Sep 20 (DM) 65% of the candidates contesting the forthcoming Provincial Council Elections have tendered their asset and liability statements, Senior Manager, TISL, Shan Wijetunga said.' As of the initial deadline of Aug 30 given by the Elections Commissioner, only 2% of all candidates had given their statements and since the deadline was extended, it had increased to 30% by Sept 7 and now stands at 65% as of Sept 16. more..

Sep 20 (LBO) One of the worst things this administration has done is double the size of the govt work force. One of the best things the short-lived Ranil Wickremesinghe administration did in 2002-04 was to freeze govt appointments in the face of an economic crisis that saw the economy contracting for the first time since independence. So, I was surprised when, a few years after they lost power, a respected UNP MP challenged more..

Sep 20 (Xinhua) The fate of the minority Tamils will be the main issue in the provincial council elections scheduled in Sri Lanka's Northern Province on Saturday, the first time in 25 years that such an election is taking place in the area. The Commonwealth Secretariat had called it a landmark election because it takes place in areas which were once controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebels, who were defeated in May 2009 after more..

Sep 20 (ST) The import of refrigerators, freezers, domestic and industrial air conditioners, ice plants, paints, perfumes and other items that use the chemical compound hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) is to be phased out from this week as part of an Environment Ministry�s initiative to save the Ozone layer. Minister Susil Premajayantha said that at present the import of greenhouse gas HCFC was regulated more..

Sep 20 (Xinhua) Over 700,000 voters are preparing to elect the provincial council to Sri Lanka's former war torn north for the first time in over 25 years, indicating a pivotal moment in the tropical island's turbulent political landscape. Campaigning has been largely muted but it belies a real interest in the people to define their own future, politically at least. A dozen political parties and 28 independent groups have joined in the fray more..

Sep 20 (Island) The CEB blamed the depreciation of the rupee for the loss of Rs. 25 billion it had incurred on power generation in 2013. Despite billions of rupees earned from cheap hydro power generation, due to the remarkable rainfall this year, the CEB had had to spend Rs. 25 billion more, on generation, this year, due to the depreciation of the rupee and not due to the increase in world market prices of fuel and coal, CEB officials said. more..

Sep 20 (TOI) Despite the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka being seen as responsible for war crimes and mass displacement of Tamils in the north, the ruling party's prospects of winning some seats are bright. There are many who think that Jaffna and surrounding areas risk being neglected again by the govt if Rajapaksa's party, the UPFA, is kept out of the provincial council. Kanagaratnam Sudha, a voter in Jaffna more..

Sep 20 (Reuters) A member of a Sri Lankan election monitoring group was attacked along with nine supporters of an ethnic minority Tamil political party by a group of gunmen who the victims said on Friday were clad in military uniform. Sri Lanka's military denied any involvement in the attack at around midnight on Thursday, at an office of the TNA party outside the northern town of Jaffna. Voters in northern Sri Lanka go to the polls more..

Sep 20 (CT) Recently the world famous author and investment advisor Ruchir Sharma was in Colombo to deliver the 63rd anniversary lecture of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Sharma is the Head of the Emerging Markets Equity Team at Morgan Stanley Investment Management USA, based in New York, and acclaimed author of the best seller �Breakout Nations: In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracle�. He has over US$ 25 billion assets under management. Educated at Mumbai, Delhi more..

Sep 20 (CT) It must have been the last thing the government wanted from their stooges running the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket - to get caught fooling or even worse, get caught cheating the international community. But that is exactly what happened. Poor Rangana Herath, the world's best spin bowler, was sent back from India, humiliated and disgraced for being included in a squad he was not a member of, when it qualified for the Champions League. more..

Sep 20 (CT) �On April 25, talk show host Ranga told us that President Rajapaksa had informed him in front of a witness that Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa was incensed by Ranga�s handling of the abduction issue in his TV talk shows.� 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 more..

Sep 20 (LBO) Stocks rose two percent reversing a three day losing streak which brokers said came from optimism over continued loose US monetary policy, while other Asian markets ran out of steam, and the rupee was stronger against the dollar, dealers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index closed 113.36 points higher at 5,814.10, up 1.99% with 198 stocks making gains against 22 that closed in the red. The S&P SL20 closed 60.68 points higher at 3,218.06, up 1.92%. more..

Sep 20 (DM) Cricket Selection Committee head Sanath Jayasuriya said that he was looking forward to the report into the ongoing inquiry regarding a skit performed at the Sri Lanka Cricket awards ceremony held recently, which he claimed was a deliberate act to vilify him. �I�m awaiting a report into the entire episode,� he said. Earlier the Daily Mirror reported that according to sources, elements within SLC itself had been instrumental in including the skit which had come under fire from more..

Sep 20 (AD) The Supreme Court in a majority decision today issued an interim order staying Minister Maithripala Sirisena�s regulation to display pictorial warnings on cigarette packets. The stay order, sought by the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) to quash the Gazette for pictorial warnings, was initially refused by the Court of Appeals in February this year. The appeal was filed by the CTC against the Health Ministry directive more..

Sep 20 (Island) People of the Northwestern Province have benefited from 1,702 Deyata Kirula mobile services in the Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts, the government says. The problems of 60% people out of 502,937 in the two districts were attended to then and there, the Economic Development Ministry said yesterday. It added that the mobile services conducted as part of the Deyata Kirula development programme 2014 had been completed on September 18. more..

Sep 20 (MoD) Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa made an inspection visit to review the progress of the projects which are under construction in the Colombo Metropolitan area yesterday. During the visit Secretary Defence inspected the construction work at Abdul Gafoor building, President Square, former Auditor General's building, proposed commercial complex at Bastian road and the new project site in Baththaramulla adjacent to the more..

Sep 20 (DM) A Tokyo-based healthcare information infrastructure company has bought Sri Lanka�s E-Channelling PLC, a pioneering internet-based doctor channeling business. A Tokyo Stock exchange listed SMS Company Limited�s fully owned subsidiary Senior Marketing System Asia Private Limited on Wednesday bought 15% (18.3 million shares) of E-Channelling at Rs. 8.47. more..

Sep 20 (Island) The All Ceylon Health Services Union (ACHSU) accused the Health Ministry of deducting the arrears paid to some midwives from their salaries. ACHSU General Secretary Gamini Kumarasinghe said that midwives attached to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, Kandy Teaching Hospital and Castle Street Maternity hospitals were affected. He pointed out that due to the grading system, implemented in 2001, more than 5,000 Grade 1 midwives islandwide were more..

Sep 20 (LT) Unqualified persons having blameworthy histories are to be appointed to several senior posts in the Department of Wildlife say internal sources of the Ministry of Wildlife Resources Conservation. Among to be appointed to senior posts are persons who had functioned in NGOs. The plan to appoint persons to several posts including the legal section of �Wildlife� is due to a conspiracy hatched by a consultant to the Ministry of Wildlife Resources Conservation say sources. more..

Sep 20 (CG) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has denied the claims attributed to Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa regarding the statue of Sri Lanka�s first Prime Minister from Independence Square. Her office said that in the High Commissioner�s statement at the end of her mission to Sri Lanka on 31 August, she mentioned the unfortunate fact that at least three Govt Ministers had joined in more..

Sep 20 (ENS) Muslims and Sinhalese, who are the minorities in Sri Lanka�s Tamil-dominated Northern Province, view with some trepidation the prospect of a TNA victory in the September 21 elections to the NPC. Mowlavi Abdul Samad of Pattaanichur said that Tamil politicians might not help the Muslims, and Tamil officers might not attend to matters relating to the Muslims. �My assessment is based on our experience. We have always had to turn to Muslim leaders like central minister more..

Sep 20 (DN) The Co Chairs of Inter-Religious Alliance for National Unity (IRANU) commenting on a statement that was unanimously approved by religious leaders represented in their association, said yesterday that it is crucial that the public acts with diligence so as not to pave the way for race based separatism in the country when they need to strengthen the hands of those whose eyes are set on the country�s future development. IRANU Co Chairs Ven Galagama Dhammaransi Thera, more..

Sep 20 (DBS) The residence of Ms. Ananthi Sasitharan who is contesting the forthcoming NPC elections on the TNA list under the house symbol was attacked shortly after midnight on Friday September 20th 2013. Ms. Ananthi Sasitharan is the wife of senior LTTE political leader Sinnathurai Sasitharan alias Ezhizhan who reportedly�disappeared� after surrendering to the Armed forces in May 2008. more..

Sep 20 (CI) Three tons for Sri Lanka A on the final day's play, ensured that the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A ended in a stalemate in Pallekele. Kusal Perera had heralded the hosts' second-innings run glut with his unbeaten 62 from 45 on the penultimate evening, and his 147 on day four was followed by hundreds for Ashan Priyanjan and Chaturanga de Silva. Sri Lanka A's rapid scoring rate of 5.59 an over placed them in a position to set the visitors a target of more..

Sep 20 (CT) Although propaganda related to the Provincial Council polls in the North, North-Western and Central Provinces were officially over, as of midnight Wednesday, some candidates are continuing to engage in election propaganda, albeit in different ways. Election monitors said, from yesterday (19), candidates have resorted to sending SMSes to the public, stating their preference number, and requesting that they vote for the said candidate. more..

Sep 20 (PTI) Nine persons were injured in an attack on the home of a key Tamil party's election candidate in Jaffna, and the Sri Lankan Army today refuted allegations that it was behind the incident. The home of TNA leader Ananthi Sasheetharan at Ariyalai in Jaffna was attacked by a group of unidentified armed persons at midnight. The people injured in the attack are being treated at Jaffna hospital. The group damaged vehicles more..

Sep 20 (USE) The U.S. Embassy notes reports of an attack on the residence of an electoral candidate, supporters, and members of a domestic elections monitoring NGO during the evening of Sept 19. The Embassy expresses concern regarding the attack, especially in the lead-up to the PC elections that will take place in Sri Lanka on Sept 21. The attack should be transparently and independently investigated, and the perpetrators involved should be brought to justice swiftly. more..

Sep 20 (CT) Veerasingham Anandasangaree, Leader of the TULF, who is contesting the Provincial Council elections under the TNA ticket, obtained his National Identity Card (NIC) through a mobile service operated by the CaFFE. It is learnt that Anandasangaree, who had lost his NIC over four years ago, had approached the mobile service conducted by CaFFE and handed his application to obtain a new NIC. Anandasangaree had not been able to obtain a new NIC, due to his busy more..

Sep 20 (BBC) A Tamil candidate in this weekend's provincial election in northern Sri Lanka has reportedly been attacked, the day before the polls. It is the first vote in the former stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels, four years since the end of nearly three decades of civil war on the island. As Andrew North reports, genuine reconciliation is still some way off. more..

Sep 20 (CT) The Prisons Department has made arrangements to deploy officers of the Prisons Intelligence Unit in Courts islandwide, to prevent unlawful activities inside Courts, carried out by prisoners with the connivance of the officers. Prisons Commissioner, Chandraratne Pallegama, has received information that friends and relatives of prisoners resort to bribing certain prison officers, to hand over illegal items to the inmates. The Commissioner, further clarifying the issue, more..

Sep 20 (CT) Although the Yarl Devi resumed operations from Omanthai to Kilinochchi with much fanfare last Saturday, the service staff including station masters have not been provided with even the most basic facilities needed for a satisfactory service, S.V. Vithanage, President of the All Ceylon Railway Workers' Union charged. Highlighting the plight of station masters and engine drivers working in the four stations, Pulliyankulam, Mankulam, Murikandy and Kilinochchi, more..

Sep 20 (CI) The two eliminated teams produced similar performances in a dead rubber that ultimately ended in a tame finish in Mohali: poor top-order contributions, shoddy catching, inconsistent ground fielding, and one solid effort with the bat. The primary reason Faisalabad Wolves won, and Kandurata Maroons did not, was that Misbah-ul-Haq batted the distance for his team, while Kumar Sangakkara could not. more..

Sep 20 (AA) Over a quarter of a century has elapsed since Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayawardene and PM Rajiv Gandhi inked the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord in a strife-torn Colombo on July 29, 1987. The accord devolved powers to a Tamil-dominated north-eastern province, while providing for a referendum in the multi-ethnic eastern province to determine whether its people wished to stay together with the Tamil-dominated north. The accord devolved far greater powers, more..

Sep 20 (DM) The Police said they were investigating the attack on TNA candidate Ananthi Sasitharan�s residence at Chullipuram in Jaffna during which several of her supporters and a PAFFREL election monitor were injured. Eight persons who were injured in the attack were admitted to the Jaffna hospital. A van and a motorcycle parked at the residence were also damaged. The candidate and her children were not injured, after her supporters had rushed them out of the residence. more..

Sep 20 (TOI) GL Peiris is Sri Lanka's foreign minister who is concerned about an upcoming report on his country by UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay. Peiris remarked he felt the Tamil-origin Pillay could be biased, why Sri Lanka faces pressure over its war history and present record - and what India can do in these circumstances. Q: The UN high commissioner for human rights has accused Sri Lanka of more..

Sept 21 (NS) Let�s explore a very simple question. Exactly how does the TNA propose to give dignity to the Tamils by living away from them? Do they propose to run �Eelam� by remote control from Colombo? How many trips have the chief ministerial candidate made to Sri Lanka�s North or even East during LTTE reign or even after its demise apart from the recent visits to campaign? Do the TNA even know areas of the North now given a new life and look courtesy of the Sri Lankan more..

Sep 21 (CT) The recent meeting between Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Michele J. Sison, caused a wave of ripples in the top echelons of the government. She had sought an audience with the reverend Sobitha for a specific reason; that is to find out about the proposal to abolish the Executive Presidency, spearheaded by the Ven Thera, with the support of a wide spectrum of social activists, who stand for good governance. more..

Sep 21 (SO) The De Havilland Tiger Moth and the Chipmunk TMK.10 , the two former 'flying beauties', which stood majestically, surprised the group when the instructor said 'they were still flying' "This is the oldest aircraft in Sri Lankan aviation history. It is one of the most famous bi-planes in the world and was developed as a basic pilot trainer during the Second World War", he explained to the group of members of more..

Sept 21 (NS) Although not monolithic and unadulterated as Amarakeerthi suggests, Sri Lanka does have a Sinhala Buddhist culture which is the overriding component of local culture. It does not mean that it is the best culture in the world or there is nothing to be changed in it. It also does not mean that all people will behave like saints. Although the current crisis is not of the making of the Sinhala Buddhist culture, even more unpleasant things may have happened in a culture which more..

Sep 21 (CT) There is widespread disillusionment with the election process, which may lead to low voter turnout. Unacceptably long distances to polling center�s will deter others, since even where buses are being provided these services will be minimal and are not free. The Election Commissioner�s Office is doing its best under difficult circumstances but is handicapped by an outdated system in need of reform, compounded by inadequate funds. Yet, the systematic misuse of state resources, more..