Oct 6 (SL) There has been a sharp decline in milk powder imports from 84,000 tonnes in 2,012 to 3,200 tonnes during the last seven months, said Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Technology and Research on Wednesday. Addressing a media briefing at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Minister said ITI officials had the full capability to conduct investigations and ascertain as to whether imported milk powder is contaminated with DCD (Dicyandiamide). more..

Oct 6 (CG) The second batch of 39 of the 75 Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in September on charges of poaching and released on the orders of President Rajapaksa early this week, returned home on being repatriated by the Mandapam station of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) yesterday. After their release, the Sri Lankan navy handed them over to ICG at the designated position in the International Maritime Boundary Line around 10 a.m yesterday. more..

Oct 6 (DM) Kajeepan Sarmila, the widow of Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeepan (alias Gobi), was detained at the BIA yesterday, when she was about to leave for Switzerland. They said that Sarmila was prevented from leaving the country although she had valid Swiss visa due to the ongoing inquiry against her late husband, who was shot dead during a clash with the army in the jungles off Padaviya in April this year. more..

Oct 6 (DM) With the acceptance of the resignation of Sri Lanka�s High Commissioner to the UK Chris Nonis, the External Affairs Ministry has asked the country�s Deputy High Commissioner to the Maldives Chanaka Talpahewa to take over as charg� d'affaires in London, a minister said. Dr. Nonis tendered his resignation after being involved in a skirmish at the New York residence of SriLankan Airlines director Dilan Ariyawansa. The incident took place during a dinner hosted by more..

Oct 6 (FT) A large group representing various associations of Sri Lankans living in Europe met President Rajapaksa at Hotel Cavalieri in Rome on Friday and extended their fullest cooperation to the President�s efforts to take the country forward. Sri Lankans living in European Union countries such as UK, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland were among the group. They have said that President�s leadership is needed in the future as well for country�s peace, stability, development more..

Oct 6 (Island) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that Sri Lankans irrespective of political differences would have responded differently if a corrupt politician or senior official had been found guilty of corruption and given a jail term. He said that delighted Sri Lankans would have lit fire crackers, danced on streets and shared milk rice. SLFPer was reacting to ongoing wave of protests in TN against four-year jail term given to TN Chief Minister, more..

Oct 6 (DM) World Children�s and Elder�s Day was celebrated on October 1 the world over. Sri Lanka also celebrated the day with events organized with State patronage. But it appears that the Govt is not too keen to lend its ears to a burning problem faced by senior citizens -- the declining interest rates on savings. Taking into account a cross-section of the pensioners in Sri Lanka, it could be seen that more than 90% depend on the interest paid by banks on their savings accounts more..

Oct 6 (DM) Karl Marx did not foresee an end to the contradictions inherent in Western industrial capitalism until the ruling capitalist class was overthrown by the politically mobilized working class and a socialist society was established. But more moderate critics of capitalism saw other possibilities, to bridge the widening gap between the owners of capital and the working class and avoid violent socialist revolution. The western welfare state under social democratic regimes more..

Oct 6 (DM) National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya in an interview with the Daily mirror revealed the plight of the ministry when protecting and conserving national heritage sites and artefacts in Sri Lanka. He also briefed on the depths of laws implementing on those who destroyed valuables and the future of Sri Lanka�s national heritage. Q: What are the challenges you and your ministry face with regard to protecting more..

Oct 6 (SL) Shocking revelations have come to the fore on how hundreds of bodies of Sri Lanka�s migrant workers in Middle East countries had been brought back to the country each year, although the numbers had been kept as a �top� secret by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). In 2014 alone, up to end September, 350 bodies had be brought to the country of more..

Oct 6 (DM) The much-awaited utilization of �tea promotional fund� is expected to be put into its intended use before the end of this year, as 50% of the fund will be returned to the tea exporters to strengthen their existing promotional campaigns. Started four years ago, the tea promotional budget has grown to become a US $ 50 million (Rs.6.6 billion) fund, but an exporter will have to spend part of the company�s promotional budget more..

Oct 6 (CT) Train services are likely to come to a standstill from 9 October due to the countrywide strike called by railway employees demanding the resolution of their salary anomalies. Joint trade union alliance (JTUA) Convener Janaka Fernando said that despite having many discussions with the Transport Ministry officials, for three years, the salary anomalies of railway employees remain unsettled. more..

Oct 6 (ST) With her hair plaited neatly into pigtails and dressed in a well-pressed uniform washed with laundry blue, six-year-old Vidya* is about to return home from school. She says a loud prayer with her classmates and makes a silent wish before preparing to call it a day. This was only her second day at school. Up to now, she has spent her days at home with her mother and younger siblings. �I met my friend from the house next door more..

Oct 6 (Island) Those who insisted that President Rajapaksa was not eligible to seek a third term could request the Supreme Court to interprete Minister Wimal Weerawansa said. "People should question why those who have made an issue of the president�s third term do not go before the Supreme Court," he said, addressing a ceremony to mark the handing over of renovated Sanchiarachchiwatte housing scheme to more..

Oct 6 (AM) Achala Priyadarshani (25) a final year law faculty student has filed a case before Colombo District Court against the govt health authorities and the state claiming Rs.100 million as damages for amputating her left-hand due to medical negligence. Plaintiff Priyadashani had named Dr. Dilka Saranasinghe the Director of the Matara General Hospital, Dr. Anil Jayasinghe the Director of the Colombo National Hospital, more..

Oct 6 (DM) The results of the investigation into the imported milk powder for DCD by the Industrial Technological Institute of Sri Lanka (ITI) would be out tomorrow. Sale of three batches of 400 gramme packets of Anchor brand full-cream milk powder had been held temporary by the Health Ministry as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, Minister Champika Ranawaka said that at least 20% of the imported milk powder samples which more..

Oct 6 (DM) Sri Lanka�s former permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Tamara Kunanayakam said the assault of High Commissioner Chris Nonis is only one in a series of acts in a tragedy that opened in Geneva in 2009 with the same cast of villains, followed by other acts also in Geneva in 2011 and 2012, and still others played out in Rome and Paris. In a brief comment made on the incident by email, she said, more..

Oct 6 (DM) The External Affairs Ministry today said the Sri Lankan Govt had not made an official statement on the meeting which took place between President Rajapaksa and the US State Secretary in New York and that the govt, however, appreciated the beginning of a high level dialogue between the two countries. Referring to the media reports of the US denying softening of its stance towards Sri Lanka, the Ministry issued more..

Oct 6 (CT) Today is World Habitat Day. The day reflects on the state of cities and towns in the world and the rights of its inhabitants to decent shelter, and provision of other amenities to help them live decent lives. Each year, the UN through its arm the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, established in 1978, and later known as the UN Commission on Human Settlements (UNCHS) which has now evolved into a full-fledged programme with the same objectives and is called UN Habitat, more..

Oct 6 (CT) Hopefully it is a fabrication, made in Medamulana, like the �news� of America softening its stance towards Sri Lanka or Premier Modi wanting the TNA to participate in the latest All Parties Conference. The JVP has decided to boycott the Presidential election, if Mahinda Rajapaksa is a candidate. The logic is that President Rajapaksa cannot contest for the third time and if he does so it will be an illegal act which in turn will transform the election into an illegal exercise. more..

Oct 6 (CT) The new building on Sunday however, became a place for old wounds to be healed and bottled up grievances to be aired as the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons held its sessions at this location. "What is your name? Who are you missing?" asked the translator as the first witness came into give evidence before the Commission, and all listened patiently as the she related her harrowing story to be written into more..

Oct 6 (CT) Despite the drama staged by Minister Keheliya Rambukwella last week when questioned about Chris Nonis� assault and subsequent resignation, he had been well aware of the saga all along as his daughter Chamithri Rambukwella had been present at the scene. According to the Sunday Times political column, following are the officials who had attended the social gathering at the New Jersey residence of Dilan Ariyawansa (representative of Sri Lankan Airlines more..

Oct 6 (Island) A young man had severed his own testicles with a knife and then hanged himself from a roof beam of his house at Polgahawila, Wanduramba on Saturday. Police identified him as Chaturanga Lakmal (21). He had committed suicide using a wire, while his mother was away working on a tea estate. He had been employed in a private hospital in Colombo and had come home following an accident. Police believe family problems had led him to take his own life. more..

Oct 6 (DM) Bus owners today warned that they would stop bus services if the illegally issued route permits were not withdrawn or cancelled. Lanka Private bus Owners Association (LPBOA) said that about 250 route permits were illegal. Association warned that it would go for a strike in the Western Province if illegally given bus route permits were not cancelled. �About 250 legal route permits have been issued in Western Province. more..

Oct 6 (Island) Ongoing analysis of artefacts unearthed from Kuragala pre-historic site have produced evidence of pre-historic settlement there that maintained close links with their contemporaries living in the coastal areas, Director General, Department of Archaeology, Dr Senarath Dissanayake said. Dr. Dissanayake said that archaeological analysis of the finds that commenced in August this year at the Sabaragamuwa office of Department of Archaeology was continuing. more..

Oct 6 (CT) Good governance activist Chandra Jayaratne has written to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka seeking a public clarification on promoting awareness and educating all citizens on human rights, following on an incident in a leading govt school where students had been publicly humiliated simply because they failed to bring a certain amount of money they had been instructed to bring. Jayarathne, in his letter to the Chairman of Human Rights Commission more..

Oct 6 (AFP) Two Sri Lankan sportsmen were missing from their Asian Games village and believed to have run away looking for jobs in the host nation South Korea, official sources said today. A hockey player and a member of the beach volleyball team were unaccounted for at the time Sri Lanka�s 80-strong contingent prepared to leave on Saturday. Official sources identified the missing hockey player as Prasanna Dissanayake, more..

Oct 6 (Island) The Ministry of National Heritage had launched a project to convert the 300-year-old Moon Bastion built by the Dutch at Galle Fort, which is a World UNESCO Heritage site, into an art gallery to showcase the history of Galle, Director General of Archaeology Dr Senarath Dissanayake said yesterday. The Moon Bastion built by the Dutch in 1667 is considered one of the main bastions in the Fort and its conservation activities commenced in 2012. Built by the Portuguese in 1620, more..

Oct 6 (CT) Western Province Minister Nimal Lanza has filed a damages suit, in the Negombo District Court, claiming Rs 1,000 million from UNP MP, Ranjan Ramanayake ('One Shot'), for tarnishing his reputation. Lanza has said, in his suit, that Ramanayake had publicly stated, at a UNP rally held in Negombo, on 26 March 2014, that he (Lanza) engaged in illegal activities. This was published in the print and electronic media and had tarnished his reputation. Lanza initially sent a letter of more..

Oct 6 (DM) UNP does not see the incumbent President Rajapaksa contesting for a third term at a future presidential election as a major issue, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said. He said that his party did not see President Rajapaksa contesting for a third term as a problem because he could be defeated by a joint effort of all opposition parties. �A Supreme Court interpretation will be necessary in the event more..

Oct 6 (CT) Ministry of External Affairs Monitoring MP, Sajin Vass Gunawardena should be asked to quit his post on a temporary basis, till investigations, into his alleged assaulting of Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Chris Nonis, are completed, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rule of Law, of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Lal Wijenayake said. If a diplomat, who also happened to be an Ambassador, is assaulted by a monitoring parliamentarian, more..

Oct 6 (CG) SLFP today expressed confidence President Rajapaksa will obtain more votes at the next election than he did at the 2010 Presidential elections. UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayanth said that at the next Presidential elections the ruling party will also secure victory in the Colombo East electorate. Premajayanth said this after opening an SLFP party office in Kirillapone today. He said that more offices similar to this will be opened in other areas as well. more..

Oct 6 (GDI) With the Govt's aim of propagating integrated development in the farm sector, Sri Lanka�s first ever Special Agricultural Zones (SAZ) are slated to come up next year covering 3,000 acres in the three districts of the Eastern Province. Under the program, agriculture infrastructure in the province will be further expanded, benefitting the farming community which is 80% of the total population in the East. more..

Oct 6 (AM) Flatly denying media reports on possible discussions between the UNP and the BBS, a senior UNP MP said that his party has nothing to discuss with an extremist organization like the BBS. The senior MP who wished to remain anonymous said any discussion with the BBS was strictly against the core principles of the UNP. �UNP always appeared n behalf of the rights of the minorities in the country and any discussion with the BBS will distance minorities from the UNP,� he added. more..

Oct 6 (CT) The new jetty constructed at China Bay in Trincomalee Harbour was named after late SLMC leader and Minister M.H.M. Ashraff, in appreciation of his service to the country's shipping industry. However, the plaque prominently displaying the jetty's name as Ashraff Jetty has now been removed by unidentified persons. The name plaque of the jetty has been missing since last Wednesday. During his tenure as Minister of Ports and Shipping Ashraff rendered a remarkable service more..

Oct 6 (CT) Introducing a constitutional draft for the country, the BBS said Sri Lanka should be renamed 'Sinhale', with Sinhalese Buddhists being recognized as the historical and national race of the country. The BBS acknowledged that the country had only one race (the Sinhalese), linguistically the Sinhala language, the Tamil language and the indigenous tongue of the Veddahs existed alongside the religious groups � more..

Oct 6 (MSN) Advertising campaigns in the past year to stop refugees seeking protection in Australia have cost taxpayers nearly $23 million. The sum, released by the Australian Audit Office in response to questions asked in Senate estimates, covers spending by the Immigration and Customs departments between July 2013 and August 2014. The money was spent under both the current Coalition government, which came to power last September, and the previous Labor govt. more..

Oct 6 (GDI) Govt has allocated Rs.300 million rupees for this year alone to pay compensation to civilians of the North who were impacted by the war out of which 110 million rupees has already been paid. Compensation is being awarded on behalf of civilians who had lost their limbs and hands and also house and property. Govt�s intention is to complete the awarding of compensation before the end of this year. Accordingly, granting of compensation totaling 130 million rupees for 1500 families more..

Oct 6 (AM) UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said Chris Nonis, former Sri lankan High commissioner to the UK who was allegedly assaulted by MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, should have lodged a complaint with the New York Police soon after the incident. �There is no point in lamenting over the assault. Had he lodged a complaint with the New York police, there would have been a prosecution. That is the only way to trigger a proper more..

Oct 6 (DM) Police arrested a man who allegedly posed as First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa�s driver and cheated another man of Rs.190,000 on the promise of securing employment at Bank of Ceylon. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the arrest was made by the Police Special Investigations Unit. The victim who is a resident of Kuliyapitiya lodged a complaint with the SIU when the suspect began to avoid him for weeks after promising him a job. The suspect who is a resident of Deniyaya more..