Nov 30 (CG) Tamil Nadu police have given permission to Sri Lankan refugees to conduct a religious ceremony to remember the victims of the war. Sri Lankans are to conduct the kudamuzhukku (kumbabishekam) at the Sri Sakthi Vinayagar temple at the Sri Lankan refugee camp at Thoppukollai near Pudukottai tomorrow. Earlier it was planned to conduct the Kudamuzhukku on Nov 27. However the police did not give permission as Nov 27 was observed as Maaveera dhinam (Heroes day). more..

Nov 30 (Island) In a significant contribution towards battling malnutrition, a govt-owned enterprise has set a new record by producing more than 15 million packs of the nutritious food supplement Thriposha in 2014. Annual production has hit a new high. This was the highest-ever capacity achieved since the factory was established in 2007. By Oct 2014, the quantum of 750g packs produced was 15.681 million, while the number of more..

Nov 30 (SL) As Sri Lanka joins the world to observe World AIDS Day tomorrow, statistics have revealed that several children have been tested positive for HIV in Sri Lanka. The National STD/AIDS Control Programme said that 20 children had been identified this year as being HIV positive. Director of the programme, Sisira Liyanage told The Sunday Leader that a survey had found that some school children had contracted HIV as a result of having unsafe sex. more..

Nov 30 (Island) Professional officers pledging their allegiance to serve the nation joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force General Reserve in the second phase under the �Api Army� program. On completing the basic military training course at the Volunteer Force Training School, Diyatalawa, the group passed out recently at a ceremony where Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General Lowrance Wickramasinghe was the chief guest. more..

Nov 30 (IL) A series of initiatives aimed at boosting protection and improving conditions of employment for millions of foreign workers in the Gulf have been agreed upon at the Third Ministerial Consultative Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) comprising Asian countries sending and receiving labour, which concluded in Kuwait last week. Kuwait Declaration noted that "recognizing that individual govt's efforts may fall short, more..

Nov 30 (CT) Bar Association of SL charged the govt has so far failed to make available to them a copy of the Supreme Court's decision with regard to the legal opinion sought by President Rajapaksa on whether he could contest for a third presidential term. BASL also expressed its reservations about the validity of a 29-page document submitted to Parliament last week due to there being many discrepancies in the text. BASL President Upul Jayasuriya expressed views on this matter. more..

Nov 30 (Island) Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) under its Global Plan of the Decade of Action 2011-2020 launched a First Aid training program for three-wheeler drivers. With the assistance of the FIA-funded project, the AAC conducted seminars to educate motorcyclists on safety measures. AAC also conducted a demonstration to the public on safe methods of crossing protected and unprotected rail crossings. AAC has found that victims of road accidents are subject to more injuries due to more..

Nov 30 (CT) CEB on Friday awarded a Euro 7 million to Alstom T&D India to monitor and control Sri Lanka's electricity transmission network. Alstom will supply its world-leading energy management system, e-terraplatform, to enable reliable, secure and efficient operation of Sri Lanka's hydro-thermal electricity system. "We have given this contract to the Indian arm of the global French electical, electronics giant Alstom from more..

Nov 30 (AM) Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo and MTUA leader Azath Salley has stated that the Muslim people have already decided which side to vote in the upcoming presidential election. He has added that BBS�s decision to support President Rajapaksa has put not only the minorities but even the Buddhists in a difficulty to vote for the president. Govt has a standard formula of four terms namely, Diaspora, NGO, External Forces and Contractors but the people has had enough of hearing it more..

Nov 30 (AM) JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka asked how UNP leader Rani Wickremesinghe will become Prime Minister after Maithripala Sirisena becomes the president since the majority of parliamentarians are SLFP members. It was reported that the JHU sought clarification on the post of PM before extending its support to the common opposition. He added that those SLFPers will definitely gather around Sirisena in the event of his victory in the election. more..

Nov 30 (ST) An invitation to university academics and non-academics to attend a �progress review� meeting at Temple Trees tomorrow amid an intense campaign for the presidential polls has drawn protests. The invitation has been sent by the Higher Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission. FUTA has strongly objected to the meeting, saying a �progress review� meeting was usually held by UGC. more..

Nov 30 (ET) On a misty cool morning, five men set out from Rameswaram on a boat to catch prawns near the Sethusamudram canal. At 12:40 pm, they heard gunshots. "The Lankan authorities are here, they are shooting, all of you lie down," shouted Sekar, the owner of the boat. The other four, all of them family, ducked. The Lankan Navy boat came closer and the crew asked the fishermen to raise their hands. "I can't," screamed Sekar. "I can't move my hand. Something is wrong," he cried. more..

Nov 30 (AM) JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said that the JVP could never be a hundred percent certain that Maithripala Sirisena will abolish executive presidency. He mentioned that promises of abolishing the executive presidency has been given before but not kept. There is always the risk of a repeat of that scenario once again, he added. Herath said that this is the reason for the JVP to formally keep out of endorsing Maithripala Sirisena officially. more..

Nov 30 (AFP) An umpire and former captain of Israel's national cricket team died after being hit by a ball, just two days after the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes due to a freak head injury left the sports world reeling. The Israel cricket association said Hillel Oscar died after being hit by a ball which had just been struck by a batsman. Oscar, 55, was officiating in a match in the southern port city of Ashdod. more..

Nov 30 (NS) Sri Lankan businesses should look towards catering products to the niche market segment or the growing affluent class in China as it is often believed that it is impossible to compete with China on price. According to a recent Chinese-language Forbes study, the country�s mass affluent, or upper-middle class demographic, is rising at a growth rate that far exceeds that of traditional dollar millionaires and will reach more than 14 million people by the end of this year. more..

Nov 30 (Island) The mysterious disappearance of a soldier at Ethumalpitiya in Polonnaruwa on Nov 9, has baffled police as investigations have so far drawn a blank. There is still no trace of Dilanka Pushpa Kumara (19) after he went on his push cycle on an errand, while at home on returning from Panagoda Army Cantonment, where he served. His cycle was later found abandoned near a paddy field at Nikawewa. There was every indication that the young man was abducted, relative asserted. more..

Nov 30 (AM) Addressing the first election rally in his run up to the presidency in Sri Lanka, common candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena questioned as to what the govt has done for the people of Sri Lanka, using its overwhelming majority in Parliament. He also added that the MoU that he is to sign with the political parties of the opposition � including the United National Party � will be revealed tomorrow. more..

Nov 30 (PTI) DMK chief M Karunanidhi today joined other political parties in Tamil Nadu in criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa a success during the upcoming elections in his country. "It has to be condemned strongly. The UN is debating on the nature of genocidal charges against Rajapaksa. Wishing him to come back to power would be like supporting the war crimes and violations of human rights by him," Karunanidhi said. more..

Nov 30 (GDI) The Urban Development Auditory has taken steps to re-develop the Tower Hill Area in Hambantota. Tower Hill Area is an important site in Hambantota in view of inherent cultural, architectural and archeological characters. The existing buildings have been built during Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. Martello Tower, former Govt Agent's office, Govt Agents Bungalow. Light House. Old Courts Complex, Judge's Bungalow, Rest House are among them. more..

Nov 30 (SL) Events commemorating those killed during the war, both civilians and the LTTE, were held at the Jaffna University and also in London and Canada last week. Last year TNA NPC member M.K. Sivajilingham had a conflict with the police when he attempted to hold an event which the police felt glorifying the LTTE. Sivajilingham however said that this year he did not hold any commemorative more..

Nov 30 (DM) Taking a dig at the Uva Provincial Council�s decision to adjourn session till January 15, a resolution was passed at the Embilipitiya Urban Council on Friday to issue woolen clothes to the Chief Minister and the ruling party members of the Uva Provincial Council. The Uva PC announced on Thursday that it would no sit until January 15 due the �cold weather condiitons�. UPFA member Vijitha Punchihewa who tabled the motion at the Embilipitiya UC said that more..

Nov 30 (ST) The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), with effect from next year, will ban the use of all phones smuggled into the country, said a senior TRC official. The move will ensure that only phones with the proper standards will be used by the public in future, TRC Chairman, Anusha Pelpita said. �This will also help avoid Health issues and be useful even in fighting crime,� he said. He said that all phone importers need to register with TRC, and if the phones are found to be fakes, more..

Nov 30 (LT) Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekone has broken down while making a speech at Galewela today and after 5 minutes of silence has made a very emotional speech. He has said the SLFP was being dominated by ethanol and drug mafia. �I�m a pure SLFP party man. I told the President regarding the resentment I received from certain quarters in the party. I told Namal. No one took any notice of my story. more..