would not President Rajapaksa at the more..

Nov 19 (AM) Asian monitors have been approached and invited for the Presidential elections expected to be held in January, the People’s Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said that 35 Asian monitors will be deployed for the polls apart from local monitors and other international monitors. Among Asian monitors expected in SL are monitors from India, Thailand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan. more..

Nov 19 (CG) Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva says he will not interfere in the court case over his son Malaka Silva who was arrested and is now in remand over an assault incident. The Minister was asked in Parliament today why he is unable to secure his son’s release from jail being such a powerful Minister. JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti noted that the Minister had this week forced a bar to be closed following protests by the public in the area and yet is unable to free his son. more..