Sept 18 (CI) There is no big bash planned for the opening of World Twenty20 in Hambantota, no music concert, no fireworks and no trapeze artists. But, there is a cricket match and both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are likely to be grateful that they, not a sideshow, will take center stage. Cricket can be their only focus because in a short group stage, like this one, an early slip up could end their campaign even as it begins. more..

Sept 18 (DM) There is no big bash planned for the opening of World Twenty20 in Hambantota, no music concert, no fireworks and no trapeze artists. But, there is a cricket match and both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are likely to be grateful that they, not a sideshow, will take center stage. Cricket can be their only focus because in a short group stage, like this one, an early slip up could end their campaign even as it begins. Some months ago SEC more..

Sept 18 (DM) Had he lived in Colombo in 2012 amongst i-pads and i-phones, Nokia and Reebok, Anagarika Dharmapala would have mocked the Colombians as a fawning cringing crawling mob that worshipped at the altar of the UNP and with fortunes changing offer pooja before the shrine of Mahinda Rajapaksa, solely for personal advancement in search of mercenary merchandise. He would have treated any form of patronage with disdain - he did not care two hoots for position or personality, more..

Sept 18 (LB) The 2012 final year students in Sri Lanka�s state universities will not be graduating until they are 25+. Union actions have prevented them from completing their degree courses which otherwise would have been completed by September this year. As a result, students who are applying to foreign universities for their Master�s Degree will have to stay back a year in Sri Lanka because deadlines for financial aid applications and admissions are more..

Sept 18 (SL) The appointment of Dhammika Perera as the Deputy Director General (DDG) at the Securities and Exchange Commission has failed to halt the flow of negativity associated with Sri Lanka�s stock market regulator. Many veteran investors question the suitability of the new DDG and say that his record in the past does not augur well for the workload of current investigations to be completed. According to our sources more..

Sept 18 (ST) While many political analysts consider the provincial councils which were meant to decentralise power, are in fact white elephants duplicating functions and serving little purpose, it is learnt more than Rs. 60 million would be incurred monthly by the Govt to maintain the 114 members elected on September 8 to the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North-Central Provincial Councils. While the monthly salary of a Minister would be Rs. 63,500, more..

Sept 18 (Island) In an attempt to force UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and his Working Committee, yes men, the Movement to Protect the UNP and its Trade Unions has planned to conduct massive countrywide satyagrahas, with over 25,000 UNP supporters converging in Colombo itself soon, the Movement�s Secretary Lal Perera said. He said that until Wickremesinghe and his cronies in the Working Committee are ousted, the party could never be united. more..

Sept 18 (IL) �Diyatha Uyana� Walking Path and flower shops on the banks of the Diyawanna Oya Waters Edge premises to enhance the beauty of the city of Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte near Battaramulla was declared open for the public recently by Basil Rajapaksa, Senior adviser to the President and Minister of Economic Development and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. more..

Sept 18 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's central bank kept policy rates unchanged on Tuesday, as expected, on expectations that inflation will be contained within single digits due to policies adopted to manage demand, but said price pressures will prevail. The central bank has already raised the key policy rates twice since February, allowed a flexible exchange rate, and limited this year's credit growth to prevent twin deficits in trade and more..

Sept 18 (CT) TNA leader R. Sampanthan asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a civilian as Governor of the Northern and Eastern provinces. TNA leader met the president this morning at the Presidents House to discuss the issues related to Eastern elections. Responding to Smapnathan�s request Rajapaksa asked Sampanthan to attend the Parliamentary Select Committee and raised the matter. more..

Sept 18 (BBC) Thousandsb of people in the Asian island nation of Sri Lanka have been struck by a mysterious and deadly form of kidney disease. A new study points to a likely cause - pesticides and fertilisers. Tucked away in Sri Lanka's North Central Province is the village of Halmillawetiya. A pebbled path connects small houses of brick and mud set among coconut palms and other tropical trees. more..

Sept 18 (DM) Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday that the 2012 A/L examination had contained the lowest number of errors in examination papers in comparison with previous years, contrary to the rumours being circulated by the teacher trade unions. Speaking at a media briefing, Mr. Gunawardena said minor errors had been noted in every examination paper in the past few years. �The errors were not regarded with such grave concern because more..

Sept 18 (AFP) Hosts Sri Lanka open cricket's World Twenty20 against Zimbabwe Tuesday, kicking off the country's biggest ever sports event just three years after the end of a bloody civil war. Mahela Jayawardene's men will take the field in Hambantota, the southeastern home town of President Mahinda Rajapakse, with hopes high they can end a 16-year wait for their second global title in front of their cricket-obsessed fans. The match, at 7:30 pm, starts a three-week cricket fiesta more..

Sept 18 (OI) A man who tried to attempt self-immolation here protesting the proposed visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to India died today, police said. 26-year-old Vijayaraj, an auto driver, died at the Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Hospital, where he was admitted yesterday with 95 per cent burns after he doused himself with petrol and set himself afire. Police said a diary, written in Tamil, was recovered from him, in which he stated that if more..

Sept 18 (PTI) Sivanesaturai Chandrakanthan, former chief minister of eastern province has been appointed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's adviser. Chandrakanthan, who held the eastern chief minister's position was replaced by a Muslim today. The ruling UPFA coalition's Najeeb A Majeed was sworn in as the chief minister ending a week of stalemate over the appointment. This was following all contesting parties more..

Sept 18 (PTI) The attorney representing the Army Major, who was injured in a brawl at a five-star hotel recently, today filed an affidavit before the Fort Magistrate stating that he was not assaulted by Malaka Silva and Rehan Wijeratne and agreeing to settle the issue. The son of Minister Mervyn Silva, Malaka and others surrendered to the Slave Island police yesterday over the alleged assault on the Army Major. more..

Sept 18 (AN) Next month, the Sisters of the Holy Family will celebrate 150 years of mission in Sri Lanka. Their arrival in former Ceylon is thanks to Msgr. Sameria: when he was ordained Bishop of Jaffna, in 1856, he wanted to call the nuns from Europe, because they dedicated themselves to the education of girls in the country. Today, the Sisters of the Holy Family have 41 communities in the Jaffna province alone, and another 54 in more..

Sept 18 (AAP) It's believed about 14 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on Christmas Island have opted to return to their country rather than be sent to Nauru. About 14 Sri Lankan asylum seekers being held on Christmas Island are believed to have asked to be repatriated home rather than be sent to Nauru. Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said if that was true their decision would be welcome. "I would welcome that as an outcome," he said. Both Immigration Minister more..

Sept 18 (PTI) The political uncertainty in Sri Lanka's multi-ethnic Eastern Province over the formation of the govet today ended with the appointment of ruling coalition's Najeeb Abdul Majeed as the chief minister. SLFP's Majeed was sworn in by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, presidential spokesman Wijayananda Herath said. The leader of the main Muslim party, SLMC - Rauff Hakeem was present at the swearing in ceremony, more..

Sept 18 (DM) A suspected spy, passing sensitive defence information to Pakistan's intelligence agency through its High Commission in Colombo, has been arrested in Tamil Nadu, a senior police official said on Monday. "Thameen Ansari, 33 of Tanjavur district is a frequent visitor to Sri Lanka. He was handled by two Sri Lankans. He was asked to pass on pictures of Indian naval installations, nuclear submarine at Vizag and ports like Karaikal. After watching him for more..

Sept 18 (LBO) Sri Lanka's tourism promotion office said it will promote the Indian Ocean Island during a cricket series in a deal struck with the governing body of the popular fast version of the sport watched by millions of fans around the world. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau will be the official tourism partner for ICC World Twenty20 tournament played in Sri Lanka from Sept 18 to October 20, under an agreement signed with the cricket body, more..

Sept 18 (DP) Following the decision of MDMK leader Vai Gopalsamy (Vaiko) to show black-flags to Sri Lankan President Rajapaksha, Madhya Pradesh police have decided to provide the strongest-ever security cover to the guest during the foundation laying ceremony of Buddhist University at Sanchi on September 20. A three-member team of MDMK is already camping more..

Sept 18 (LBO) Stocks closed down 0.98 percent Tuesday. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index dropped 87.45 points to close at 5,542.93 down 1.55 percent and the S&P SL 20 index closed down 1.03 percent at 3,177.73 points up 32.97 points. Today's turnover of 1,843.0 million rupees was dominated by Nation Lanka Finance with 174.1 million rupees, John Keells Holdings with 100.6 million rupees and Citrus Kalpitiya with 92.7 million rupees. Most active counters for more..

Sept 18 (CG) Sri Lanka will look to use the Commonwealth Heads of Govet Meeting (CHOGM) in November next year to showcase the progress achieved by the country to the wider world in the post-conflict era, the External Affairs Ministry said today. The Minister Prof. G.L Peiris made this comment, while addressing a distinguished gathering, following the ceremonial inauguration of the Taskforce Secretariat for CHOGM 2013, more..

Sept 18 (PTI) Alleging continued killing and harassment of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today urged the Supreme Court to expeditiously hear its petition challenging the Centre's 1974 decision to cede Kachatheevu Island to the island nation. "It is therefore just and necessary that the instant writ petition is heard at an early date. more..

Sept 18 (LT) The Organization for Protecting the Employees' Rights and the Assets of Sri Lanka Railways has launched a massive trade union action based on nine demands including filling of about 9000 vacancies that have been created in the Department and suspending contracts given to India for construction of railways. Under this trade union action an agitation will be held opposite Railways headquarters tomorrow (19th) at 1.00 p.m. more..

Sept 18 (LT) All state employees should be given a salary increase of Rs.13442.50 states National Trade Union Center (NTUC). This demand is made in a letter sent to the President by the President of NTUC K.D. Lal Kanthe. In his letter Mr. Lal Kanthe says, �According to budget proposals you put before the Nation after you came to power stated salary increases would be carried out from 2006 January according to the increase in living index. more..

Sept 18 (SM) Colombo additional magistrate today ordered the release of srilankamirror and srilankaxnews journalists, until such time notice is issued on them to appear before the court again. The court was taking up a petition filed against the two news websites, accusing them of publishing articles defamatory of the president and inconveniencing the govt. The additional magistrate also ordered that the computers seized from more..

Sept 18 (CI) A fourth-wicket partnership of 94 between Kumar Sangakkara and Jeevan Mendis allowed Sri Lanka to add 96 runs in the last eight overs to post an imposing total in first match of the World T20. Steady progress in the first half of their innings constructed the platform for Sri Lanka but it was left to the middle order to push forward the advantage. Zimbabwe were overawed by occasion and quality of opposition and it showed. more..

Sept 18 (AD) The Supreme Court has informed that the �Divi Neguma� Draft Bill should receive the approval of all Provincial Councils as it comes within the scope of the Provincial Councils, the Speaker of Parliament said. Therefore steps will be taken to forward the draft bill to the country�s provincial councils in order to obtain approval, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa told Parliament today. The govt is looking to set up a Divi Neguma Department under the bill, which will take over more..

Sept 18 (IL) SLFP's Najeeb Abdul Majeed was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Council before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, this morning . There was uncertainty over the formation of the governing council of the multi-ethnic Eastern Province since the election was held on 08 September. No party was able to command absolute majority in the 37-member council. Therefore the ongoing more..

Sept 18 (SM) Minister Mervyn Silva is now suffering for his attempts to halt animal sacrifices, said chief priest of Sri Badrakali Kovil at Munneswaram in Chilaw. Kalimuttu Sivapakyasundaram said the minister has earned the wrath of the Goddess Kali, and he, along with a close relative, are now in deep trouble. He said the kovil was not a slaughterhouse, where animals are killed at will. The chief priest said the annual sacrifice takes places only after 10 days of more..

Sept 18 (PTI) Key UPA constituent DMK on Tuesday urged the Centre to prevent the proposed visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India later this week, saying Tamils are not prepared to welcome him. DMK chief M Karunanidhi said reports had suggested that under the aegis of the United Nations, India was one of the three countries appointed for a review of human rights (violations) in Sri Lanka and Tamils are keenly watching what stand it would take. more..

Sept 18 (CI) A fourth-wicket partnership of 94 between Kumar Sangakkara and Jeevan Mendis allowed Sri Lanka to add 96 runs in the last eight overs to post an imposing total in first match of the World T20. Steady progress in the first half of their innings constructed the platform for Sri Lanka but it was left to the middle order to push forward the advantage. Zimbabwe were overawed by occasion and quality of opposition and it showed. more..

Sept 19 (NS) One or two quotes would suffice to show in what esteem King Ashoka is held by writers and historians Subhadra Sen Gupta in her �Ashoka The Great and Compassionate King� quote historian A. L. Bashau who has called King Ashoka, �The Greatest and Noblest Ruler India has known and indeed one of the greatest kings of the world. �Gupta herself has this to say, �King Asoka and his Dhamma of virtue, peace and non-violence is more..

Sept 19 (NS) Some Advanced Level question papers are set by professors, some not. The Political Science paper was set by a professor who was once the Head of the Political Science Department in his university. In this year�s paper the candidates were asked who wrote �Das Kapital�. Within brackets was the Sinhala translation, �jaathinge dhanaya� which, when translated back would be �Wealth of Nations�, the classic by Adam Smith. more..

Sept 19 (NS) There is never a moment pedestrians don�t encounter men, women and children in rags following them seeking money. They mourn, lament and �beg� to buy food to survive. Sympathy strikes when we scratch our wallets sometimes to find a coin to offer, at times, a note. Living among the dust and dirt, sleeping on pavements and under bridges, wearing nothing but torn rags, eating out of the garbage bins more..

Sept 19 (CT) The last fortnight has seen several important international visitors to Sri Lanka. These have included a large number of Parliamentarians from Commonwealth countries who attended the meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Colombo. The Sri Lankan govt took this opportunity to present its side of recent history and post-war developments to the visiting dignitaries. Delegations of the Parliamentarians were taken on well organized more..

Sept 19 (CT) Jack Welch, Chairman and CEO of the US giant General Electric or GE from 1981 to 2001, has offered his experiences as a fool-proof survival kit whichanyone � people, companies or nations � could use if they wish to be winners in a hostile competitive world. In his autobiography �Straight from the Gut,� which he published immediately after he left GE in 2001, he has narrated the strategy he adopted to make a turnaround in GE which was heading for bankruptcy at more..

Sept 19 (CT) When Jacqueline Fernandez won the title of Miss Sri Lanka Universe in 2006, Sri Lankans across the island knew she would somehow bring fame and success to our tiny island. Unlike former beauty queens who went on to win titles only to retire in obscurity a few years later, Fernandez, popularly known as Jackie, was driven enough to make it all the way to the glamorous Bollywood industry. more..