Aug 25 (CT) We ordinary filmgoers are often baffled by the multi-varied kinds and venues of film awards other than the Oscars and Cannes destinations. It appears that almost any film maker in humble Sri Lanka can find a berth at least (leave alone an award) to present his/her product at global level in some sort of festival and come home happy for all the massive effort. We are now being educated about Montreal Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Pusan International Film Festival, more..

Aug 25 (DM) UNP Working Committee will meet soon to decide on who should be appointed as the party�s Deputy Leader of the Party; UNP MP Gayantha Karunatilleke said. A date has not been fixed yet because the members are busy with the election campaign in the Uva Province. Referring to a request by UNP�s CM candidate Harin Fernando that everyone in the party should back him at the election, Mr. Karunatilleke said more..

Aug 25 (CI) Pakistan batsman Younis Khan will leave the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka to return to Karachi because of the death of his nephew. The PCB is not going to send a replacement for the final two ODIs. Younis was making his comeback to the ODI format after a break of more than a year, in his bid to stake a claim for the 2015 World Cup. Before the first match in Sri Lanka, Younis' last ODI for Pakistan was in March 2013. "I am deeply saddened at the passing away of your nephew. more..

Aug 25 (AM) Sadeva and Avendra Dharmadasa, two sons of Managing Director of Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) Arjun Dharmadasa � died in a fatal road accident near the Kosgama Miriswatta railway station. Two brothers were on the way home after a birthday celebration in Ahaliyagoda and their jeep had collided head-on with a private bus around 3.30 am on Aug 23. The driver of the bus has been taken into police custody in connection with the accident. more..

Aug 25 (CT) The CPC's Sapugaskanda oil refinery is facing imminent closure with the boiler system, the main distillation column and the network of pipelines in absolute dilapidation. The installation is also has looming safety threats, a frontline CPC union leader charged. "This is a very serious situation which is prevailing at the CPC refinery at Sapugaskanda where four key profit making units have been closed down. more..

Aug 25 (Island) Inclement weather and natural disasters have killed two persons and displaced 1.8 million in seven provinces. Deputy Director of the DMC said that 1,882,824 persons of seven provinces had been affected by drought prevailing in Moneragala, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Hambantota, Vauniya, Mulaithivu. Mannar, Kilinochchi and Jaffna Districts. He said that one person had been drowned in Tangalle, while more..

Aug 25 (Island) A deputy director of the Health Ministry said high ranking public officers serving at that institution were in an embarrassing situation, unable to face the public due to virulent attacks made by the Minister Maithripala Sirisena on them. The bigwigs at the Health Ministry expressed their displeasure at Sirisena telling the media that though there were many directors general and deputy directors general, no one attended a function held at Galle recently. more..

Aug 25 (ST) The final day of Defence Seminar -2014 coincided with the 70th birth anniversary of former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by the LTTE in Sriperumbudur in South India in May 1991. It was not a date that many remembered until Dr. Subramanian Swamy, a senior member of the ruling BJP who spoke during the concluding session of the three-day seminar, reminded the delegates it would have been more..

Aug 25 (Island) The latest fund raising project, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge which went viral on social media has been compared to a pyramid scam by UNP MP Buddika Pathirana. He said that he would explain the matter further today. Meanwhile, UPFA WPC member Malsha Kumaratunga said that Ice Bucket Challenge couldn�t be compared to a pyramid scam as they were totally different. "This is for a worthy cause and we don�t expect any profits." more..

Aug 25 (LT) A communique issued by the JVP states a band of thugs of the UPFA has set fire to 14 election offices of the JVP and pasted posters of the UPFA candidate Shasheendra Rajapaksa. The communique states: �We express our disgust and condemnation regarding the attacks carried out by the govt that is at the threshold of an election defeat. During the past 48 hours 14 legally put up election offices of the JVP candidates for the Uva PC election have been attacked by thugs. more..

Aug 25 (AD) The suspect who was arrested after he stabbed to death a man and wounded two other persons near the Hulftsdorp Court Complex this morning, is the father of a girl who was allegedly raped by one of the victims. A dispute between two parties who had arrived for the hearing of a court case had led to the stabbing of a man, his son and daughter. The father had succumbed to injuries while the brother-sister duo was admitted to more..

Aug 25 (Island) The NFF urged the Elections Commissioner to take action against UNP supporters for disrupting one of its election meetings. NFF Convener, Piyasiri Wijenayake said that the UNP�s action showed how bankrupt the once powerful party had become over the years. He said UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe before pontificating to others about the virtues of democracy, good governance and non-violence should put his own house in order. more..

Aug 25 (AD) There is a huge increase in Chinese tourists into Sri Lanka and very soon the country with the most number of tourists to Sri Lanka would be China, said chairman of the Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators� Association Mahendra Kariyawasam. He said the govt has taken steps to obtain the services of 20 Chinese interpreters with the tour guides in Sri Lanka due to the increase of Chinese tourist arrivals. �These Chinese interpreters will begin work in a few days. more..

Aug 25 (DM) Former CJ Shirani Bandaranyake today allowed a panel of computer experts to inspect her accounts at the NDB on September 3, 4 and 5 between 2.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya made this order when defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty informed the Magistrate that computer experts were in a position to inspect the computer data on the mentioned dates. more..

Aug 25 (HN) Owner of the controversial Bambalapitiya beauty parlor where a female doctor died of an anti-aging jab, Dr. Nimal Gamage has been allegedly evading income tax. This was revealed when police gave evidence before Colombo Additional magistrate Augusta Atapattu today. At the same time, it was revealed that the particular anti-aging injection was given to the deceased by a female assistant who has no qualification at all to give injections. more..

Aug 25 (AM) The Trial-at-bar of Colombo High Court today fixed for trial to be heard from Oct 14 the on the case filed against six accused including former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Gunawardena in connection with the murder of businessman Mohammed Shiyam. However, defence counsel of this case filing objections maintained that the court had no jurisdictional power to hear the case since the accused had been arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act more..

Aug 25 (DM) The special commodity levy on imported big onions and potatoes had been increased with effect from Aug 23, the Finance Ministry said today. Accordingly the levy for imported big onions was increased from Rs.25 to Rs.35 a kilo while the levy on imported potatoes was increased from Rs.15 to Rs.25 a kilo. It said the import levy was increased to safeguard the local farmers. This is the second occasion, where the ministry more..

Aug 25 (SCO) A SUTTON Coldfield war hero was given a special opportunity to remember a momentous occasion from his time spent fighting in World War Two. To mark the 69th VJ-Day anniversary (Victory over Japan Day), Les Wills was treated to a trip back to Asia to visit the place where he was based for a short while in 1944. The 87-year-old travelled to Sri Lanka with his 58-year-old daughter Elaine, who also lives in Sutton Coldfield, courtesy of the Heroes Return programme more..

Aug 25 (AM) Commander, SFHQ-J Major General Udaya Perera said that the Tamil Diaspora is "wreaking havoc" in Jaffna as a way of gaining petty advantages and ensuring heir survival in foreign countries. Udaya Perera told that the responsible parties for the uneasiness in Jaffna are none other than Tamil Diaspora groups who have taken asylum in other countries and that they continue to hemorrhage funds through certain extremist political parties in Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 25 (PTI) IFC, the investment arm of World Bank, will invest USD 20 million in Sri Lanka's Cargills Foods Company to help the company expand operations and create more jobs for farmers. It is the retail subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC. "The investment will help the company expand operations, reach more farmers, and improve efficiency of its supply chains," IFC said. IFC's investment for an 8% equity stake more..

Aug 25 (DM) Sri Lanka women�s rugby sevens team avenged their first round defeat to Thailand as they won the Plate Championship at the Hong Kong sevens series with a 19-14 win. At full time it was dead locked at 14 all with the winner to be decided in extra time on golden point rule and Anusha Aththanayaka made a lung bursting 80 meter run brushing off two Thailand players on her way to score under the posts to the utter jubilation of the Sri Lankan camp. more..

Aug 25 (AD) Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People�s Bank of China entered into a Bilateral Investment Agreement on Bond Investment on the 25th August 2014, which enables the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to further diversify its reserves management activities into Chinese Renminbi denominated assets. As a result, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka could now access one of the largest and growing securities markets in the world, while also enhancing the cooperation between more..

Aug 25 (CG) The Sri Lankan Govt says sections of the Tamil Diaspora in the USA are carrying out vicious campaigns against Sri Lanka and so there was a need to provide an accurate account of the Sri Lankan political and economic environment to the US. The Central Bank said this in a statement today released to counter allegations raised over the campaign carried out in the US by the SL Govt through US lobby firms. more..

Aug 26 (CT) The US Govt has repeatedly alleged, without basis, that Sri Lankan forces had killed more than 40,000 civilians during the last phase of the war against the LTTE. They do not possess any video to establish their claim. If such a massacre took place, there should be mass graves spread everywhere in Mullaitivu. They have not disclosed any location or satellite photographs of such mass graves. If they possessed such evidence, they would have disclosed it by now. more..

Aug 26 (CT) How many sendoffs in the world of cricket have their scripts so perfectly written? Starting from the era of Bradman it would be very difficult to recall a great bowing out with all the fanfare for something special achieved by the respective player. May be Muralitharan and Tendulkar were exceptions though I can't think of any other. However, the case of Mahela was a total exception to the rule. He was not only part of a winning team in Galle but in Colombo too. more..

Aug 26 (SO) Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, is an international terrorism expert and Head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, which is one of the largest counter-terrorism research and training centres in the world. Prof. Gunaratna in a special lecture delivered under the title, "India under Modi: A turning point in Indo-Lanka relations" more..

Aug 26 (NS) There are parties and there are coalitions. We�ve seen both rise and fall, falter and prosper. There are party candidates and there are common candidates. We�ve seen both types and both have tasted success and failure. Common fronts were not uncommon in the period before J R Jayewardene came up with the Second Republican Constitution in 1978 with proportional representation, executive presidency and a lot of other things that are part and parcel of what�s more..

Aug 26 (CT) A university in Sri Lanka under the Universities Act of 1978 is governed by both internal and external members. The internal members are specified leaders in the university (such as the VC, Deans, Senate Reps, etc.). The UGC then nominates an equal number of external members, with one additional member to ensure probity in decision making. In practice however the govt in power supplies this list to the UGC and the UGC rubber stamps these political appointments. more..

Aug 26 (NS) Popular terms such as �accountability� and �transparency� are at times used with reference to NGOs by unscrupulous persons both within and outside the Govt, to promote their own agendas, the Friday Forum accused. �We must remember that NGOs are voluntary associations of people for purposes that they define for themselves.� �NGOs are accountable like private persons only if they break the law of the land.� more..

Aug 26 (NS) �Buddhaghosa�s role, as well as that of Mahanama, the author of the Mahavamsa, was to translate the available material into Pali. As the Tika states, the Mahavamsa was a faithful rendering of the original Sinhalese source-material with the only change that it was put into Pali verse. Compared with the previous clumsy attempt at versification in the Dipavarnsa, the Mahavamsa stands out as a work of considerable poetic achievement though it falls short of the elegant poetry of more..

Aug 26 (ST) Despite the comforting assurances dished out liberally like holy ash by the new Indian Guru in town Subramanian Swamy to Lanka�s guardian deities of the divine benevolence radiating from India�s Prime Minister Modi as he tenderly casts his grace upon Lankan soil and the radical change of heart India now has toward their neighbouring isle, the Lankan Government should view with caution and take with a pinch of salt the rosy picture of bonhomie painted by more..

Aug 26 (CT) Sometimes those who are elected by the people forget their basic obligations. When you take things personally, you may not think about the public service. Most politicians face two major challenges. 1. Winning the election, 2. Keeping the promises given in the election manifesto. CM of the Northern Province is struggling with the second challenge due to his personal attitude and the influence of TNA politicians. more..

Aug 26 (CT) The reports coming from global financial markets are not good for banks at all. Banking regulators have renewed their war against whom they perceive as errant banks. The law enforcement agencies in their respective countries too have joined them as allies in this onslaught. This time it is not small banks which they have captured in their nets. It is big banks they have netted proclaiming �no bank is too big to jail�, the alternative version of the popular more..

Aug 26 (SL) The role of NGOs, which are a part of civil society, has now become a major national issue. There are media headlines and editorials on the allegedly anti national impact of their work. They are being condemned for working hand in glove with the international community to investigate the last phase of the war. The latest critique of them has come through the comment of Ministry of Finance Secretary Dr P B Jayasundera. Usually it is his comments on the economy that more..

Aug 26 (CT) JVP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake in an interview, giving reasons for the exit of former JVP firebrand Wimal Weerawansa from the party said, "In Weerawansa's case, he gave party internal information to the enemy, and did not maintain the minimal discipline needed by a party stalwart and disregarded party decisions. Therefore, we had to take disciplinary action against him and he left the party". more..

Aug 26 (CT) Despite operating in a challenging environment, Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC continued to post revenue growth with 14% for the second quarter of 2014, as taxes continued to erode the bottomline. Singer (Sri Lanka) notched a 14% increase in Group revenue in the second quarter of the 2014 financial year, compared to the same period of the previous financial year. This follows an 8% increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2014. Revenue crossed the Rs 14 billion mark more..

Aug 26 (Island) This is a very troubled period for civil society. The free space for activism that is outside of the govt sphere has shrunk due to the policy of centralization adopted by the govt. Institutions of the state that are meant to be relatively independent of the govt have come under political control. This has had the effect of weakening the system of checks and balances that ensures good governance. It is not surprising that NGOs, which are part of that larger system of governance, and more..

Aug 26 (FT) Today Sri Lanka is a well-known for tourism, garments and cricket, but what first helped spread its name across the world was Ceylon Tea. Although the nation is a proud owner of this product which is simply unbeatable in terms of taste and quality, it is yet to establish and own a space in the global industry. This is not a recent issue but one that Sri Lanka has been trying to address for a couple of decades. more..

Aug 26 (Island) Readers may recall that a group of villagers and Wildlife officials succeeded in thwarting an attempt by a gang to remove a baby jumbo from the Udawalawe National Park last May. They intercepted a tractor used for that purpose. The suspects fled in their luxury vehicles never to be caught. The intrepid residents of Udawalawe and Wildlife officials who swung into action deserve praise for saving the baby jumbo which is now in a transit home in the area. more..

Aug 26 (PTI) Facing growth headwinds following regulatory tightening, leading pure-play gold financier Muthoot Finance today announced branching out to neighbouring Sri Lanka by acquiring a 30 per cent stake in Asia Asset Finance for $2.1 million. The south-India based company acquired 1,67,785,600 shares in the Sri Lankan financial service firm, which is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, from Asia Capital, a major shareholder in the company. more..