Dec 9 (FT) Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that President Rajapaksa did not misuse his powers as an executive president and had instead made use of these powers to stand firm against international pressure during the war. He said this at a ceremony held recently where water lines were laid at Mirigama, Weweldeniya. �Today, we are commencing six water supply schemes to supply potable water to ten thousand people in more..

Dec 9 (Island) Despite reduction in fuel prices twice this year, National Transport Commission (NTC) said that it had not, at present, thought of slashing bus fares in the country. NTC Chairman Renuka Perera said that the commission had not yet discussed any possible bus fare reduction. He, however, noted that if the govt reduced bus fares at the moment, the Opposition would consider it as an election gimmick. more..

Dec 9 (DM) Hirunika Premachandra, Western Provincial Councillor and daughter of slain politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra joined the common opposition to support Maithripala Sirisena. She said that her decision to support Mr. Sirisena was made of her own accord. Ms. Premachandra who was elected from Kolonnawa with a massive 139,034 votes said it was difficult for her to stay in the same party with more..

Dec 9 (Island) The National Project for the Prevention of Kidney Disease (NPPKD) Director Dr. Channa Jayasumana alleged that though President Rajapaksa had ordered the payment of Rs.3000 for each patient suffering from kidney failure, not a single patient had been paid the promised sum. President had, in his budget speech, mentioned that instead of Rs.1,500 all patients suffering from kidney failure would be given Rs.3,000. more..

Dec 9 (AM) Derana TV has removed its Director (News) Shehan Baranage following the incident where UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake allegedly gave a telephone call to Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage during a political programme. Baranage has been removed from operations by the management of Derana on the grounds that Ramanayake gave this telephone call with the knowledge of the Director. more..

Dec 9 (ST) Two separate teams from the Vatican this week visited Sri Lanka to assess the security situation ahead of Pope Francis� proposed visit next month. One of the teams yesterday visited Galle Face Green in Colombo where the main Holy Mass of Pope Francis is due to take place and the Bolawalana church in Negombo which is also due to be visited by the Pope. Team was accompanied by Defence Secretary more..

Dec 9 (CI) Sri Lanka offspinner Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson have been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket by the ICC. Senanayake, who was reported for a suspect action during Sri Lanka's tour of England, was suspended from bowling in July 2014. After having his bowling action remodelled, he was re-tested officially at an ICC-accredited facility in Chennai last month. more..

Dec 9 (CT) Jan 8, 2009: a blood-drenched, day in the media and human rights history of Sri Lanka. A day when tyrannical rulers drunk with power decided they must kill the messenger and let loose their murderous assassins on an unarmed journalist. On that day, my father�s vision for justice and equality ended. The death knell of democracy rang loud and clear. Jan 8, 2015: a day when those very persons responsible for Lasantha�s death are asking that a grateful and amnesiatic people re-elect them more..

Dec 9 (PTI) Sri Lankan Naval personnel on Tuesday allegedly fired in the air and damaged more than 20 fishing nets to chase away Indian fishermen fishing near Katchatheevu and other areas. Sri Lankan naval personnel came in more than six boats and also allegedly hurled bottles at the fishermen�s boats, Rameswaram Fishermen Organisation president S. Emerit said. The fishermen were fishing near Katchatheevu, Talaimannar and Nenduntheevu, Mr. Emerit said. more..

Dec 9 (CT) Noise pollution is a killer that affects our lives, day in and day out whether we like it or not. That is despite their being regulations gazetted to control the hazard. Unfortunately we do not have a law that prevents or limits noise pollution in the country, though some action has been taken to formulate such a law as long ago as 2005. Currently the provision in Police Ordinance is used to prevent people making loud noises using loudspeakers and amplifiers at musical programmes more..

Dec 9 (Island) A large consignment of Kerala ganja weighing 142 kilos and five suspects were taken into custody by the officers of the Valvetithurai police station in the early hours of yesterday along with a boat that had arrived from India. Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the police had been informed of the smuggling attempt by the military intelligence acting on which they had detected a single man beaching a boat there with the consignment. more..

Dec 9 (CT) �Maithripala Sirisena, 53, is the new Minister of River Basin Development and Rajarata Development. He first entered Parliament in 1989. He holds a diploma in agriculture and is currently the secretary of the SLFP. Sirisena was the deputy minister of irrigation in the previous PA govt and served as minister of Mahaweli development. As a rustic-style politician, he is popular in rural areas of the country. more..

Dec 9 (Island) Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is to institute legal action against the Colombo Municipal Council today for its failure to remove election cutouts and propaganda material of the UPFA�s Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa found all over Colombo in contravention of polls laws. President of the BASL Upul Jayasuriya said it would move the court today on the grounds that the Colombo Mayor and Municipal Commissioner had failed to implement the Councils laws, more..

Dec 9 (AM) Common candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena said that he did not shake the hand of President Rajapaksa after nominations were handed over. Sirisena said that President Rajapaksa attempted to extend his hand towards him, but he did not want to stain his clean hands by taking it. Therefore, he kept his hands together in a greeting in a true Sinhala Buddhist style. He had the guts and the temperament of a lion to stay steadfast to his decision of not shaking the hand more..

Dec 9 (AM) UPFA Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra had been asked to return her official vehicle while she was returning home from the press conference yesterday -where she extended her support to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. At the same time, the special police security , which was given to her after father's sudden demise, was also withdrawn with immediate effect. No explanation was given as to why more..

Dec 9 (PTI) MDMK General Secretary Vaiko called on European Union Ambassador Joao Cravinho and other representatives of the EU member countries here and sought their support for the "need for a referendum" among Tamils in Sri Lanka. Vaiko called on Cravinho who is heading a delegation of ambassadors representing various EU member countries currently on a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He discussed a host of issues including the plight of Tamils in SL more..

Dec 9 (Island) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India has, after a delay of six months, finally submitted its proposals for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to Central Environmental Authority (CEA) for the setting up of Sri Lanka�s second coal-powered power plant. CEB Chairman W.B. Ganegala confirmed that CEB and NTPC had now forwarded their recommendations. He said everything possible would be done to expedite the project and he was in touch with the Indians. more..

Dec 9 (IANS) Sri Lanka has changed its attitude towards Indian fishermen straying into its territorial waters, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said. "Sri Lanka's attitude has changed, and this has also led to a change in our tone and tenor in dealing with them," she said in response to a calling attention motion on the issue. The matter was raised by members of the AIADMK. Minister said Indian govt had appealed at the highest levels more..

Dec 9 (AM) Minister Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday that there were more people from the opposition to defect to the govt�s side but the names cannot be revealed. He added that Chandrika Kumaratunga�s conspiracy to topple the government is ending up in a naught. He said that a General Secretary�s defection has been cancelled by the other General Secretary. Similarly, the only parliamentarian of Sarath Fonseka�s party had also defected. There will be more to come. more..

Dec 9 (AM) UNP Parliamentarian and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga categorically stated that he would not cross over to the government at any cost. Amaratunga said such claims were frivolous and he had no intension to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa. �The people who spread such stories are the ones who want to break the opposition. That is all I can say about the matter�, Amaratunga, who is one of the most senior parliamentarians in the opposition, said. more..

Dec 9 (AM) Ravaya editor K.W. Janaranjana said that he had been called to the CID and questioned for two and a half hours over a news report. The concerned news item was the lead of the Ravaya on Nov 30, with the title �Maithri 59%, Mahinda 41%, Intelligence Chief Out.� News item was on a report which had reportedly been compiled by the State Investigation Service Chief predicting a victory for the common candidate of opposition, more..

Dec 9 (AM) Staff members of Nawaloka Hospital stunned this evening (8) when they saw a familiar person who walked through the entrance of the hospital. He was one of the nineteen candidates who handed over nomination papers at the Elections Secretariat this morning to contest the presidential election and one of the two front-runners in the electoral race. The man who walked through the entrance of the private hospital this evening was Maithripala Sirisena, arguably more..

Dec 9 (AM) Asian Mirror reliably learns that Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has decided to express his support to the three main proposals of the opposition - abolition of the Executive Presidency, changing the electoral system and devising a new constitution. However, it is still a question whether he would leave the govt and overtly support Maithripala Sirisena, Common Candidate of the opposition. But, according to spokespersons of the opposition, the policy framework of the common candidate more..

Dec 9 (TOI) Sri Lankan navy on Tuesday evening apprehended 43 fishermen who ventured into the sea from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in the Union territory of Puducherry. Navy also detained their five boats. Fishermen sources received information that the fishermen were apprehended by the SL navy near Neduntheevu in the Palk Bay and were being taken to Kangesanthurai naval base in SL. more..

Dec 9 (AM) Leader of DP Sarath Fonseka has dubbed Tissa Attanayake�s crossover to the govt as nothing short of a disgrace to all politicians of the opposition. Fonseka�s deputy Jayantha Ketagoda too shifted his allegiance and extended his support to President Rajapaksa, along with the former General Secretary of UNP. �Attanayake chose the wrong time to give in to the bribes of the ruling party. This is a time when the people of the country expect their leaders to act in an exemplary manner,� more..

Dec 9 (AM) It is widely speculated that Postal Services Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga has finally agreed to join the common opposition to support presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena. Speaking to Asian Mirror, a senior spokesman of the opposition said Kumaratunga�s crossover was almost a �certainty�. Earlier it was reported that the Minister had decided to remain in the ruling party after much contemplation after giving his consent at the outset. more..

Dec 9 (CG) Former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake today denied allegations that he had obtained a bribe to join the govt. Attanayake said that he had decided to join the govt after he found that the common opposition candidate, Maithripala Sirisena had misled the UNP. �No one�s principles can be bought over for money. Allegations I took a bribe are only being spread by some websites,� he said. more..

Dec 9 (OI) AIADMK members in Lok Sabha today asked the govt to bring a bill to take back Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka. "You cannot just say that the matter is before Supreme Court. Parliament is supreme. How can we not discuss (the issue)? It is part and parcel of the Indian territory. When the agreement (with Sri Lanka in 1970s) had taken place, rules and regulations were not followed strictly. "You are bringing a bill in Parliament to cede some areas to Bangladesh. more..

Dec 9 (CI) Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the fifth ODI against England, and is unlikely to play a further part in the series, after pulling a hamstring in his left thigh during Tuesday's fielding practice. Offspinner Sachithra Senanayake - who was cleared to bowl again earlier in the day - will immediately take Herath's place in the squad, and may even play against England on Wednesday. Herath's injury has not yet been fully assessed, and as such, the full extent of damage will not be known until more..

Dec 9 (AM) Despite widespread speculations that four of the ruling party MPs would join the opposition during Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena's election rally in Kandy, the event ended peacefully on Tuesday evening without no major drama. Before the commencement of the rally, four unreserved seats were Kept on the stage to indicate that there will be crossovers during the event. Many names were mentioned in more..

Dec 9 (SLN) The Indian Naval Ship Sukanya arrived at the Port of Colombo for logistic support today. It was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on arrival. The ship�s Commanding Officer Commander MD Dorai Babu call on the Deputy Area Commander of the Western Naval Area Commodore KG Paul of the Sri Lanka Navy at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Colombo. They held cordial discussions and exchanged mementos more..

Dec 9 (CG) The JVP today urged the people to vote for democracy on January 8 during the Presidential elections and join the JVP to make a stronger and fair economy after the election. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that abolishing the Executive Presidency and implementing the 17th amendment to the constitution will alone not ensure democracy in the country. Speaking at a rally in Nittambuwa, he said that a good economic policy is essential to ensure democracy. more..

Dec 9 (DM) Kumar Sangakkara will definitely not be seen in action in Sri Lanka�s famous blue and yellow jersey ever again on SL soil after the seventh and final ODI of the current series against England to be played on Dec 16, Daily Mirror can confirm. There has been a mountain of speculation over the legendary left hander�s retirement while he was diplomatically evading a definitive answer but an SLC document proves beyond any doubt more..

Dec 10 (CT) The words and the way words are spoken are the operational vehicles of inspiration. In order to win, the leader should be inspirational. This is the only way how the leader can build his image to which voters respond. In an election it is the voter response that will make one win. I learnt this lesson from an article published by Professor Stanly Fish of the University of Illinois. John Kerry was supposed to win but lost to George W. Bush in the presidential race of 2004. more..

Dec 10 (CT) I was sacked by the UNP govt whose Minister of Education was Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, for giving leadership to the teacher trainees in Teacher Training colleges in the general strike in 1980. For over three years I had to undergo a plenty of hardships. Some fifty strikers committed suicide. I have never voted for the UNP and never will. Yet I decided to write about Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the UNP, not to attack him but to appreciate him. more..

Dec 10 (SO) In a novel concept, Pasupathy Seevarathinam chairman of the Palmyrah Development Board (PDB), has decided to produce cosmetic items out of the palmyrah palm. He said plans are afoot to manufacture face creams, face wash and other creams where the natural base will be palmyrah. Research is underway to expedite the process, he said. Plans are also underway to use modern technology in the palmyrah industry, more..

Dec 10 (ST) Despite the economy being a peripheral issue in the current presidential election campaign, the leader who is elected would fashion future economic policies and there could be significant differences in economic policies depending on who is elected. Will there be continuity of economic policies, continuity with change or a break from recent economic policies? Elections of the past have resulted in all three scenarios. What will it be this time? Although the central focus in the run-up more..

Dec 10 (ST) The opposition�s joint election platform took some semblance of a shape during the week with the signing of a MoU by opposition�s �common candidate� Maithripala Sirisena and an assortment of opposition figures and groups on Monday. The main significance of the agreement in practical terms would lie in Sirisena�s deal with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Unlike the civil society groups and individual politicians backing the opposition project, it is the UNP that has the resources more..

Dec 10 (CT) TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said it is a must for a presidential candidate to address important issues of the Tamils of North and East. Such a candidate must assure demilitarization in the North, resettlement and other burning issues to address the ethnic issue in SL. TNA is for a united SL and not for separatism. Ethnic problem could be solved within a united SL and TNA was not for a unitary Constitution. more..