Nov 26 (FT) SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) said the decision by Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) to suspend the bureau’s committee working on the digital marketing campaign was to fast track the processes. SLTPB Managing Director Sutheash Balasubramaniam said that the country has not been successful in carrying out a steady promotional campaign in the post-war era hence more..

Nov 25 (Island) 34 months into President Sirisena’s administration, Sri Lanka continues its convoluted engagements with the international community and multilateral bodies on the vexed issue of UNHRC 30/1. On Oct 12, 2017, Lord Naseby (LN), a longtime friend of this country, initiated a short debate on Sri Lanka in the House of Lords. After repeated requests to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), he had obtained 39 pages of highly redacted dispatches between more..

Nov 25 (NS) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe came out in support of Net neutrality, saying that unthrottled access to the Internet is key to level playing field and giving voice of the oppressed, Indian news agency PTI reported today. Speaking at the Global Conference on Cyber Space in New Delhi, he said that there is a need for ensuring Net neutrality, a principle that has come under serious challenge in many parts of the world including in US, according to the PTI report. more..

Nov 26 (CT) Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and People's Bank (PB) are currently studying the legal and operational implications of the 2018 Budget Proposal to broad-base the two premier State banks. BOC Chairman Ronald Perera said that the Budget proposal spelt out a few days ago required a study to be done on its implications. While the bank is studying the legal and operational implications of the proposal, a careful study more..

Nov 25 (ST) Six new, active sports associations are in a quandary as to how they would be billeted at the next National Olympic Association of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) AGM scheduled for Jan 9, 2018. Now the contention centres on two associations — Fencing and Triathlon Associations. They were approved as full NOCSL members, because their names had been ratified by its Executive Committee, prior to 2013. However, the present NOCSL Assistant Secretary Nishanthe Piyasena himself is more..

Nov 26 (Island) Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has initiated a 14-day sport tour for the Football Without Borders team from Switzerland who embarked on a goodwill tour to Sri Lanka which commenced on 18th November. The sport tour by the Swiss team will continue until the 2nd Dec 2017. The FFSL aims to promote football in Sri Lanka and to raise awareness among youngsters about football, as many local clubs will garner exposure from the visiting foreign team. more..

Nov 25 (Island) Former great Chaminda Vaas who is the Bowling Coach of SL Under-19 team has opted out of the team’s upcoming tour of India. Sri Lanka Cricket was keen to take only two coaches on the tour and Vaas had opted out allowing Head Coach Roy Dias and Fielding Coach Upul Chandana to accompany the team to India. Vaas has instead agreed to stay back and work with the players who were not selected for the tour. The highly knowledgeable former left-arm paceman has more..

Nov 25 (DM) The sports purohita and the one presiding over the popular game had an encounter with the political scion of the Giruwapattu political dynasty in the council lobby the other day.  The duo asked the Giruwapattu kid why he was opposed to the ongoing moves to unite the Pohottuwa with the Hand. Pat came the reply: “I have got enough reasons and am dead against these moves!” The sports duo tried to explain the importance of party unity as the need of the hour pointing out that more..

Nov 25 (CI) India are playing a Test series at the moment, but they have admitted, in almost as many words, that they are using it as a warm-up exercise for their upcoming tour of South Africa. They have rested players keeping that tour in mind, and have tried to simulate South African conditions instead of giving themselves the home advantage. Their opponents, Sri Lanka, have reason to feel miffed at this, but Nic Pothas, their coach, more..

Nov 25 (SLA) A consortium of professionals and experts representing the Programme of Alliances for Reconciliation (PAR) from the South American, Colombia called at the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) on Wednesday with the objective of sharing views on their own experiences on reconciliation and general matters of civil concern and met Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, SF-J. After the delegation was received, Major General Hettiarachchi, more..

Nov 26 (DM) An individual heavily intoxicated had confronted a woman tourist and had attempted to teach her morals, and the woman not understanding the language had gifted the intruder with a cigarette, as reported from a tourist hotel in a coastal area near Galle. There had been a wedding reception at this tourist hotel, and relatives of the newly married couple from several outstations had been there. Among the participants there had been a family from an interior village few km away from Galle. more..

Nov 25 (FT) The Govt has targeted attracting an ambitious Rs. 150 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments within the next 10 years, banking on the country’s Western Megapolis Master Plan. UDA Chairman Dr. Jagath Munasinghe was confident that Sri Lanka had the potential to attract Rs. 15 billion in FDI inflows annually within the next 10 years through some major infrastructure projects associated to more..

Nov 26 (ST) While 95% of the country is supplied with electricity as of today, only 50% of the country is benefitted with pipe-borne water from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB). The need for clean purified drinking water arises in small towns and villages in the outskirts of Colombo and people have faced enough difficulties and diseases due to drinking water from different, unhygienic sources. People living in urban cities believe that the days when villagers carried more..

Nov 26 (DN) There was an era when club rugby was the most looked forward to event in the local rugby calendar with its open style of play and drawing spectators by the thousands. But over time all that has changed and what we see today according to a legend of the game Yu Cey Chang popularly known as YC Chang is a boring brand of rugby that has dwindled spectator interest and hardly contributes to the improvement of the national team’s standards. “I predicted as far back as 2003-04 more..

Nov 26 (CT) Govt said that no Police Officer has a right to turn down a civilian who comes to lodge a complaint to any Police Station. Minister Lakshman Kiriella said, this when JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake brought to the notice of the House that when victims of the recent clash in the Gintota area went to lodge complaints at the relevant Police Station, Police had sent them back saying that they will come to more..

Nov 25 (CT) The ongoing initiative of Commercial Bank of Ceylon to develop entrepreneurship in the Micro and SME sectors has benefitted the farmers of Kilinochchi, by empowering them with information on best practices that make paddy cultivation profitable, the bank stated via press release. Commercial Bank's Kilinochchi branch, with the assistance of the bank's Development Credit Department, recently organized a multifaceted seminar for 154 members of the Farmers Association in the area, more..

Nov 26 (TOI) Born in Sri Lanka, musician Sanje Siva worked a lot towards becoming a musician. He worked first as an album cover designer and began listening to a wide range of music. He eventually wanted to take up music full time. Sanje produced his first Tamil music album at the age of 19, and ever since then there has been no looking back for him. Now, he is ready with his 11th album My Way, which he will launching in Chennai. Talking about it, he says, "All the songs from more..

Nov 25 (Island) PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi alleged Minister Faiszer Musthapha, was being used by his political masters to further put off long delayed local govt polls. He called the JO decision to move a no-faith motion against Musthapha an exercise in futility. "There is no point in targeting him. Even if in the unlikely event of the no-faith motion succeeding, it would not make the local govt polls happen." more..

Nov 25 (Island) President of Institute of Supply and Materials Management Nalin Silva has, in letters addressed to Prez, PM and Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, offered the professional expertise of ISMM to the CPC to help avoid another fuel crisis and streamline the procurement process. The ISMM has said it can make available its Supply Chain experts to introduce best practices, fail proof supply chain methods and procurement principles to prevent breakdowns in fuel supply chain flow. more..

Nov 26 (DM) SLPP said that it join other political parties to ensure that the people would be given the right to exercise their franchise, which had been illegally withheld. SLPP chairman G.L. Peiris said it had become a burden on all political parties to find a way out of the mess created by Minister Faizer Mustapha and ensure that the people’s franchise was restored. He said it was ridiculous to postpone the LG elections on flimsy excuses for more than two and half years. more..

Nov 25 (Hindu) Expediting decisions on joint projects and solving the problems that have emerged was at the top of the agenda as SL PM Ranil Wickremesinghe met PM Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and President Ram Nath Kovind during his two-day visit to Delhi, officials on both sides highlighted here. Among the projects discussed in particular were the plans for India to develop more..

Nov 26 (DM) Minister S.B. Dissanayake said today his donkey remark was not directed at former minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe but driven by emotion and expressed regret if it has caused any embarrassment to him. The minister yesterday issued a statement on the news item published in the Daily Mirror. “My attention has been drawn to the news item, SB calls former minister Wijeyadasa a Donkey which appeared in the first page of your newspaper of 24/11/17 and more..

Nov 25 (Island) Many an eyebrow was raised when Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena early this week likened the proposed acquisition of a Russian frigate to the purchase of a BMW at the price of a Toyota. He claimed that Sri Lanka would receive the vessel at the price of an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) though it was a large frigate. In addition to Abeywardena, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has earlier strongly defended the decision to go ahead with the costly acquisition in parliament, more..

Nov 25 (DM) The Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Desapriya told a JVP delegation yesterday he would inform Court on December 4 that there was no impediment in conducting elections to the local bodies unaffected by delimitation. A petition has been filed in the Court of Appeal against the implementation of the gazette notification citing irregularities in the delimitation process resulting in the Court issuing a stay order till Dec 4. more..

Nov 25 (DM) With a tsunami of sexual assault or harassment allegations being made by women against a large number of VIPs including United States President Donald Trump, entertainment bosses or stars and media group personalities, women’s leaders are calling on women to continue their cultural revolution against male chauvinism. They are also calling upon noble men of integrity, care and concern for family values and related virtues to join the campaign against male or more..

Nov 25 (DM) It is an indelible fact that the lack of political will combined with fundamentally flawed Provisions of the 1972 and 1978 Constitutions and the mind – set framework of the majority community to share power with the Tamils stifled the Devolution Process. 1972 Constitution: Political Analysts are of the view that both 1972 and 1978 Constitutions have adumbrated with the Principle of Constitutional autochthony. The principle of autochthony was first asserted by Irish Court in 1922 when more..

Nov 25 (DM) Chairman of the Central Environment Authority (CEA) Prof. Lal Dharmasiri discussed the implementation of the ban of polythene and the progress it had made so far in society. Q: How would you view on the ban of polythene in terms of its legal aspect and social aspect? A: First and foremost, it is my humble and honest feeling to say that the ban on plastic and polythene was a concept of Minister of Mahaweli Development and more..

Nov 25 (DM) We Sri Lankans witnessed some serious issues in governance during the past month or two. Not that we were without issues and problems before. Yet, past months left us in chaos. For one whole week, the country was left in a fuel crisis. A single shipment was held as the reason for the shortage. The Govt exhibiting inefficiency showed it cannot handle such crises in winning public trust. more..

Nov 25 (CT) Startling news broke out last week when Saudi Arabian Princess Ameera Al Taweel revealed that the ruling Saudi regime engaged in acts of buying and renting children, especially orphans, from countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Djibouti, Somalia, Nigeria, Romania and Bulgaria. She claimed that slavery in Saudi Arabia has different forms, but it is done in secrecy and permitted only among more..

Nov 25 (ST) Thousands of people with life-threatening illnesses should receive care as part of the mainstream health care system of the country so they can face the normal process of death with dignity, doctors say. The Palliative Care Association of Sri Lanka has produced a national health strategic master plan 2016-2025 in which it recommends that a national palliative care programme be integrated into the mainstream of the health system. more..

Nov 25 (CI) That safe, warm, fuzzy, home-like feeling was back for India as their two most valuable Test batsmen in recent times reunited to keep others blissfully unaware of any dangers there might have been of the new ball, fresh bowlers or scoreboard pressure. That M Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, now the second-most prolific second-wicket pair for India, would grind Sri Lankan bowling was predictable, but it wasn't as straightforward more..

Nov 25 (DN) I was dismayed when I was told that 82% of the total tax revenue collected by way of indirect taxes is borne by the normal citizen, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. The Minister was addressing tax payers and intended tax payers of Matara who attended an awareness programme on the new Inland Revenue Act No 24 of 2017 which will be implemented from April 1,2018. “I have proposed to change this ratio which may be more..

Nov 25 (wsws) Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera presented the govt’s 2018 budget to parliament early this month. The budget, in line with IMF demands, proposes new taxes on the working masses, increased charges for govt services, deregulation of the labour laws and the further privatisation of state-owned enterprises. Samaraweera falsely claimed that new taxes in his budget were to cover the cost of more..

Nov 25 (DM) The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said it will investigate an incident where a private company had using a helicopter air-dropped packets of tea in Pannipitiya yesterday resulting in the frightened residents complaining to the CAA. “The company was only permitted to distribute leaflets and not any objects by the air. They had clearly committed an offence. There was the possibility people being hurt,” more..

Nov 25 (DM) The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPASL) has introduced a Smart Condom Vending Machine after considering the difficulties faced by the public when purchasing condoms. The first Smart Condom Vending Machine is fixed outside the Family Planning Association of SL building at the Bullers Lane, Colombo 07. Machine was a customized machine manufactured in SL more..

Nov 25 (EN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe returned from a four-day Indian visit to battle a deepening rift between his party and President Maithripala that threatens to undermine their unity govt. The troubles erupted as Wickremesinghe left on Tuesday. State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe called a press conference at the UNP headquarters to express disappointment in the President. more..

Nov 25 (EN) Central bank said it has set up a new department called the Department of Foreign Exchange to implement the new foreign exchange law. A new legislative and policy framework for foreign exchange operations has been introduced by the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 with effect from November 20, 2017, repealing the Exchange Control Act, No. 24 of 1953, a statement said. more..

Nov 25 (CT) Leader of both the Joint Opposition (JO) and the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday, called upon all political forces in Sri Lanka to team up with them to defeat the ruling UNP and to end the rule of the Govt at all levels. "The JO and the SLFP are also holding negotiations with each other so, that we may contest together. The discussions are yet at a formative stage and the announcements more..

Nov 26 (SO) The headlines we read or hear daily, if not hourly, of national affairs is, surely, a scenario of multiple challenges facing the nation and its leaders that would daunt anyone. Fortunately, we enjoy the social solidarity of being part of an island community of peoples of various collective identities – of cultural groups, economic groups, sub-regions. Thanks to the news media and its current broad freedom of publication across the range of media, we, citizens, are kept relatively well informed more..