Nov 10 (ST) The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) will not send swimmers or water polo players but send only two divers for the 10th Asian Aquatic Championships to be held in Japan from Nov 14 to 20. Though Sri Lanka has Olympic swimmers with greater experience for the 10th edition of the Asian Aquatic Championships, the governing body, SL Aquatic Sports has decided to send only divers without presenting swimmers or the athletes for water polo events. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners charged that all hopes that justice would be served with regards the massacre of 27 prisoners at Welikada Prison on Nov 10, 2012 under the good-governance motto of the govt, had faded as the govt was allegedly having secret deals with those who are responsible for the deaths of these prisoners. Committee�s president, Senaka Perera, said no individual has been more..

Nov 10 (DM) Minister Malik Samarawickrama has called on professional organizations to take the lead in journey towards shaping SL�s future.�Addressing the inauguration of 37th National Conference of Chartered Accountants, Samarawickrama, who was the chief guest said that the world we are living in is very different and therefore it needs unleashed thinking.��We are at the beginning of a revolution that is fundamentally changing the way we live, work and relate to one another. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Sri Lanka and Bangladesh yesterday (9) agreed to extend co-operation in the areas of trade, commerce and industries, visiting Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said. He made these remarks at the fifth session of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Joint Economic Cooperation (JEC) in Colombo. JEC is one of the main apex instruments that enable the two nations to discuss and resolve economic and trade matters pertaining to their respective interests. more..

Nov 10 (LBO) Cabinet nod has been received to list Cinnamon as a banned commodity to import from other parts of the world. The move came after few incidents that Cinnamon produced in other countries re-exported to several countries under the Entrepot trade. Ministry of Primary Industries said as per the Customs records 4 Cinnamon containers were imported and re-exported to Madagascar under more..

Nov 10 (CT) Sri Lanka now has to adjust ourselves to a different style and approach in Washington under new Donald Trump political leadership, former Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohana said. He said that there is an opportunity presenting itself to develop a more mature and less servile relationship with Washington and be respected. Unless we rearrange our bilateral relationship deliberately and carefully, we are likely to be left to wallow in the shallows of global indifference. more..

Nov 10 (FT) New immigration hall, electronic mall at arrival terminal and expansion of departure concourse. Cabinet gave the takeoff signal for the Rs. 374 billion construction of a new immigration hall and electronic mall at the arrival terminal at the BIA along with the Rs. 261 billion expansion of the departure concourse. Cabinet papers detailed that the immigration hall and new mall construction had been awarded to Olympus Construction at a cost of Rs. 374 billion.� more..

Nov 10 (FT) Cabinet approved allocating Section II of the Central Expressway section from Meerigama to Kurunegala to local contractors at a cost of Rs. 137 billion but declined to explain why only one bid was received for each section or to respond to queries of opaque tender procedures. The cost for the section, spanning 39.29 km, ran into a dispute as bidders sent in contract packages that were 18%-20% higher than more..

Nov 10 (DN) Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne will present a cabinet paper next week to commence quarters construction programme in 2017 for the benefit of health staffs countrywide, Health Ministry sources said. Minister had stated that he will provide quarters for other health staffs in addition to doctors and nurses. �I decentralise power of the Health Ministry and did not take over any Provincial Hospital. Funds had been provided to develop Provincial hospitals,� he had stated. more..

Nov 10 (DM) The Ocean University here had recently received a good number of scholarships for its students to pursue their studies in recognized universities in the world. The political authority in charge of the subject had distributed these scholarships in a manner typical of a corrupt politician in a Banana republic like ours. The political authority had offered one scholarship to his own son and a few to some white collar bigwigs at secretarial level. more..

Nov 10 (DM) State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said a War Veterans' Department would be established next year to prevent a repitition of incidents such as that which occurred in front of the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday, when a group of disabled soldiers clashed with the police. He said that a War Veterans' Department would be set up that is similar to the War Veterans' Department of the US. more..

Nov 10 (CT) CB slashed Treasury (T) Bill borrowings by 63% at yesterday's auction in a desperate bid to cap rates, which nevertheless saw the weighted average yield (WAY) of the benchmark one year T-Bill rising by four bps to 10.14%. CB, originally offered Rs 28,000 million worth of T-Bills, but ended up offering only Rs 10,435 million at the auction which saw the WAY of the six months rise by nine bps to 9.56%, though that of 3 months tenure remained unchanged at 8.60%. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge N.V. Karunathilaka acquitted a Police Officer from a 19-year bribery case, filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. W.A. Lalith Kumara was indicated on eight counts, under Section 16 (b) and 19 (c) of the Bribery Act, with soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 on 2 Jan 1997 from Thalagedara Heenbanda and R.M. Amarasinghe, at Laggala, who were arrested for transporting furniture & timber without permit. more..

Nov 10 (DN) Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake will present the third budget of the National Unity Govt at 2 pm in Parliament today. The debate on the second reading of the budget and the committee stage will continue till December 10 after the budgetary proposals were presented in parliament for the financial year of 2017. �The 2017 Budget is aimed at focusing deficiencies for the last several years. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Police launched investigations to apprehend seven Indian nationals, earlier arrested for involvement in the kidney transplant racket, who had escaped from the Mirihana Detention Centre last Tuesday evening. Police sources said the seven Indians had escaped intensive security at the Mirihana Detention Centre, around 11.45 p.m. last Tuesday. The detention centre is controlled by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, to detain foreigners arrested in the country. more..

Nov 10 (Island) Minister Malik Devapriya Samarawickrama yesterday denied accusations about him interfering in affairs of other Ministries. "He is talking utter rubbish. I do not interfere with Ministries which do not come under my jurisdiction", the UNP Chairman said responding to an allegation made by Lanka Cement Plc. Working Director Riyaz Salley who told The Island that "an investor divulged that Malik Samarawickrama asked him to take-over Lanka Cement and run-it." more..

Nov 10 (CT) JVP forced the govt to take immediate steps to prevent Arjun Aloysius, owner of Perpetual Treasuries Company, which has been named as a questionable beneficiary in the alleged CB Bond frauds, from taking out the country his earnings from the two infamous Treasury Bond issue. JVP also requested the govt to temporarily remove former Governor of the CB, who has been accused in COPE report, more..

Nov 11 (DM) The most divisive US election is done and dusted. President-elect Donald trump overturned all projections of US media giants to garner a comfortable win at the election. ��In his first post-election speech, he praised his rival and said the country owed her a debt of gratitude for the hard work during her years as Secretary of State and promised to unite all America. �� Mr. Trump�s goal which he emphasized in his victory speech was to concentrate on uniting all Americans more..

Nov 11 (DM) So, great folly follows grand fraud, which is to say we are saddled not only with thieves but also fools. In its relations with our indispensable emerging superpower friend China, today�s UNP has reverted to its worst traditions�and those were symptomatic of one-term administrations.� My father used to say, don�t start anything you can�t finish. A Sunday newspaper reported that on his return from Delhi, Foreign Minister Samaraweera would summon China�s ambassador to more..

Nov 11 (SL) The Chairman and the Treasurer of the country�s oldest club, the Gymkhana Club in Colombo, have come under severe criticism for their alleged involvement in a scandalous contract, with a property developer without obtaining the proper approvals. Gymkhana Club Chairman Shammi Silva and its Treasurer Kapila Ranasinghe are accused of signing an agreement with a property developer to more..

Nov 10 (LeN) Chairman of Peoples bank cum chairman of Olympics Committee of the good governance govt is one �who has transactions with the most �leading heroin dealer in the country, based on reports supported with evidence reaching Lanka e news inside information division. This heroin magnate is none other than Wele Sudha, and his associate �is no less a person than Hemasiri Fernando, chairman of People�s bank more..

Nov 11 (DM) Alot of things have been said about SriLankan Airlines, country�s flag carrier. Though it used to be SL�s pride in the skies, of late it has become more of an embarrassment. Dismal financial performance of the airline has made it a liability rather than an asset. 2008 Emirates pull-out and the events that followed hadn�t helped the airline either. �Lately, SriLankan has been a hot topic debated on the political stage. more..

Nov 10 (NR) The report by the investigative committee pertaining to the tear gas attack on a group of retired disabled veterans who attempted to enter the Presidential Secretariat will be submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Order shortly. When inquired, the committee said the compilation of the report is complete. The committee is led by Senior DIG of Police CD Wickramaratne, while more..

Nov 10 (FT) The financial community, bankers, parliamentarians, civil society leaders and most importantly, the general public were relieved to learn that the much-discussed COPE report on the Treasury Bonds issue of 27 February 2015 which was termed by some quarters as a scam was finally tabled in Parliament without any division on Friday 28 October by its Chairman MP Sunil Handunnetti.�Certainly it was an arduous task more..

Nov 11 (CT) IGP Pujith Jayasundara says that although Sri Lanka is now free from conventional terrorism, they are very mindful of the threat of its citizens joining foreign terrorist organizations. "Sri Lanka is a country which suffered immensely from terrorism for well over three decades. It is with great pride that I state that we successfully routed terrorism in 2009," Police Chief said, addressing the 85th INTERPOL General Assembly in Bali, more..

Nov 11 (ST) Central Bank must shed the cloak of secrecy about how it does business and be more transparent by allowing the public access to information on how it raises funds from bond sales, treasury bills etc., AG Gamini Wijesinghe said. �There can be some sensitive information I agree and in cases like bond auctions secrecy has to be maintained up until the process is completed, but thereafter it should be completely open. more..

Nov 10 (Island) All Island Private Pharmacy Owners� Association (AIPPOA) urged the govt to amend a section of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act No 05 of 2015 with regard to pharmacies.�Chairman AIPPOA, Chandika Gankanda said association had urged the ministry to amend Section 131 as it would have an adverse impact not only on the pharmacies but also the families of the owners. more..

Nov 10 (CI) It took Sri Lanka little over 50 minutes to wrap up proceedings on the final day in Harare. Resuming on 180 for 7, Zimbabwe folded for 233 to give Sri Lanka a 257-run win. Rangana Herath, in his first and perhaps the last series as Sri Lanka captain - he stood in for the injured Angelo Mathews - celebrated a 2-0 series win with a ten-wicket haul. His match-figures of 13 for 152, his 7th ten-for in Tests, more..

Nov 10 (DM) 02:48 PM Proposal to import 15,000 cows at a cost of Rs. 400 million and give atleast 10 cows to a� farmer subjected to them employeeing atleast 2 Samurdhi beneficiaries. 02:46 PM Proposal to charge Rs 5,000 on a meric ton of sugar cane. 02:44 PM Rs. 74 million to CRI and Ccocnut Develpment Board. � 02:44 PM Rs. 50 million to the rubber institute. 02:42 PM Removal of several fee for exporting tea. more..

Nov 10 (CT) The message by Donald Trump's seemingly surprising electoral victory at Tuesday's US presidential election is, don't ignore the voice of the majority. One of Trump's clarion calls in his now successful bid to the White House was his anti-immigration policy and protectionism. As a commentator on CNN said yesterday, i.e. at Trump's victory speech at New York City, Trump has sought to build a wall, whereas 37 years to the day (9 Nov 1989), the Berlin Wall came down. more..

Nov 10 (CT) The recent, Negombo protest held by the fishermen came to an end, only after a promise from the political authorities that sand mining will not be done within a distance of 4km from the shore as before. Then a much publicized assurance was given that sand mining activity (dredging) will only be done, beyond 10km from the shore. However, much distressed fishermen and women are now reporting that the sand mining is done as usual within a distance of 4-6km, causing irreparable harm more..

Nov 10 (CI) Rangana Herath got to several milestones during the course of his 13-wicket haul in the second Test against Zimbabwe. 75: Number of Tests Rangana Herath has taken to reach 350 wickets. He is the second-quickest spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan to reach the mark. Overall, he is the sixth-fastest. 5: Consecutive Test wins for Sri Lanka. They won three against Australia earlier this year followed by the two wins against Zimbabwe. This is their second-longest winning streak. more..

Nov 10 (LT) In an environment where Katunayaka Int'l Airport employees� welfare facilities including uniforms and transport facilities have been slashed the authorities are engaged in a move of misusing vehicles incurring a loss of Rs.86,000,000 to the govt say reports. Modern super luxury vehicles have been ordered to provide transport facilities to the Chairman and higher officials of the administration while tractors and lorries have been provided for transport of employees. more..

Nov 10 (CT) This week in Trade Union Talk we speak of doctors and interviewed the General Secretary of the GMOA Dr Naveen de Zoysa. He stressed that the govt had created a sense of uncertainty about the pension scheme which is one of the major privileges that attract professionals to public service. Recently, doctors were faced with the issue of school admissions for their children. more..

Nov 10 (Island) Apropos news item headlined Pope makes complete overhaul of Vatican Liturgical Congregation on page 6 of Nov 9 late city edition of The Island, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has sent us the following statement: "I have been intrigued by the article appearing on page 6 of The Island today, (9th Nov). According to this report, the Holy Father Pope Francis is said to have removed some members of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship more..

Nov 10 (DN) Police reports issued to Health Ministry shows that 29,630 accidents and 2,207 deaths have occurred in the nine months to September. 2,019 accidents had resulted in deaths. 29% of deaths were due to road accidents, 6% due to drowning, 9 % due to suicides. The hospital records show that 34 % of accident victims were females while 66 % were males. Annually, 37,000 Sri Lankans are victim to road accidents, and a significant number of them become permanently disabled due to this. more..

Nov 10 (EN) Govt will encourage use of electric cars by reducing excise duty and giving an interest rate subsidy on loans to buy the vehicles, Minister Ravi Karunanayake told parliament. Delivering the 2017 govt budget speech, he said a Carbon Tax will be imposed on vehicles other than electric cars and tractors with the fee to include the existing emission test fee. He proposed to reduce Excise Duty on electric cars with power less than 100 KW, more..

Nov 10 (Island) Minister Rajitha Senaratne assured that patients would not be inconvenienced by imposing price controls on innovative medicinal drugs, which do not have suitable substitutes. He said that if he was to go by what some journalists had written, it would have taken another year to reduce drug prices. "What we are in the process of implementing is the manifesto of President Sirisena and proposals made by Professor Senaka� Bibile, which had not been implemented," he said. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge granted MP Udaya Gammanpila permission to go abroad. Gammanpila was granted permission to attend a wedding in India from 21 � 27 Nov and to attend a seminar being held in Japan from 9 -20 Dec. The Attorney General did not object to the request made by Gammanpila to travel overseas. AG had filed a Case, in the Colombo High Court, against the Defendant Udaya Gammanpila, in relation to an incident where he is alleged to have used more..