Sep 9 (NS) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a unscheduled discussion this week to discuss LG elections, the postponement of which continues. The political discussion took place on Sept 7 at the Parliamentary complex premises with JO MPs Dinesh Gunawardena, Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa & Prasanna Ranatunga in attendance. more..

Sep 9 (SK) All-rounder Angelo Mathews is perhaps one of the few players in the current SL national team who can claim to be a truly world-class cricketer, and over the course of the past few months, his stature has only grown. The gulf in quality between some of his team mates and him is quite clear. At the same time, it is necessary to keep in mind that Mathews himself has also had his own share of ups and downs with injuries, loss of form and in fact played solely as more..

Sep 9 (CT) The Voice Against Corruption (VAC) insisted yesterday that authorities should take immediate steps to impound Arjun Aloysius' passport now that vital information regarding the controversial CB Treasury Bond auction has come to light. JVP Politburo member and VAC Convener Wasantha Samarasinghe said the organization is taking measures to inform the President on the findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the issue. more..

Sep 9 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe rejected allegations of corruption made against his Govt over the construction of Central Highway third stage by involving Japanese firms and gave a detailed explanation of the tender process and related negotiations to Parliament. According to the PM, Govt has maintained high transparency and has awarded the project at a rate considerably lower than initial bid and saved money as well as more..

Sep 9 (SLA) Intending to propagate the cultivation of coconuts in the general areas of Pooneryn as well as to generate an income for needy people in the long run, a large stock of coconut seedlings were distributed on Thursday among low-income groups in Pooneryn area on the directions of General Officer Commanding, 66 Division. A training programme on the cultivation of coconut seedlings also took place around the same time after the distribution of seedlings at the more..

Sep 9 (DN) Court of Appeal yesterday granted further time for GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya to file written submissions regarding the preliminary objections raised by him regarding a charge sheet filed against him over contemptuous statements. At a previous occasion, a charge sheet was in open court served on GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya by Court of Appeal for allegedly undermining the Court of Appeal judgment dated Jan 31, 2017 which was delivered more..

Sep 9 (DN) President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne objected to summoning Perpetual Treasuries owner Arjun Aloysius to give evidence before the Commission. Answering a question, Aloysius’s Counsel Premaratne PC said that he objects to Arjun Aloysius giving evidence before the commission. Meanwhile, Gamini Marapana, PC informed the Commission that he will be representing Arjun Aloysius more..

Sep 9 (DM) It seems that as a nation we are losing track of what a govt should do. We need to ask the simple question, What are the prime responsibilities of a govt? Improving the quality of life of those in need and reducing financial and other forms of poverty come to mind. So is preventing its people becoming ill and dying prematurely, protecting vulnerable women and children from abuse and violence. Ensuring physical protection, especially on roads and other public places more..

Sep 9 (DM) The recent Supreme Court order handing over a Wellawatte property -- forfeited during the Rajapaksa regime on the instruction of the Police and taken over by the Terrorist Investigation Division -- to its rightful owners, is a typical indicator of the manner in which emergency regulations impinged the legal rights of the citizenry and the excesses that could be carried out with seeming impunity. The Emergency (Proscription of the LTTE) Regulations 2009 allowed more..

Sep 9 (DM) Janaprith Fernando was recently made a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement 2017-20. This is the biggest achievement by a member in the 105-year history of the Sri Lanka Scout Association Q: Congratulations on your election to the World Scout Committee. This is the first such achievement by a Sri Lankan in the history of scouting during the last century. more..

Sep 9 (NS) SLFP Joint Opposition (JO) MP Keheliya Rambukwella speaks to Rivira with regard to the current state of political affairs. Q: There is a rumour that you plan on joining the Govt? A: It was through the newspaper that I came to know that I was going to join the Govt. I do not know from where this news was found and written. Q: The rumour was that you along with several other bigwigs of JO are planning on joining govt. more..

Sep 9 (ST) Some 800,000 families in drought affected districts whose sole livelihood is agriculture, are now reliant on Govt Relief Packs to survive. Drought, reportedly the worst in 40 years, has devastated agricultural areas and resulted in near complete collapse of economies in some of the affected districts. Situation is so dire that the UN warned this week that some drought affected families are surviving on one meal a day, more..

Sep 9 (ST) An eight-member group will review the cheating involving the Colombo-schooled son of a police hospital dentist, a chemistry teacher and the doctor himself, who conspired to use a wireless electronic device and a hidden camera purchased online and a Facebook account to answer the chemistry paper at this year’s A/L exam. Five suspects including the son of the doctor from Gampaha have now been arrested and more..

Sep 9 (NS) Parents of children who have been victimized by not being allowed by schools to sit for public examinations owing to poor results at term tests conducted by schools are presently in discussions with education sector trade unions in relation to taking action including legal action regarding such. Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) explained that there were many schools which engaged in such, pointing out to an instance more..

Sep 9 (ST) Youngsters who are mostly drunk and who do not have basic survival skills in water are continuing to pay a heavy price with their lives, while Sri Lanka is struggling with training more life savers, both professional and volunteer. Sadly, for millions who are fighting to survive day to day in a country with hundreds of thousands of jobless people and many millions in debt with dreams of going to West Asia for menial jobs more..

Sep 9 (Island) The GMOA accused the Presidential Committee appointed to resolve the SAITM crisis of attempting to transfer the powers of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to another institution. In a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena, GMOA’s President Dr Anuruddha Padeniya and Secretary, Dr Haritha Aluthge have alleged that the committee is exploring the possibility of relegating powers regarding more..

Sep 9 (NR) Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says steps will be taken in future to regulate all schools in the island. Speaking at an event in Galle the Minister said the programme will be initiated through a school supervisory board. Minister said the Ministry has decided to appoint a school supervisory board adding through this board all teaching and learning activities will be subject to supervision and regulation. more..

Sep 9 (Island) An investigation, conducted by a two-member committee, into alleged malpractices in the Department of Zoological Gardens’ (DZG) during the previous govt, has revealed serious problems with the gifting and exchanging of animals, mainly elephants. The committee comprising Indira Kahandaliyanage and Dr. Muzahim Hanifa in their findings has said that thought the Flora & Fauna Protection Act more..

Sep 9 (DM) It has been made mandatory with immediate effect that any prison inmate seeking admission to the prisons hospital will have to get the consent of three doctors, Prison Reforms Minister D.M. Swaminathan said. He said following complaints received by several parties alleging misconduct and favours granted to special political inmates, the ministry had ordered Prisons Commissioner General Dhanasinghe more..

Sep 9 (CT) A Special Presidential Commission (SPC) appointed by, the then President, J. R. Jayewardene in 1978 to investigate charges of misuse and abuse of power by former Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike during her tenure of office, comprising Supreme Court judges S. Sharvananda and J.G.T. Weeraratne and Appeal Court Judge K.C.E. de Alwis, after two years of sittings, found her guilty in 1980. Based upon the recommendations of the SPC, Parliament passed a law, more..

Sep 9 (AM) Former Development Lotteries Board (DLB) Chairman Sarana Gunawardena has been transferred to the Prison Hospital. He is being held on charges he misused state property during his tenure as Chairman of the DLB. He was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division on Monday and ordered held until Sept 18. He joins former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former TRC Director General Anusha Palpita who were moved to the prison hospital today after more..

Sep 9 (CT) Former MP and Ex-COPE member Rosy Senanayake following the style of Ravi Karunanayake, who is also now directly a part of the PM's retinue denied having knowledge of anything to do with her name surfacing during the Bond Commission revelations. In a letter addressed to the media, under the letterhead of the PM's office Senanayake said she denies all inferences drawn against her. The conversation which involved her son, Kanishka Senanayake more..

Sep 9 (DM) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said even the current First Lady could be sued as she was seen distributing Sil Redi along with the President a few days ago. Mr. Rajapaksa said he would visit former president’s secretary Lalith Weeratunga who was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment. Mr. Weeratunga was found guilty of misappropriating Rs.600 million belonging to the TRC and using it to distribute Sil Redi during the 2015 presidential election campaign. more..

Sep 9 (NR) Several new conditions have been laid out for three-wheelers engaged in passenger transportation that will come into effect from the 1st of Oct. Gazette notification in this regard was signed by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Accordingly the right side of the three-wheeler should have a door that is fully or partially closed thereby preventing passengers from getting in or getting off from the right side. more..

Sep 9 (DM) IGP Pujith Jayasundara had promoted 2,599 police officers with effect from May 31, 2016. Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara told Daily Mirror that it was for the first time in the recent past that a large number of officers were promoted at one occasion. According to the decision, 2,075 Police Constables (PC) had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant, 189 Sergeants to the rank of Sub Inspector (SI) and 34 Women Sergeants to the rank of Sub inspector. more..

Sep 9 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that both the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had informed the country that they would not provide any more grants after 2019. Making a special ministerial statement, the PM said since the two leading bodies had expressed the stopping of grants, alternative measures had to be adopted to maintain economic development. "Originally, there was a plan to construct an airport in Kandy," he said. more..

Sep 9 (ST) How many of you have visited rivers or streams with banks of dispersed stones and rocks of different shapes and sizes? Have you ever tried to balance one rock on top of another? Piling rocks on top of each other might be a difficult task for someone who tries it for the first time. The stones may keep on falling and will have to be piled up all over again. Meet someone who possesses true interest & patience in the art more..

Sep 9 (NR) Election monitoring body the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence has commended legal action taken against two govt officials recently claiming it is a victory for the citizens. CMEV issuing a statement said the enforcement of punishments for govt officials responsible for misuse of state property is a tremendous win. The statement said the 2015 Presidential Election was regarded as controversial due to various reasons claiming according to election monitors the election was more..

Sep 9 (CT) JO MP Bandula Gunawardena has said a group of Buddhist monks, along with the JO, has come forward to collect the money to pay the fines and compensations imposed on former President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former TRC Director General Anusha Palpita by Colombo HC. The two were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 2 million each and were also ordered to pay Rs 50 million each to the TRC as compensation by CHC Judge after they were sentenced to 3 years rigorous more..

Sep 9 (ST) Once a mansion of love and loss, College House on Thurstan Road, Colombo 3 is today a motif of expectation to the fresher and a symbol of excellence to generations of young men and women whose lives have been shaped by this illustrious institute of learning. The University of Ceylon began in 1942 at College House. College House however began life as Regina Walauwa and therein lies a tale. more..

Sep 9 (ST) As parts of the country reel from the effects of a prolonged drought, people living along the Maha Oya bank are struggling to find drinking water due to pollution. The worst affected are those living in the Muruthana village in Negombo, located just below the Bambukuliya water treatment plant. Villagers charge that the activities connected to the quarry in the area was polluting the water treatment plant which in turn was making the water in their wells undrinkable. more..

Sep 9 (Island) The Galagedara electorate had developed under the present govt so much so that former beedi mudalalies had become successful businessmen at present, Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said. Speaking at a ceremony he said people of Galagedara were lucky to receive welfare assistance. The people of Galagedara and Hataraliyadda had benefited economically and the area had developed, Dr. Amunugama said, claiming that the road network had been improved. more..

Sep 9 (ST) The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) launched an investigation into alleged threats leveled at two witnesses due to testify in a case against three LTTE members on trial for the alleged executions of Army prisoners of war. The case has been fixed for trial at the Vavuniya High Court. AG, however, will decide whether to move the case out of Vavuniya, based on the TID report to be submitted. more..

Sep 9 (Island) Former minister Ravi Karunanayake, proposed in Parliament that journalists be made to declare their assets and liabilities. "Media personnel should also be made to declare their assets and liabilities in order to ensure their integrity," he said. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he did not have the authority to do so. JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said there were laws already in place under which editors and others had to submit to the Sri Lanka Press Institute. more..

Sep 9 (DN) Archaeological Department and Central Cultural Fund have taken measures to identify historical places, which are enriched with archaeological value to be developed and conserved as tourist destinations. The identified historical places will be conserved, protected and developed while safeguarding their historic and archaeological value aiming to attract local and foreign tourists. “These sites which tourist attractions will be protected & preserved for future generations,” more..

Sep 9 (ST) After a five-month manhunt, CID sleuths have arrested two men who had allegedly sent more than 700 people to European countries — and they had genuine visas and genuine passports. Investigations have revealed that the men have charged three million rupees to prepare the necessary documents. The duo operated from two offices in Marawila and Kochchikadae in Negombo and more..

Sep 9 (Island) The SLFP has decided not to allow SLFP MPs holding ministerial posts, in the govt, to leave govt and act independently in Parliament. A minister told The Island that a group of MPs, loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and holding ministerial posts had requested for permission to act independently in parliament. All SLFP MPs should act according to party decisions and that if an MP could not do so, he had to resign from the party, the spokesman said. more..

Sep 9 (IE) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has attempted to clear the air surrounding the toss in the one-off T20 between India and Sri Lanka. Amidst controversy, SLC tweeted a video of the incident and said that match referee Andy Pycroft took the correct call. “#SLvInd T20I: Match Referee Andy PYCROFT called it correctly – Heads India, SLC wrote on twitter. However, social media did not take this clarification too kindly and criticized the SLC for trying to edit and enhance the voice more..

Sep 9 (CI) Sri Lanka will play their first day-night Test in Dubai as a part of the two-Test series against Pakistan in the UAE. The Test series will begin on Sept 28 in Abu Dhabi before the second Test in Dubai, which also hosted a day-night Test against West Indies last year. The two Tests will be followed by five ODIs, before two T20Is in Abu Dhabi and the last one in Lahore on October 29, subject to security clearance, more..