Dec 13 (Island) The National Environmental Activist Group led by Convener of the National Council for Pivithuru Hetak (Clean Tomorrow), Athuraliye Rathana Thera will launch a policy document for sustainable development ensuring environmental rights and democracy at the Mahaweli Centre on Monday. The group including environmental activists Hemantha Withanage, Thilak Kariyawasam, Ashoka Harischandra, Sajeewa Chamikara, Sampath Ariyasena, Karunadasa Munagama and more..

Dec 13 (FT) Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) together with UN Population Fund (UNFPA) organised the �Census and Statistics Awareness Walk 2014� on 4 December. The main purpose of the walk was to create awareness about the services provided by the Department of Census and Statistics to the country and to announce that the DCS wouldbe opening their new office building on 8 Dec with a religious ceremony. The walk commenced at Campbell Park, Borella more..

Dec 13 (Hindu) India should have an open mind about Chinese projects in Sri Lanka unless the island was seen conferring special favours on China, which is yet not the case, former diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala said. Mr. Dhanapala, widely acclaimed as a top diplomat who played a key role in Sri Lanka�s foreign policy engagement during the war, spoke to The Hindu recently, and shared his views on a host of issues including more..

Dec 13 (Island) In the aftermath of the successful Lanka-Belarus Trade talks on July 9 in Colombo, comes the first ever trade breakthrough, as revealed on December 11- and the first beneficiary of Belarus� is no less than the Lankan exporter. "Our Joint Commission talks in July have brought results. I welcome the Govt of Belarus�s initiative to remove Sri Lanka from the list of off-shore countries with effect from this November" said Minister of Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen in Qatar. more..

Dec 13 (DN) Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development acting Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne pledged to take immediate measures to launch all programs essential for the well-being of the Sri Lankan fishing community. Assuming duties as the new Chairman of the National Fisheries Federation (NFF), acting Minister Gunaratne said arrangements are in place to appoint a group of field officers (mobile officers) to go to fishing villages and address issues of the fishing community more..

Dec 13 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's govt has denied allegations made by a group of independent monitors that it is using state resources to give an unfair advantage to President Rajapaksa who is running for an unprecedented third term in next month's election. The seven observer groups, some of which are funded by foreign NGOs, on Thursday raised concerns that the ruling party was exploiting public services and employees and that more..

Dec 13 (DN) Maithri and Champika backed by the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka are all out to breathe new life into an old film or dormant franchise that had existed in 1815 peopled by historic characters of note, Ehelepola, Pilimathalawe and Britisher John Doyle, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said. According to Weerawansa, the so-called common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena plays the role of Ehelepola Nilame in the new version of the plot of the film to be reproduced. more..

Dec 13 (CT) Treasury Secretary, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, while justifying the loans taken by the present govt, noted that the govt never got delayed in paying debt installments. Dr. Jayasundera, in a recent television interview stressed, that the loans obtained were invested in good projects, adding that the present govt unlike previous govts, was focusing on utilizing loans on capital investment, which would give long term return to the country's economy. "These loans are invested in various projects more..

Dec 13 (ET) Two Pakistani High Commission officials posted in Sri Lanka had conspired to send terrorists to India via the sea route, for an attack on the US consulate in Chennai and Israel mission in Bangalore in a re-run of the 26/11 Mumbai raid, the National Investigation Agency claimed in a charge-sheet. The plan was to send the terrorists to a landing spot between Rameshwaram and Tuticorin in a rowing boat, the NIA said more..

Dec 13 (CT) The JHU is organizing 1,000 rallies, island-wide, within the next 3 weeks, to ensure the victory of common Opposition candidate, Maithripala Sirisena. JHU National Organizer and Media Spokesman, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe stated steps have been taken to win the support of women, youth and employers, in order to conduct meetings and conferences at electoral and provincial level. He mentioned that the temples will be the central point in organizing these meetings. more..

Dec 13 (CI) Each time this series has threatened to slip away from England they have pulled their fortunes around with two excellent chases. The first ramped up to a bit of a thriller, finished off by Jos Buttler, but the second in Pallekelle was as clinical and controlled as many England have been on the receiving end of. The star on Thursday, on the second day of the two-day one-day international, was Joe Root, who continued to cement his position as the fulcrum of the ODI order at No. 4. more..

Dec 13 (Island) Switching of allegiance by Udaya Gammanpila to President Rajapaksa would not affect the JHU at all, JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka said. "Gammanpila�s defection and change of stance clearly demonstrated the urgent need to change the political culture in the country which was detrimental to the country and it is a system created by the Rajapaksas to feather their nests at the expense of others." more..

Dec 13 (TOI) Central Crime Branch police arrested a five-member gang, including four Sri Lankan Tamils, in Madipakkam for stealing credit and debit card data and producing cloned cards to swindle money from accounts of card holders in foreign countries. Laptops, computers, Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines, more than 100 debit and credit cards and encoders were seized from the arrested � Reuban aka S Anandan, 45, Sri Thishok Kumar, 28, Dineshkumar, 27, and and M Krishnadas 57, more..

Dec 13 (CT) A committee, headed by SLFP General Secretary, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, has been appointed to look into problems of ministers who are not seen contributing heavily towards the election campaign of the President. The committee functions under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussions with certain identified ministers have been initiated. The committee has promised to solve all problems with the intervention of the President. more..

Dec 13 (Island) Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshall Kolitha Gunathilake appointed a Court of Inquiry led by Air Commodore Ravi Jayasinghe to investigate the AN 32 aircraft crash at Hokandara yesterday morning. SLAF Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshall Gagan Bulathsinhala said that four out of the five member crew died in the crash and one airman was admitted to Colombo National Hospital with injuries. more..

Dec 13 (DM) The main topic of conversation among most people these days�and justifiably so�is the crucial Jan 8 Presidential Election and the drama or comedy of cross-overs, criss-crosses, double-crosses and even triple jumps since Nov 21. Conflicting views are being expressed about the legality, the legitimacy, the morality and the ethics of members of parliament or local councils crossing over to another party while the sovereign people elected them from one party. more..

Dec 13 (CT) If the announcement of Presidential election ignited the fire for regime change, the next one month will fan the flame. In the first fortnight it will reach a crescendo and never diminish in the next. In the fever heat of the baptism of fire, a new political order wished for and prayed about can emerge. It is anticipated that the resounding will of the people and the decisive force of the international community will help bring it about. The forces that labored for the protection of the good, more..

Dec 13 (SL) Onion farmers in Dambulla accused the govt of importing low quality big onions from India during the local harvesting season. For them there is no other option but to commit suicide as they are forced to sell their crop at a loss because of Indian big onions flooding the market. Onions brought to Dambulla Economic Center are not sold to Colombo and its suburbs as the Colombo markets are flooded with Indian stocks. more..

Dec 13 (FT) Elephants may come to drink from the stream in front of your tent,� warns Noel Rodrigo, Sri Lanka�s preeminent wildlife tracker, in lieu of saying goodnight to me. �Don�t run or scream.� As I zip myself into one of the comfortable, South African-made canvas accommodations at Rodrigo�s Leopard Safaris camp, located just outside Wilpattu National Park on island�s northwest coast, what I feel is not fear, but relief. more..

Dec 13 (ST) For most people the chilly December breeze is a reminder of a joyous festive season ahead, but for 69-year-old Dissanayake it is a cold and joyless night; this homeless man gets soaked in the rain and lies shivering throughout the night while others sleep under warm sheets in their homes. He pleaded for a sheet to protect him from the weeks of cold to come. �I have been sleeping on the streets more..

Dec 13 (DN) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga's dream will always remain a dream, said Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, referring to her statement made at a meeting that it was her dream to see a govt consisting of the UNP and the SLFP. The minister said no former President other than Chandrika Kumaratunga got involved in politics after retirement or made any extreme comments. more..

Dec 13 (DM) Minister Susil Premajayantha said President Rajapaksa had never made a promise to abolish the Executive Presidency. Despite 2005 UPFA Presidential election manifesto - Mahinda Chinthana clearly stating that constitutional reforms would be made in order to do away with Executive Presidential system, he says no provisions were included in the Mahinda Chinthana vision to do away with Executive Presidency. more..

Dec 13 (SL) Sri Lanka�s reliable winter sunshine draws planeloads of visitors to its tropical shores. At Colombo airport the island�s postwar economic renaissance is on full display, with large billboards promoting a Dubai-style Island City off the coast of Colombo with the slogan: Paradise is booming, come and be part of it. Fact that the $1.4bn project is financed by China is not mentioned, although such things are far from more..

Dec 13 (DN) Chief Justice Mohan Peris PC stressed the need of having a whistle-blower protection legislation as whistle-blowers against corruption have had no protection under the new bribery regulation in force since 1994. The Chief Justice was delivering the keynote address at the Anti Corruption Day organised by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption at the BMICH on Tuesday evening. more..

Dec 13 (DN) Out of Sri Lanka's total population, 18.4% live in urban areas. Out of this figure, 15% live in the Colombo Municipal Council area, according to findings of the census of population and housing conducted in 2012, released by the Census and Statistics Department. The publication which includes relevant data titled 'Key Findings of Census of Population and Housing' was launched at a function at Hotel Cinnamon Grand, more..

Dec 13 (FT) Filling a lacuna in academic literature discussing the latest Company Law Act of Sri Lanka, President�s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran and Attorney-at-Law Dilshani Wijayawardana launched their latest Company Law book last week. The book was well-received by the legal community in an event attended by some of its most notable members, including CJ Mohan Peiris. Dr. Wickrama Weerasooriya and Dr. Harsha more..

Dec 13 (AM) Sources from the common opposition confirmed that Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra and her mother, Sumana Premachanda, have left the country due to �security threats�. The Provincial Councilor and her mother, as Asian Mirror learns, is presently in Singapore. However, sources close to her family said she would return to the country in a few days when �the dust is settled�. more..

Dec 13 (CT) The inaugural presidential campaign meetings are over. President Rajapaksa, true to his style showed off his forced support or otherwise with a ground full of people. Pressured or otherwise, the human deluge that filled the Salgado grounds in Anuradhapura had no parallels. UNP MP Pelisge Harrison representing Anuradhapura claims that there were 1108 busses that transported an estimated 26,000 members of the Civil defence force and their families from more..

Dec 13 (CT) Sri Lanka appears to face an easy choice: continuity or change; stay where we are and the way we are or turn a new page. That, however, is an illusion. The truth is that Sri Lanka faces two ghastly choices: death by continuity and stagnation or death by uncontrollable radical reform; death by claustrophobic, even suffocating centralization or death by centrifugal downward spiral. The uncritical supporters of the Rajapaksa status quo do not see the first danger. more..

Dec 13 (Island) There is much glib talk nowadays about the formation of a national Government after the January elections. It is based on the facile assumption that the coming together of the two major parties, the UNP and the SLFP, together with some minority ethnic parties, would amount to a national Government. But most Tamils don�t accept either of our two major parties as national parties: they see them rather as Sinhalese ethnic parties in all but name. more..

Dec 13 (Island) The story of the introduction of Buddhism to this country is a very symbolic, touching and meaningful one. As recorded in the chronicles, the focal point was the meeting between Arahat Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa. Tissa come hither were the words of Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Dharmashoka, to King Tissa, who later gained fame as Devanampiyatissa. As the call came Tissa was on a deer hunt in the forests of Anuradhapura, close to what is now more..

Dec 13 (CT) JHU front-liner Champika Ranawaka says the Rajapaksas are plundering the country on a massive scale to fund their mega deals as the country is now bankrupt. Ranawaka listed out several development projects the Rajapaksa regime has been highlighting to showcase the progress in the country, in which large-scale financial misappropriations have been carried out. more..

Dec 13 (Island) Two unidentified gunmen entered a house of a roof tile businessman living at Dankotuwa on Thursday night shot his wife and one of his sons, when they tried to rescue the father from the armed men. Police Media Unit (PMU) said that the shooting incident had occurred around 8.20 p.m. The businessman had come out of his house, when the two armed men arrived in their compound and called him, while the former was having dinner with the family members. more..

Dec 13 (AM) JVP Politburo member and WPC Member K.D. Lalkantha said that whether they deliver their promises or not the people have to take it from them. Speaking at a public rally yesterday he said that Maithripala Sirisena has given a number of promises such as the abolition of executive presidency and re-enactment of the 17th amendment. �We have seen those promises earlier,� Lalkantha added, saying that the people have seen enough promises being broken as well. more..

Dec 13 (DN) The people will not fall prey to the contradictory statements made by the so-called common candidate and his colleagues, Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne said. UNP, which is considered to be the country's main opposition party has suffered 29 consecutive election defeats to the SLFP since 1994. Therefore, the UNP which has not been able to present its own candidate for the upcoming Presidential election is bound to more..

Dec 13 (AM) It has now been revealed that Rathnayake Arachchige Sirisena, the Maithripala Sirisena lookalike who is contesting the presidential election this time, is a resident of Medamuna � the village where President Rajapaksa was born and grew up in. The duplicate Sirisena is also a former Grama Sevaka, similar to Maithripala Sirisena who started his career as a Grama Sevaka in the district of Polonnaruwa. Interestingly, Rathnayake Arachchige Sirisena was the one who played more..

Dec 13 (Island) Gammanpila�s defection clearly signalled the urgent need to change the �demonic� political culture where one could not act according to his or her conscience, JHU National Organiser Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said. He said that it was a dangerous precedent and if that �culture� was not changed an autocratic ruler such as Rajapaksa would achieve his undemocratic goals by hook or by crook and the masses had to pay the price for electing a ruler who abused his powers. more..

Dec 13 (DM) Candidates facing the ongoing 2015 O/L exam, have been severely inconvenienced as a result of the rallies and campaign meetings that are being held for the upcoming Presidential elections. According to CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin, a significant number of O/L candidates in the North Central province who were sitting for the history paper on Dec 11 had been late for the exam due to the lack of transportation more..

Dec 13 (ST) The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), the country�s premier open and distance learning hub, is at the centre of a battle between student groups and management, with students charged a staggering increase in fees, in an apparent attempt by management to privatise the semi-govt university, while management says it cannot bear the increasing visiting Lecturer salaries and cost to maintain 65 academic programmes. Last week, Open University�s Student Collective more..