Oct 2 (CT) As the dust settles on three provinces following regional polls � each different, not just in electoral outcome, but also in the delivered political messages � the Northern Province has clearly emerged winner, in the hype and enthusiasm it generated, but more for what it has the potential to become. It is the first Council after a quarter century and considered the answer for the North's clamour for an equal opportunity to be more..

Oct 2 (Island) A devastating financial meltdown and the attendant chaos, inter alia, propelled Barack Obama to power in 2008 because he looked a messiah, as it were, in the eyes of the American public sunk into the depths of despair and despondency. The US economy improved on his watch considerably and his reward came in the form of a second term. But, today, he is troubled by a federal shutdown. With the current fiscal year�s budget expiring on Monday, the Republicans more..

Oct 2 (CT) Every time any individual or group, foreign or local, sounds in any way critical of the Rajapaksa Regime, their local lackeys come storming out of their trenches, bayonets fixed, ready to do battle against �those in the pay of the neo imperialists, �the �rump of the LTTE,� the �Tamil Diaspora� and/or some other anti-Sri Lankan entity that they either invoke or create for the occasion. The reason that these folk incessantly advance for the allegedly evil conduct of these enemies more..

Oct 2 (Island) Sri Lanka is set to take center stage of South Asian development with a host of strategic investment projects taking off. The upcoming CHOGM summit, due to take place in the country in Nov 2013, affords Sri Lanka an opportunity to showcase itself to the world as a confident and vibrant emerging economy, thereby inviting more foreign direct investment. It is important to consider the backdrop against more..

Oct 2 (Island) The TNA having asked for a 2/3 majority from the Northern Province electorate and received more than what they asked for, is now faced with the task of having to fulfil the promises made in its election manifesto. The question for the rest of the Sri Lankan nation is how the TNA�s efforts to fulfil some of the salient features of power sharing in its manifesto, in particular, the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the claim of the Tamil people being entitled to the right of more..

Oct 2 (CT) The Opposition Leader of the Point Pedro PS and the Organizer of the EPDP for Vadamarachchi, Sri Rangeswaran, has urged the govt to vest the powers meant for the NPC without listening to the racial and religious fanatics. He also warned that if the govt fails to do so, the people in the North would engage in protests. He was addressing a meeting where the EPDP NPC member, K. Kamalenthiran, was being felicitated on being elected to the Council. more..

Oct 2 (ST) Women�s rights groups have expressed concern over a new circular by the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare requiring prospective women migrants to provide information on their family background and evidence of adequate childcare arrangements as a condition for leaving for employment overseas. The Colombo-based Women and Media Collective (WMC) said this is an infringement of a woman�s right to more..

Oct 2 (CI) Openers Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne provided substance and impetus to Sri Lanka A's innings once again, this time to happier effect, as the hosts leveled the one-day series with NZ A, in Pallekele. Legbreak bowler Seekkuge Prasanna's 5 for 38 then ensured the visitors would not threaten the target. Kusal struck his second aggressive half-century in as many matches, while Karunaratne followed up a ton from the first ODI with 81 from 105 balls on Tuesday. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Arjun Fernando has taken over as the new CEO/General Manager/Ex-Officio Director of the DFCC Bank from yesterday. He succeeds Nihal Fonseka, whose retirement was announced in January this year. Fernando was previously Deputy Chief Executive and joined DFCC Bank in August last year. Fonseka will continue to serve DFCC as an Advisor to the Board in a non executive capacity for a further period. He served as the CEO/Ex-Officio Director from January 2000. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Standard Chartered�s Group Head, Client Coverage, Sean R. Wallace, is visiting Sri Lanka today. His primary area of expertise focuses on leading the bank�s management who have responsibility for handling its corporate and institutional clients globally. Wallace said of his visit to the island: �I am delighted to be back in Sri Lanka, an important country in the Bank�s Asian franchise. We have a number of long standing and more..

Oct 2 (NZH) If your morning ritual features tea leaves being popped into a pot, then visiting a tea plantation should form part of any journey through Sri Lanka. Surfers and Buddhists may not need to read on - you have your own reasons for visiting an island fast becoming one of the Indian Ocean's tourist treasures. The end of the civil war has helped. A burgeoning market has emerged, now visitors realise their chances of being blown to smithereens are negligible. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Troubled Touchwood Investments (TWOD) share price dipped by 43% yesterday with some linking it to investors losing heart over the resignation of MP Duminda Silva from the Board of Directors. Returning to the league of top losers, TWOD saw 21 million of its shares change hands via 2,395 trades for Rs. 75 million. It hit an intra-day low of Rs. 2.90 before closing at Rs. 3.10, down by 39.2% from Monday. The company formally announced that Duminda Silva has resigned more..

Oct 2 (DN) Sandaru Sathsara Balahewa of Mahinda College, Galle who emerged first in the island in the 2013 Grade Five Scholarship Examination said he worked to a target to be the all island first in the examination. "I was very confident and hopeful of this achievement," he said. Sandaru emerged first in the all island examination scoring an aggregate of 198 marks. He is the youngest of a family of three with two elder sisters. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Sri Lanka has the potential to be developed in to an international arbitration venue and a regional hub with the effective enforcement of the current law which in turn could generate millions of dollars to the country on an annual basis. With countries such as Malaysia and Singapore enjoying the many benefits of the lucrative international legal service industry, Sri Lanka must aim to catch up by creating awareness of the said industry, marketing it both locally and internationally more..

Oct 2 (CT) The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), said approximately 800 cyber related crimes were reported in the last nine months alone. Spokesperson of SLCERT, Roshan Chandragupta, said 90% of the reported cyber crimes are related to Facebook and the most serious type of crimes reported are in connection with internet banking. He said, organized groups acquire account details and PIN (Personal Identification Number) of individuals by pretending to be more..

Oct 2 (CT) Sri Lanka has been placed 36th in the global index for the Best Countries for Older People, while Sweden is in the number one slot. Afghanistan is the worst country, a study reveals. "The survey shows that history counts," the Director of the HelpAge International said. "The top-ranked countries are what you would expect, but Scandinavian countries were not wealthy when they (introduced) universal pensions," more..

Oct 2 (SoS) Since Sri Lanka's civil war ended in May 2009, SOS Children has been caring for children left alone in the chaos of conflict. At the end of August, the first children moved into our new Village in the capital Jaffna. In May 2009, jubilation filled Sri Lanka's streets following the end of over two-and-a-half decades of civil war. But although the fighting was finally over, the war had changed many lives irreparably. In the final months of the conflict, heavy fighting in the hard-hit north left hundreds of more..

Oct 2 (Hinddu) The Madras High Court on Tuesday said the general secretary of Thamizh Thesiya Viduthalai Iyakkam, K.Thiagarajan, could choose either Chepauk or Valluvar Kottam to go on a fast in support of his demands, which included expelling Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth. Justice K.K.Sasidharan agreed with the city police�s contention that if the fast is permitted on the Marina, as sought for by Mr.Thiagarajan, it would cause traffic problems. The beach attracted several more..

Oct 2 (Island) The Kelaniya University administration yesterday maintained that there was no reason for students to refuse accommodation at Polhena male hostel as nearly 100 students were safely lodging there. Students Affairs Director Dr. Anura Karunaratne said that some undergraduates had refused to return to the hostel, claiming that there was no security there, following a recent attack by a group of thugs. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Attorney General (AG), Palitha Fernando, decided to offer conditional pardon to two suspects implicated in the murder of businessman Mohamed Shiyam. Accordingly, Krishantha Koralage and Mohammed Fawzdeen were given conditional pardon, with the stipulation they reveal all the details relating to Shiyam's murder. Colombo Additional Magistrate ordered the Superintendant of Prisons to produce the two suspects before Court to inform them about the AG's decision. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Proving doom and gloom casters wrong, foreign portfolio investment into listed companies via the Colombo stock market yesterday crossed the Rs. 20 billion mark year-to-date, though sentiments of locals remain indifferent. The CSE saw a fresh net infusion of Rs. 390 million of foreign investments, bringing the total year-to-date to Rs. 20.3 billion. The healthy inflows are on top of record Rs. 39 billion enjoyed last year. Robust and persistent inflows of Rs. 59 billion (between 2012 and 1 Oct 2013) more..

Oct 2 (DM) Ananda Palitha, the secretary of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) chapter of the JSS alleged that a consignment of 15,000 tonnes of substandard petrol (90 octane) had been imported and was scheduled to be pumped to the Muturajawela Oil Storage facility on Sunday. He said the imported 90 octane petrol was not up to Sri Lanka�s quality requirements and had failed two testscarried out by the CPC. more..

Oct 2 (DM) Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told the political party representatives he would have a separate police team at future election times to carry out his orders to uphold the election law. He gave this assurance when he met representatives of political parties which contested the Sept 21 elections. JVP representative Sunil Watagala who attended the meeting said the Commissioner spoke of having police personnel under his purview during elections. more..

Oct 2 (CT) The Supreme Court yesterday refused to grant leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights application filed challenging the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Padmapriya Siriwardena of Negombo, filed the application, citing the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament and the Minister of Local Govt and Provincial Councils as respondents. When the application was taken up before the Court, Counsel Sam Samarasinghe, supporting the application submitted more..

Oct 2 (CT) While the battle to select ministers of the NPC continues, the two Chief Ministers and other ministers of the NWPC and the CPC will be sworn in tomorrow morning before the governors of the two provinces, govt sources said. Accordingly, Dayasiri Jayasekara will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the NWPC and the former Chief Minister, Sarath Ekanayake, will be sworn in for another term by CP Governor, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Teachers have threatened to abstain from marking the GCE A/L papers from tomorrow onwards, if the Education Ministry fails to make their advance payments. The Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) queried why an advance had not been given to the teachers involved in marking GCE A/L papers. Teachers who were involved in evaluations at Nalanda College, Colombo, launched a one-day token strike yesterday, demanding they be paid the advance. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Bharti Airtel Lanka, a leading telecommunications company in SL, announced that the company pledged its support as a Principal Sponsor of the Commonwealth Business Forum 2013, which is scheduled to take place from 12-14 Nov in Colombo. CHOGM 2013 summit will be a landmark event for Asia as it is hosted by an Asian country for the first time in 24 years. It is jointly organised by the Govt of Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth Business Council. more..

Oct 2 (Island) The influential UNP trade union organisation has thrown its weight behind UNP MP Sajith Premadasa�s push for immediate change of the party leadership. Petroleum sector trade unionist Ananda Palitha said that the trade union group had resolved to back far reaching reforms in the wake of the UNP�s latest electoral defeat in the PC elections. He said: "Having examined the ground situation, more..

Oct 2 (DM) Hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan fisherfolk are in dire straits because of the illegal, unregulated and unreported poaching by Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait. According to media reports, the poaching scandal has become a multi-million-dollar industry for the Tamil Nadu state, which exports prawn, tuna, shrimp and other fish robbed from Sri Lanka to European Union and other countries. Worse still, more than 30% of the small fish caught by the Indian poachers through more..

Oct 2 (DM) During the hustle and bustle of the Colombo International Book Fair last Saturday, two works by prominent poet Buddhadasa Galappaththi were launched. The event was highlighted by two lectures on the intricate art of writing newspaper columns in Sri Lanka. The first lecture, delivered by Thilakaratne Kuruvitabandara, was titled �The art of Sri Lankan newspaper column writing.� The invitation described him as �journalist� (madhyavedi) whereas, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge more..

Oct 2 (SL) �Democracy works in Sri Lanka� is the message one gets from the TNA electoral victory, even with complaints of violation of election laws and other harassments. Nevertheless, TNA must be thankful to President Rajapaksa for the opportunity afforded to show their real strength. This election result opens a new difficult path to reconciliation. The reconciliatory process goes hand in glove with emerged political realities. more..

Oct 2 (ST) A senior US Embassy officer said that Sri Lankans applying for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery (Green Card) should be aware of scams involving persons or companies that claim affiliation with the US Govt, or those who promise they can help you, for a fee, to improve your chances. �The online application is completely free. You cannot improve your chances of winning the lottery by paying anyone,� said Consular more..

Oct 2 (LR) Abissheka Lloydson was crowned Miss Teen Canada Globe 2013/14 recently in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The 17-year-old honour student of Bro. Andre Catholic High School in Markham boasts many talents ranging from modeling, Carnatic singing to sports. From the tender age of three she had vocal training from Smt. Kulanayaki Vivekanthan and violin from Smt. Thana Devi Midradeva. more..

Oct 2 (Island) The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) has welcomed the TNA�s readiness to work together with the govt within the framework of the unitary state and the 13th Amendment of the present Constitution. Having met on September 27, to discuss the result of the recent provincial council polls, the LSSP politburo welcomed the TNA stand that it desired to strengthen the provisions of the 13th Amendment through discussion. more..

Oct 2 (GDI) President Rajapaksa returned to the country today after a successful visit to New York during which he addressed the 68th session of the UN General Assembly held in New York. The President�s address to the 68th General Assembly is considered as a historical speech in which he emphasized that illegal interference by Western nations in the affairs of developing countries should be ceased and the western nations should more..

Oct 2 (Island) While over 6,000 depositors of Central Investment and Finance Limited (CIFL) were unable to withdraw their money, the Central Bank (CB) kept claiming that no financial institution had collapsed on its watch. UNP MP Harsha de Silva said that the CB should stop looking for imaginary "politically motivated economic hit men who are trying to frighten the public" and find practical solutions for the tens of thousands more..

Oct 2 (Island) Any foreigner who visits Sri Lanka on a residence visa will be required to undergo a medical exam as some visitors who arrive in the country are found to be suffering from various infectious diseases. A Cabinet paper submitted by Minister Maithripala Sirisena to introduce a new National Migration Policy has been approved. The new requirements will come into effect once the new legislation is approved by Parliament. more..

Oct 2 (IL) The G-15 foreign ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly last week (27), renewed their commitment for enhanced engagement and cooperation among themselves, as well as with the relevant Geneva-based institutions. Their primary focus was on newly emerging areas of cooperation in step with the evolving post-2015 development agenda, and they agreed to expand cooperation in four new more..

Oct 2 (DM) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesighe will meet UNP MPs Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa at the Dhammakithyarama Kollupitiya (Polwatte temple) for a meeting facilitated by Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera. The meeting to be held on Friday will decide on the party�s future and help iron out differences. Several Buddhist monks attached to the UBF are also expected to participate more..

Oct 2 (CG) The US State Department says the US backs the oral report and comments made on Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at the UNHRC which concluded last week. In a note on the key decisions taken by the US at the session, the US State Department spokesperson�s office said that on Sri Lanka the US welcomed the report by High Commissioner Pillay and echoed more..