Sep 19 (Island) The NPC to be elected on Sept. 21 would not be given more powers than those already enjoyed by other PCs, the govt said. Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that even if the TNA won the NPC election, the council would not be given more powers than others and all council funds would be overseen by the Finance Commission of the govt. He said the UPFA could easily win the North-Western and Central more..

Sep 19 (DM) With health action groups and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation making plans to mark the Senaka Bibile Commemoration Day later this month, the Health Minister announced over the weekend he had banned the import of medicinal drugs and other items from four Indian companies because they had been supplying sub-standard drugs for the past few years. The biggest offender among these companies has been supplying as many as 84 varieties of sub-standard drugs. more..

Sep 19 (DM) The number of people dying each year in Sri Lanka from diseases related to tobacco use has been estimated to be between 12,000 and 20,000. In addition, substantial numbers of patients are admitted to hospitals with heart diseases, strokes and cancers, conditions in which tobacco is known to be a causative factor. A large number of children are also admitted to hospitals due to illnesses related to second-hand smokeing. Hard-earned money is spent on purchasing more..

Sep 19 (ST) It�s an inconvenient truth�but the increasing number of teenage pregnancies is a troubling concern for both state authorities as well as social workers. Among the reported cases this year, girls as young as 11-years of age have become pregnant, falling victim to abuse and in many cases, incest. On average, 20,000 females below the age of 20 become pregnant each year. Experts in the area say the main reasons more..

Sep 19 (SL) When the UN Human Rights Council voted in two successive years in favour of a resolution on Sri Lanka, they stated that their intentions were to improve accountability, transparency and human rights in Sri Lanka. This was in keeping with their official mandate. The Human Rights Council was established by member countries of the UN (including Sri Lanka) in order to improve the lives of the people of the world. more..

Sep 19 (DM) With the campaigns for three PC elections heating up and the govt busily getting ready for the CHOGM, the Daily Mirror spoke to the UNP to clarify its stance on various issues especially the recent meeting with UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay, elections and intra-party violence, problems faced by the country�s economy and the possibility of a common opposition candidate for next more..

Sep 19 (PI) Bora Bora Resources has received all approvals to proceed with its planned airborne electromagnetic surveys across the Matale Graphite Project and North and South Paragoda Projects in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka hosts some of the world�s highest grade graphite � averaging 90% total graphitic carbon (TGC). The global average grade is 15% TGC. These projects are located 25 kilometres south of more..

Sep 19 (DM) A tense situation prevailed at the final UNP rally in the North-Western provincial election campaign at Waikkal in Wennapuwa last night after a crowd that gathered at the rally had allegedly hooted at Minister Mervyn Silva, whose motorcade was passing the area. MP Rosy Senanayake was addressing the rally which was attended by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe when the VIP motorcade more..

Sep 19 (DN) Panadura Chief Magistrate Ruchera Welliwatte directed the CID to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the death of Saman Werasinghe, a suspect died while in the Wadduwa Police custody on August 14. He was a fish monger and a father-of-two elderly children. Two days after his death the public in Wadduwa held a protest and a picketing campaign against the Wadduwa Police. more..

Sep 19 (AF) On Sep 21, residents of SL�s war-torn Northern Province will vote in the first provincial council elections of the region. The event is significant for the former conflict zone � the hardest-hit province in the country, scarred from 26 years of violent fighting and military rule. On a recent trip to the North, there was little indication of the violent war that was such a palpable part of the region just a few years back. more..

Sep 19 (Hindu) The Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai has urged the Central and the State governments to take immediate steps to secure the speedy release of fishermen from Nagapattinam, Karaikkal, Pudukottai and Ramanathpuram who are languishing in Sri Lankan prisons and also restore their belongings. The Cuddalore chapter of the Peravai met recently at the port area, with its president M. Subbarayan in the chair and more..

Sep 19 (PTI) Nineteen fishermen, who ventured into the sea from Pudukottai district, were today arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they went for fishing in the Palk Strait, officials said. It was not immediately known whether they were fishing in Indian or Lankan waters, Joint Director of Fisheries, Phelomin Thiagarajan, said. The fishermen from Jejadhapattinam in the district had ventured into the sea in five boats. more..

Sep 19 (FMT) Human rights NGO Pusat Komas today slammed Putrajaya for �the utmost form of harassment,� for charging its activist for screening the controversial documentary �No Fire Zone, the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka� on July 3. Its director Tan Jo Hann today said its programme director Lena Hendry � one of the three arrested during the screening of the film � was asked to be in the KL Magistrate�s Court tomorrow (19) more..

Sep 19 (CT) Loud rumblings are once again emanating from the universities across the country, signalling what could well be a mother of all crises that may see more than an indefinite shut down of the higher education institutions. And incidents such as the attack on hostellers by unidentified persons, and highhanded acts by the authorities, could well be the fuel that coalesce the assorted grouses into a powerful platform of resistance. Undergrad hostellers of the Kelaniya University had more..

Sep 19 (CT) We have challenged the UN Human Rights Commissioner about her statement that those who met her have been questioned by the Security Forces? Surely she made her statement on what was told to her by the people themselves? The Government denies it and wants the UN High Commissioner to give concrete evidence. Surely the world knows how journalists have disappeared or have been killed for writing anything which has displeased the powers that be. more..

Sep 19 (CT) �Father Bernard also told us of an EPDP medical doctor named Dr. Sinnathambi, who performs forced abortions, often under the guise of a regular check-up, on Tamil women suspected of being aligned with the LTTE.� the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington. The CT found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as �SECRET� and discuses Sri Lanka�s paramilitary operations. more..

Sep 19 (Island) While the founder of the SLFP and late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike banned even horse races, the current SLFP-led regime had introduced a Casino economy coupled with a gun culture, prostitution, alcoholism and drugs, the UNP said. Senior UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya, addressing a news conference, said that even though the current crop of SLFP leaders praised the late SWRD, they did not follow his policies. Instead, they did everything possible to insult him. more..

Sep 19 (LT) Despite many stating the executive powers of the presidency would be abolished, once they come to power they forget it says the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. Speaking at a ceremony held at the Jayawardene Center in Colombo yesterday to commemorate former President late J.R. Jayawarden, he said, �It was Mr. J.R. Jayawardene who pioneered the presidential system to this country. Everyone who came to the position after him, before they came to power, more..

Sep 19 (CT) The OIC of Malwathuhiripitiya, Chief Inspector Sanath Bandara said Tuesday, if the violent situation that prevailed in Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, was not brought under control by the Police and the Army, there was a possibility of the protesters becoming uncontrollable, as they would have set fire to fuel stations and the shops in the city, and also attacked the police. He added that he was attacked by the protesters more..

Sep 19 (LBO) Future Development: Economics to End Poverty, a blog to create a discussion on global development issues has been launched, led by World Bank economist Shanta Devaranjan in which four Sri Lankans are included. Saman Kelegama, head of Sri Lanka's Institute of Policy Studies; Harsha De Silva, an economist and legislator, Harsha Aturapane, Senior Economist, World Bank and Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, head of Center for Policy Alternatives are among the bloggers. more..

Sep 19 (Island) Pearl is a forgotten �subject� in Sri Lanka, which is known as the �pearl� of the Indian Ocean. This mysterious yet extremely valuable object, produced within the soft tissues of a living shelled mollusc, an oyster, has been a metaphor for something very rare, admirable and valuable. But the island�s pearl industry, once flourished, has come to a sad end, says an expert, Milinda Edirisinghe. "The reasons are manifold for this sad predicament in the local pearl industry. more..

Sep 19 (AD) Taking a swipe at the TNA, a former top LTTE commander charged that the biggest problem with the country�s Tamil leadership is that they have no vision, diplomacy, dignity or sincerity and that it is �the real cause� for the suffering of the Tamil people. �They never work for the people, they work only for their own family. That is why our people our suffering,� Kumaran Pathmanathan, or �KP� as he is more..

Sep 19 (SM) Sri Lanka Mirror website has been subjected to a massive cyber attack last night (17). An unidentified group of personal had tried to attack the Sri Lanka Mirror website 50 to 60 times daily during the last three months. This cyber attack has blocked the readers from entering into our website. However, our technical team has been able to get the English news site back into operation. It is with great pleasure we inform you that even the Sinhala and Tamil news sites in more..

Sep 19 (CG) UNP leader Ranil Wickremasingha says he will never use former LTTE member Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) for his political work. The UNP leader was commenting on KP holding a press briefing in Kilinochchi in support of the govt ahead of Saturday�s provincial elections in the north. �When you take an LTTE leader like this and use him we may face problems later. KP is still wanted in India to be questioned over the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. So when we take people like that more..

Sep 19 (CT) A group of 33 Sri Lankans who have been recruited for jobs in Saudi Arabia through three local foreign employment agencies in June have returned to the country, with harrowing tales of oppression. They had sought the intervention of the SLBFE, only reportedly, to be let down by them. The 33 people from Pottuvil, Akkaraipattu and adjoining remote areas said they left SL for Saudi Arabia as three groups on more..

Sep 19 (LT) The process of the govt using its authority to obtain SLTB buses for its election campaigns is vehemently opposed states All Ceylon Transport Workers Union (ACTWU). The General Secretary of ACTWU Sepala Liyanage states more than 350 SLTB buses have been used to transport people to meetings addressed by the President held in the North, North-West and Central provinces and they have been obtained to pay one and a half the price of tickets or the paltry sum of Rs.8000. more..

Sep 19 (GDI) Mr. M.M. Dayananda Peiris represented the National Museum, Colombo at the First International Asian Art Curators� Forum, co-sponsored by the National Art Museum of China (NAMC) and Guangdong Museum of Art (GDMA), which took place from Sept 11 to 13 in Guangzhou, China. Almost one hundred chief and senior curators of top museums, galleries and art institutions from Asian and Western countries, including international art museums like The Metropolitan Museum more..

Sep 19 (Reuters) Voters in northern Sri Lanka go to the polls on Saturday in a provincial election that threatens to stir up old animosity between the govt and ethnic minority Tamils. Defeat for the govt of President Rajapaksa would be largely symbolic, but victory for the main Tamil party could reignite calls for autonomy. Northern Sri Lanka was the heartland of a Tamil Tiger separatist movement that battled the central govt from 1983 until more..

Sep 19 (SM) Colombo District Court yesterday issued a prohibition order against Sri Lanka Mirror website prohibiting it from publishing web-news articles which could defame a Norwegian Company which has factories in Mirigama Export Processing Zone engaged in coconut husk products. The prohibition order was issued by Colombo Chief District Court Judge after considering a case filed by Mirigama Jiffy Products and imposed the prohibition to be effective until the 2nd of Nov. more..

Sep 19 (AD) Election propaganda activities pertaining to the Provincial Council polls ended from midnight yesterday. Therefore all propaganda activities are prohibited from today until the end of the polling, the Election Secretariat said. Meanwhile it also said that political campaigning offices have to be removed within today. Therefore each political party and independent group can have only one party office in a district while one candidate can also have only one office, the secretariat said. more..

Sep 19 (UN) The forthcoming provincial elections in Sri Lanka are an important opportunity for reconciliation in the country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on all parties to take part in the electoral process in a peaceful manner. In a statement, Mr. Ban described the elections as a way to �foster political reconciliation and to build confidence between Sri Lankans after many years of conflict.� more..

Sep 19 (Island) The govt may resort to gimmicks of all sorts but the Democratic Party (DP) would perform well at the Sept. 21 Provincial Council elections, a senior party official said. DP General Secretary Ananda Manawadu, addressing a press briefing, said that their party would come out with a stunning performance and they were hopeful of forming an administration. He urged the people to vote for the DP in the name of former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka. more..

Sep 19 (TIL) Mystery surrounds the circumstances leading to the death of a woman following a car accident while on holiday in Sri Lanka, a coroner has ruled. Christine Cowdrey was a passenger in a taxi with her husband on November 23, 2010, when the vehicle was involved in a collision with another car. Mrs Cowdrey, of Manor Close, Prestwood, was taken to Monaragala Hospital and immediately taken into theatre but died from her injuries later the same day. But the inquest, held at more..

Sep 19 (DW) The elections for the provincial council in Sri Lanka's Northern Province are set to take place on Sept 21. The principal contest is between the country's main Tamil party, the TNA and the ruling UPFA, which is fielding candidates from the EPDP as well as the SLFP. The vote is regarded by experts as an indicator of the state of the ethnic reconciliation and political progress in the South Asian island nation more..

Sep 19 (CNTV) As a beautiful island country, Sri Lanka looks like a pearl inlaid in the India Ocean. At the same time, the gem-rich country has always been stimulating people�s imaginations. Today, the exploit of gems in Sri Lanka is still following the most primitive way. Facing the lure of great fortune, this country never give up the concept of environmental protection. This is Sri Lanka�s annual gem exhibition in the capital city Colombo. Rubies, sapphires, crystals, tourmalines sparkling. more..

Sep 19 (AD) The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has questioned Sri Lanka�s eligibility to chair the 2013 CHOGM in Colombo in November this year over the dismissal of its Chief Justice. �Sri Lanka has demonstrated complete disregard for the Rule of Law and judicial independence,� Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher, President of the GBA, said at the 2013-2014 Annual Conference of the Association in Ho. �If the Commonwealth is to maintain its credibility, it must live up to the values it proclaims more..

Sep 19 (CG) Commonwealth election monitors say they will look at the entire process leading up to the NPC Elections when compiling their report on Saturday�s polls. Former Vice President of Kenya and head of the Commonwealth election monitoring delegation in Sri Lanka, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka said that the task of the delegation is to consider all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole, and to more..

Sep 19 (CG) The Indian government says it is yet to decide on the level of its participation at the CHOGM in Sri Lanka. Syed Akbaruddin, the spokesman at the Indian External Affairs Ministry said that India will decide on the summit in due course. �Our view has been that we will take a call on this in due course. And this has also been reflected elsewhere including by the organisers. We will take a call well in time and we will also inform you on this,� he said. Tamil political parties in TN have been urging India more..

Sep 19 (SM) Chairman of the Public Performance Board states that there is no necessity to reconsider the permission granted for the screening of "Seetha Man Awa" movie which came to the movie theaters last week. However, pointing out that this movie insults the historical characters of the Hindu Ramayana along with King Ravana, the "Ravana Balakaya" group has filed a petition to the Performance Board requesting to reconsider its decision regarding the permission granted more..

Sep 19 (DW) For 25 years Sri Lankan armed forces fought against militant separatists seeking to create an independent state for the Tamil-speaking minority in the north and the east of the island nation. Only in May 2009 did the central govt in Colombo, led by the ethnic Sinhalese majority, manage to recapture the last area controlled by the LTTE, putting an end to a civil war that had cost the lives of more than 80,000 people, more..