Oct 3 (AD) Sri Lanka won the gold medal after beating Afghanistan in the final match of Asian Games Men�s Cricket Competition played at Yeonhui Cricket Ground, Incheon on Friday. The Afghans were bowled out for 65 runs, chasing Sri Lanka�s target of 133. Sri Lanka�s strong team comprising several international-level players including former National Team regulars Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne proved too much to handle for minnow Afghanistan. more..

Oct 3 (CT) The untold hardships and tiring long distance travel the Northerners had to experience, for almost four decades, due to there being no proper transport system, will soon be a thing of the past. No more will they have to languish in bus stands or hire vehicles paying exorbitant rates to reach the South or any part of Sri Lanka, for come the beginning of next year, the entire Northern Province railway line will be handed over to more..

Oct 3 (Island) Aranayake Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Dinesh Guneratne and three others were remanded by the Mawanella Magistrate when they were produced before her for assaulting the Mawanella SLTB Depot Superintendent on Wednesday evening. The other suspects remanded by Magistrate Ms. Chandani Meegoda are E.M. Edirisinghe, Ushan Lakmal and Chandana Ubeydeera. They are alleged to have entered the depot premises and attacked Superintendent more..

Oct 3 (Island) A story of a man getting into trouble for devising an innovative method to express love to his neighbour is reported from Ahungalle in the Galle District. The, a-40-year old married man who had fallen desperately in love with his next door neighbour�s wife, tried various methods to express his feelings to her. As many of his methods had come a cropper, the man thought of innovating a new one to woo her, OIC of the Crime Branch of the Ahungalla police, SI Mali Gunasekera said. more..

Oct 3 (CG) Sri Lanka�s High Commissioner to Britain Dr Chris Nonis has resigned from his post over the alleged assault incident involving a top Govt politician. MTV/MBC announced through �News First� that Dr. Nonis had told the channel he resigned as a result of the incident. Nonis had reportedly been assaulted at a function in the US by MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena. MP Gunawardena had yesterday called for more..

Oct 3 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee gained against the dollar on Friday after the central bank resumed open market operations (OMOs) in the previous session. Central Bank had suspended OMOs along with its last month monetary policy announcement on Sept. 23, to push banks cut lending rates and boost private sector credit. The spot currency was traded at 130.35/40 per dollar at 0630 GMT compared with Thursday's close of 130.30/50. It had closed at 130.80 on Tuesday. more..

Oct 3 (Island) Kandy police launched a crackdown on private school vans and buses with dark glasses. In the first day of the operation the Kandy police took into custody at least ten private buses used for school service for having tinted glasses. The law was being strictly enforced to ensure the safety of children. On Wednesday, police said a 17-year-old girl attending a private tuition class in Kandy was found inside a school van in the company of the driver of the vehicle. more..

Oct 3 (IBT) On Wall Street, Raj Rajaratnam is famous for being a perpetrator in one of the biggest insider trading cases in history. But he�s also the subject of another lawsuit that�s only just beginning. It involves money, death and terrorists. Three years ago, Rajaratnam was found guilty of securities fraud involving his Galleon Group hedge fund and sentenced to 11 years in prison. But later this month, attorneys will begin more..

Oct 3 (Island) A stock of ancient copper coins has been found by construction workers of the Maga Company, while they were excavating earth to develop the Bandagiriya Road in Hambantota. Director General of Archaeology, Dr Senarath Dissanayake said that there were 281 copper coins believed to be belonging to the Anuradhapura Period. A backhoe while removing the earth had struck a clay pot breaking it, and workers found 241 ancient copper coins in it on Sept 30. more..

Oct 3 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka Branch's (SCBSL) National Long-Term Rating at 'AAA(lka)'. The Outlook is Stable. KEY RATING DRIVERS SCBSL's rating is at the highest end of the National Rating scale and reflects the credit profile and financial strength of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB; AA-/Negative). SCB's rating is higher than Sri Lanka's Long-Term Local and Foreign Currency Issuer Default Ratings of 'BB-'/Stable, more..

Oct 3 (AM) Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has said Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Chris Nonis should have acted with restraint if there was an assault, as claimed by certain media reports. However, Minister has said he was not in a position to comment on the accuracy of media repors. The Minister, who was also the Cabinet Spokesman at one point, made these remarks addressing a public meeting in more..

Oct 3 (AM) Convener for The Movement for A Just Society Maduluwawe Sobitha thera has said that the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose name has already been proposed as the presidential candidate of the UNP, cannot win the presidential election if he competes alone. In a meeting which was held in Naga Vihara in Kotte yesterday Sobitha thera has stated that the common candidate too cannot win the presidential election without the UNP�s support. more..

Oct 3 (Island) J.C. Weliamuna, the Counsel for a group of injured soldiers, told the Court of Appeal, that there was a likely settlement of the dispute over premature retirement benefits between those soldiers and the defence authorities. The petitioner soldiers injured in action have complained in their petition that they were denied the allowances and the benefits due to them up to the age of retirement at 55 years. They have requested the Court of Appeal to order the Secretary Defence more..

Oct 3 (DM) Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka accused the main opposition political party had tried to woo some DP provincial councillors into its fold. He said opposition political parties should not create division among other opposition parties but instead concentrate on challenging the ruling party. Mr. Fonseka said a person claiming to be UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa had contacted SPC�s DP Member more..

Oct 3 (SG) The General Car Syndicate organized a function to honor driver of a bus that transports Haj pilgrims for his honesty after he returned SR47,000 and valuable documents of a Sri Lankan pilgrim. The pilgrim lost his handbag while traveling in the bus. The driver who found the bag handed it to the syndicate authorities. The bag contained the pilgrim�s mobile phone, travel tickets, visa card, two bankcards, in addition to the currency. Ahmad Sambava, president of the syndicate, more..

Oct 3 (DM) Two of seven drug rehabilitants who had fled from a private drug rehabilitation centre in Dalugama, Seeduwa have been found dead in the Negombo lagoon. Two bodies had been found in the lagoon close to the Sedawatte church; one body had been found late last night and the other, early this morning. Police suspect they must have drowned in the lagoon. The seven patients had escaped the rehabilitation centre on Wednesday. Meanwhile, another one of the seven rehabilitants more..

Oct 3 (CT) Indian Govt is to send a team to Sri Lanka, shortly, to resolve the problem of Indian fishers poaching in Lankan waters, but the date of the visit is not known. Indian Central Govt was serious on resolving the intense conflict, between the fishers of both countries. But, TN politicians are persistent that Indian fishers have the right to poach in Sri Lankan waters. Minister Rajitha Senaratne was not available for comment. more..

Oct 3 (Island) Education Ministry in collaboration with the National Project for the Prevention of Kidney Disease will introduce a new unit to the GCE O/L science from 2016 to make 350,000 students aware of the adverse effects of agrochemicals, potential factors that cause soil erosion, effective ways to protect the ecology, how to prevent non-communicable diseases, how to prevent contamination of water sources etc. With effect from 2016 environmental equilibrium studies would more..

Oct 3 (CT) A group of Buddhist monks yesterday demanded the Ministry of Health to take immediate action against a leading company distributing imported milk powder following reports that three school children in Girandurukotte fell sick after consuming products of their company. President of the Dhakshina Lanka Bikku Sangvidanaya, Ven. Meewanapalana Dharmarathna Thera said that they had handed over a petition to Director General of the Ministry Dr. Palitha Mahipala calling more..

Oct 3 (Island) Ferry service between Sri Lanka and Rameswaram in India could resume next year after restoration of the northern railway line to Talaimannar by December, Indian Govt undertaking IRCON International, which is restoring the line said. IRCON General Manager V. K. Jayasankar said that the reconstruction of rail track from Madhu Road station to Talaimannar pier had been completed now, but the Mannar Bridge more..

Oct 3 (CG) Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has approved draft agreements between Belarus and Sri Lanka concerning mutual legal assistance and extradition as a basis for holding the corresponding talks. The Belarusian head of state signed the relevant decrees on 1 October, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. The Belarus Justice Ministry has been authorized to conduct the negotiations and sign the agreements. Treaty on Mutual Legal more..

Oct 3 (Island) Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) said that it was now capable of testing chemical contamination of food, liquids and air with the help of the recently acquired Liquid chromatography�mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Addressing the media, its Additional Director General Technical Services, A.S. Pannila said that the new equipment which they hoped to commission next month would have the capacity to test chemical residues down to 0.05 parts per million (ppm). more..

Oct 3 (CG) President Rajapaksa met Pope Francis and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Vatican today and discussed the situation in Sri Lanka, Vatican Radio reported. During their meeting the Pope and the President discussed the situation in Sri Lanka, with particular reference to recent social and economic progress. Their discussion also focused on the forthcoming visit that Pope Francis will make more..

Oct 4 (CT) We saw in earlier chapters that Gandhiyam and other social service NGOs helping Tamils in these border areas were being targetted from late 1982. Gandhiyam was sealed in April 1983 and its leaders detained. On the eve of the July �83 violence Gamini Dissanayake made veiled threats of strong-arm tactics against Tamils settled in areas earmarked for Sinhalese colonisation (Chapter 5). In the prison massacre, Dr. Rajasundaram, perhaps the single most active worker among more..

Oct 4 (CT) The Western world is in shock as ISIS has gained control of a swathe of territory across Syria/Iraq and set up a caliphate state as a symbol of resurgent Islam of their crusading character; and, thereafter, when ISIS (A) beheaded several Western hostages in chilling video-theatre and (B) called upon like-minds in Western centuries to venture forth on random acts of decapitation in the heart of cities. Australia has been in the grip of alarm for several days this past week more..

Oct 4 (SO) Before Sri Lanka talked and even drew plans to set up Free Trade Zones or set up industrial estates, Jaffna district soon after independence set up an area for industries. This was known as the Atchchuvely Industrial Estate. With a rail link high quality items manufactured here were freely transported to the entire country and the earnings and opportunities that were offered through this helped the residents of Jaffna peninsula more..

Oct 4 (CT) Sri Rangam, the temple city in Tiruchirapalli which is the constituency of former TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram was the first place to be brought under an extensive security blanket in Tamil Nadu soon after Jayalalitha was convicted by a special court in Karnataka in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case on last Saturday (27). Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple with its tall entrance tower is considered to be the second most popular temple among Hindus after more..

Oct 4 (SL) Neville�s extensive research into caste in Jaffna is admirable. Within a short period he had gained a degree of knowledge of the system that very few, even among Jaffna Hindus and, perhaps, no other Sinhalese possesses. Much of the credit goes to Rameshwara Iyer. But the very valuable and extensive findings are marred by a few factual and conceptual errors. I am familiar with Jaffna and have some understanding of the operation of Jaffna�s caste system, but have not studied more..

Oct 4 (FT) Professions in the current world are diverse. Among them, there are reputed professions. Some professions are more attractive since they are highly remunerated. Some are respected and privileged. If someone asked me to name the noblest profession, in the world, I dare to say �it is teaching�. Teaching creates and builds all other professionals. Doctors, engineers, vocalists, dancers, artists, accountants, technicians and more..

Oct 4 (CT) The general cemetery at Ellapitiyawatte, a burial ground for the people who live in Doluwa, Waharakada, Bathgoda and Yatinuwara. is now being vandalized and turned into a tea estate. The matter was brought up before the Yatinuwara Pradeshiya Saba (YPS) Chairman Thusitha Kumara Walagedera. His reaction was: "A small group of people have taken the law into their own hands. The land belongs to the YPS. Destroying a general cemetery is a grave offence. more..

Oct 4 (CT) A question frequently asked of me by my friends, colleagues and journalists is a real poser. "What are the true functions of a lawyer?" is the question they seek an answer to. In an article I wrote to a newspaper sometime back I had argued citing several examples that in our Courts most of the time innocent persons may be penalized because of rampant perjury. It will not reflect badly on the profession of law since they themselves become victims of circumstance. more..

Oct 4 (Island) In the preceding sections of this series of articles on the Sri Lankan Muslims at the cross roads, I have dealt with �Muslim extremism� so-called and with the Muslim population problem. In this article I will argue that both of those supposed problems are really non-problems, which can be explained only on the basis of Islamophobic racism among some segments of the Sri Lankan people. Thereafter I will � in situating these seemingly purely local problems in an international context more..

Oct 4 (DM) Recently, it was highlighted in the National Press that polls laws were to be amended with the limited objective of relaxing provisions related to campaigning. Our immediate response to this exercise is why not legalise �Kasippu� (Illicit liquor) also at the same time because the police are unable to eradicate the menace? As we know, the existing election laws pertaining to curtailment of propaganda campaigns by candidates are the result of a very democratic and a collective effort more..

Oct 4 (UCAN) Sri Lankan TV journalist Kapila Kuruppuarachchi thought he was just doing his job when he tried to cover a clash between backers of rival political parties in late September. Instead, he says, a mob of pro-govt supporters chased him for almost a kilometer before pelting him with stones. He was hospitalized with major bone and tissue damage to his face, which will require at least two surgeries to repair. more..

Oct 4 (Island) Govt�s decision to arbitrarily deport Pakistani refugee-asylum seekers is unacceptable and wrong. Asylum seekers usually leave their home countries due to fear or deprivation, or both. Pakistanis on our soil are mostly from religious minorities (Christians and Islamic sects) who face immense hardship and discrimination under the harsh "Blasphemy Law"; questioned by a cross section of reasonable Pakistanis. There is a standard procedure for dealing with refugee more..

Oct 4 (NS) The young Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933) had barely reached thirty years when he received a prestigious invitation to address the World�s Parliament of Religions, the first of its kind in the modern world, held in the city of Chicago with grand festivities in summer 1893. At that time, colonial Ceylon was at its peak in terms of internal, domestic and local initiatives undertaken in reviving degenerated forms of Buddhist practices and institutions affected severely more..

Oct 4 (AT) Sharp split has emerged in the midst of the constituent parties of TNA at the meeting held yesterday. A section of the ITAK Members has said that they wish to disassociate themselves with the former Tamil armed group members of the constituent TNA and the meeting ended without taking up any decision. Also, NPC Chief Minister C.V.Vigneswaran was reported saying that he was not happy to associate himself more..

Oct 4 (Island) The judge in the Jayalalithaa corruption case makes the very interesting observation that it could not be believed that being the Chief Minister of a State, she was unaware of the large-scale activities carried on by persons living in her own house. The judgment adds it is proved in evidence that substantial funds accumulated the first accused, Jayalalithaa, were credited to the account of Jaya Publications and from the said account it was diverted to the other accounts more..

Oct 4 (DM) Sri Lanka�s construction sector claims only 7.3 percent of GDP. However, the sector is much more important than these numbers would indicate. There is a strong SME presence in this sub-sector,� said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, addressing the inauguration event of six international exhibitions -International Exhibition on Windows and Doors, Aluminium Extrusion, Roofing & Fa�ade, Glass, and Second International Exhibition on Sri Lanka Wood simultaneously more..