Dec 12 (FT) Minister Malik Samarawickrama moved several regulations and bills yesterday before Parliament adjourned until 23 Jan 2018. Firstly, the regulations made by the Minister under Section 20 read with Subsection (3) of Section 4 and Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 amended by acts No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2044/40 of 9 November 2017 was moved for lawmakers� approval. more..

Dec 12 (DN) A farmer was arrested by Moragoda police for allegedly killing a 9-foot tusker by electrocuting it at Alagollewa, Moragoda. He was remanded till December 15 when he was produced before Kekirawa Acting Magistrate M.A. Koswatte on Saturday. The suspect was identified as Pradeep Shiran (28) of Galenbindunuwewa, Moragoda. Police informed court that the suspect was arrested following a complaint made by an officer attached to Ritigala office of Wildlife Dept. more..

Dec 12 (CT) Pushing its 2015 initiative to bring about a clean political culture within the country once again, March 12 Movement announced that they were already in possession of accumulated evidence against certain political parties which are sponsoring convicted criminals as candidates at the forthcoming LG elections. Numerous members of the March 12 Movement noted that despite many of the leading more..

Dec 12 (CT) The Secretary of CEB Joint Trade Union (JTU), Ranjan Jayalal said, if approval is granted to the illegal salary structure in the CEB known as the E Scale during today's Cabinet meeting, the CEB JTU will opt for a continued strike action with immediate effect. He said, to a certain segment of the CEB workforce, a salary increment from 60 to 120 per cent had been given during 2014 and due to that the loss suffered by the CEB had been tabulated at Rs 22.5 billion. more..

Dec 12 (Island) A parliamentary debate, scheduled for seven hours, to discuss the need for a new constitution and the contents of the Constitutional Steering Committee report lasted only two minutes for want of speakers. Traditionally the parliament meets after the end of the budget debate the following year. Hence parliament was to meet on Jan 23 next year. As the MPs had declared that it was a necessary to discuss the proposed new Constitution, a special date was allocated more..

Dec 12 (Island) Deputy Leader of the breakaway JVP faction NFF MP Weerakumara Dissanayak received SLFP membership from President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena. Former MP and Chairman of NFF Piyasiri Wijenayake and North Central Province PC member P.B. Kumara, too, received SLFP membership. Anuradhapura District MP Dissanayake switched his allegiance to President Sirisena close on more..

Dec 12 (FT) Sri Lanka has topped the National Geographic Traveller UK�s coolest destinations list for 2018. The popular magazine�s upcoming Jan/Feb 2018 edition features 18 destinations which are set to make it big in 2018. The magazine reveals the coolest haunts, the hippest hangouts, the bucket list breaks and the enthralling escapes. Ranking Sri Lanka as the number one, the magazine states: If any country offers a better all-round travel experience than Sri Lanka, more..

Dec 12 (FT) Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera has called on the Presidential Commission of Investigation (PCOI) into the Treasury bond scam to give him the opportunity to cross-examine the investigating officers probing Sri Lanka�s largest financial scandal. The Deputy Minister, who was recently implicated in having had phone conversations with Perpetual Treasuries chief Arjun Aloysius, has through his Attorney made several requests of the PCOI such as the Minister be more..

Dec 12 (FT) Unable to cope with the increasing costs of natural disasters, Govt amended the Appropriation Act No. 24 of 2016 to increase the borrowing limit. Appropriation (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament with 53 voting in favour of it while eight voted against the amendment. Moving the motion, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that the series of natural disasters the country faced during recent past had generated a heavy more..

Dec 12 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara yesterday (11) ordered the Cinnamon Gardens Police to arrest nine suspects, including the Convener of the IUSF Lahiru Weerasekera and to produce them in Court. Arrest warrants were issued on the suspects, Lahiru Weerasekera, Isaru Indika, Amila Sandaruwan, Dhanuja Chinthaka, Suresh Lakmal, Sameera Indranath, Athma Priyadharshana, Indika Dharmawardena and K.M. Priyadharshana. more..

Dec 12 (Island) Condemning the strike launched by the railway unions demanding higher salary structures as unjustifiable, Deputy Transport Minister Ashok Abeysinghe said that an engine driver earned Rs. 226,000 per month with overtime. He said following the increase of govt servants� salaries by Rs.10,000, in the last two years, salary of an engine driver had increased by Rs. 22,000 and by 2020 it will reach Rs. 54,000. "An engine driver earns Rs.1,75,000 - Rs.180,000 per month more..

Dec 12 (DN) Transport Ministry Secretary G.S. Vithanage said eight railway unions which were on strike have decided to report back to work. He explained that the govt planned to recall all retired staff back into service, drivers working at the periphery of stations to be trained under seniors to operate as engine drivers and to recruit workers as guards. �We will not be able to return the service back to normal but we can manage to keep it more..

Dec 12 (DM) Last week, at a UNESCO organized conference to end impunity of crimes against journalists, PM found fault with lack of attendance by media personnel, and alleged that some media organizations and senior journalists were at cahoots with the former regime. Perhaps a better explanation for the media fraternity�s indifference towards those political show-boating is that they believe those events have no real impact on media in general or the public at large. more..

Dec 12 (DM) Let me share with your readers some lunch time experiences in the Fort in mid 1960s. In 1967, working as an audit trainee at a reputed firm of Chartered Accountants as a school leaver, I travelled by CTB from Panadura to Fort [there were no private bus operations then] a journey that took only 45 to 50 minutes during the rush hour. Our office was on the third floor of York Street�s Bank of Ceylon building. The passages, corridors and pavements in the Fort were crowded while more..

Dec 12 (DM) comes to a close families of the disappeared still linger in hope that their loved ones would return. Some have been missing for decades and yet their loved ones express hope of their return. In the Budget 2018 speech Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that Office of Missing Persons (OMP) will commence operations from 2018. However the debates on the Enforced Disappearance Bill have been postponed twice. Against this backdrop civil societies have more..

Dec 12 (CT) Save the Girl Child, a group of concerned citizens representing the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, Family Planning Association of SL and Mumbai-based Sahiyo, a transnational organization working to end Female Genital Cutting (FGC) among the Dawoodi Bohras in Asian communities, provided Ceylon Today with testimonials based on interviews conducted with females who have themselves undergone and experienced or witnessed more..

Dec 12 (Island) Joint Opposition MP Ranjith de Zoysa alleged that reunification talks between the SLFP and the grouping loyal to former President Rajapaksa, MP, had collapsed due to the former voting last Saturday for yahapalana govt�s budget for next year. He said so when The Island queried the SLFPer about last minute efforts to reach an understanding with President Sirisena to avert a split at the forthcoming LG polls. more..

Dec 12 (Island) Members of the Central Provincial Council will leave for China on an educational tour in three batches shortly. The first batch of councillors comprising eleven from the ruling coalition and the Opposition will leave today (12). The second group will leave for China on Friday (15) and the third group on Friday (22). The year-end tours of the provincial council members cost the provincial council about Rs. 15 million, more..

Dec 12 (CT) The IMF conveyed three vocal messages to the Govt when they released the fourth tranche of US$ 251.4 million on Thursday, taking total disbursements to $ 759.9 million, of their $ 1.5 billion loan to the Central Bank of SL. All those messages were ruthless as far as the plight of the common man was concerned, at least, superficially. Those were continuous fiscal consolidation, building up foreign reserves more..

Dec 12 (CT) Banking sector bad loans increased by a thumping 18.8% (Rs 26.8 billion) to Rs 169 billion in the first eight months of the year, led by the tourism and agriculture sectors, latest data showed. Dengue and rabies have hit tourism, SL's third largest foreign exchange earner, while climate change has taken its toll on the agriculture sector. Numbers from the island's major tourism markets, in terms of value, namely more..

Dec 12 (DN) Right to Information (RTI) Act is important in establishing a strong social contract between the govt and people, said Minister Mangala Samaraweera, as he appealed to Information Officers to open the govt to the people. Addressing 2100 Information Officers from the Western Province, Minister asked that the Officers be sensitive to the demands of the public and to do their utmost in their new responsibilities to more..

Dec 12 (DN) While promising strict legal action against those who violate election laws at the upcoming Local Govt polls, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said cases filed in court will be backed by modern technology such as video footage. Speaking to the media in Colombo, Gunasekera said Police will file cases immediately against such violations in order to punish perpetrators at the earliest. more..

Dec 12 (ST) With Wednesday�s announcement by the Cabinet that emergency heart surgeries would be carried out in private hospitals due to some issues that have arisen at the National Hospital of SL, there were many sighs of relief among heart patients and their relatives. Under a joint proposal, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Rajitha Senaratne have stated that these emergency heart operations would be more..

Dec 12 (LBO) Govts of Sri Lanka and the US has launched a two-year HIV/AIDS Technical Assistance Partnership to fast track govt efforts to end AIDS by 2025. USAID, through the President�s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief will help to transfer promising solutions, new technical skills and innovations to contribute towards ending AIDS in Sri Lanka. �USAID Sri Lanka has been working closely with the Govt of SL on more..

Dec 12 (CT) A cross section of essential food items, numbering 19 out of a total of 21, in the last four years have seen their prices increase by a minimum of 14% to a maximum of 167%, despite the imposition of price controls on some of them. Four years ago in Dec, 2013 President Rajapaksa was at the height of his power. It's taken as the benchmark year for this comparison. Dec 2014 may be discounted because Rajapaksa provided steep discounted prices then in a vain bid to win more..

Dec 12 (FT) I won�t beat about the bush today. I don�t want to talk about stuff and nonsense when there are better things to discuss such as enterprising budgets and how this Govt�s growth and development initiatives are made of star stuff. I can�t however ignore the idiosyncratic and arguably irresponsible statements made by senior so-called statesmen about the alleged collusion of my colleagues with the legions of the demonstrably corrupt he so evidently despises but more..

Dec 12 (PTI) 27 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the SL Navy for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters early today, an official said. The fishermen from Jegadapattinam and Kottaipattinam in Pudukottai district were arrested off Neduntheevu by SL Navy and taken to Kangesanthurai port there along with five boats. In another incident, nearly 3,000 fishermen who had ventured into the sea last evening in 500 boats from here were chased away by SL Naval personnel more..

Dec 12 (DN) The case filed against former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Nalaka Godahewa and two others, in connection with their alleged involvement in conspiring to misappropriate Rs. 5 million of funds belonging to the SEC was yesterday fixed for further trial by the Colombo High Court. Judge R. Gurusinghe fixed the case for further trial on Feb 14. Defence Counsel who appeared on behalf of the accused sought a further date for the trial. more..

Dec 12 (AD) Two delegations representing Sri Lanka from the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development and Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment took part in a conference on resilient infrastructure, to share experiences from Sri Lanka and draw lessons from the region for implementation in the country. The conference titled Holistic Vision for Resilient Infrastructure was held on the 11-12th of Dec 2017 in Cambodia more..

Dec 12 (DM) The hand symbol of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will appear on the ballot paper for the first time since 1991 at the upcoming local govt elections, party officials said yesterday. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the SLFP would field candidates under the hand symbol in some areas and the betel leaf symbol of the United People�s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in other areas. He said the last time the the SLFP contested on its own was in 1991. more..

Dec 12 (NR) State Minister Palitha Range Bandara has been acquitted on the charge of authorising to fraudulently issue documents for a luxury vehicle which was illegally assembled. The order was issued by Colombo High Court Judge AAR Heiyanthuduwa. The case was filed by the Attorney General. During today�s hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake said the plaintiff has presented an affidavit to the defendant to arrive at an agreement over the case. more..

Dec 12 (NR) The Cabinet has approved the appointment of a 5-member Ministerial committee to hold discussions with railway employees engaged in the strike. When inquired, it was revealed that the appointment was made during a Cabinet meeting held this morning. The railway strike launched by 12 trade unions of the Department of Railways continues for the 6th day with little to no progress more..

Dec 12 (PTI) Supreme Court today said the CBI-led investigation in the larger conspiracy behind the assassination of former PM Rajiv Gandhi does not appear to have achieved much headway. The apex court referred to the reports filed before it by the CBI and observed that the investigation by the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) could be endless. The MDMA is headed by a CBI official and comprises officers from IB, RAW and Revenue Intelligence and other agencies. more..

Dec 12 (SLA) Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, presently in Sri Lanka on a five-day long goodwill visit, called on the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake at the Army Headquarters Monday. Major General Shavendra Silva, Adjutant General at the Army Headquarters received the visiting Indian Air Force Chief. A Guard Turnout plus a Guard of Honour presented by SL Sinha Regiment troops more..

Dec 12 (DM) Environment Ministry will ban importing of household electric appliances that contain Hydrochloro-flurocarbon (HCFC) effective from Jan 1st, 2018 as the use of HCFC is extremely harmful to the environment and to the ozone layer. The electric equipments thus banned from next year are: Freezer or Refrigerated trucks or Refrigerated containers, Refrigerators, Freezers, Water coolers, Ice machines, Air conditioning more..

Dec 12 (DM) Hatton Magistrate T. Saravanaraja yesterday ordered the Maskeliya Police to arrest Jeevan Thondaman, the son of CWC General Secretary and Parliamentarian Arumugam Thondaman and produce him in courts regarding an alleged attack on a National Union of Workers� (NUW) supporter who had participated in a funeral in Maskeliya. Police earlier arrested four CWC suspects who had surrendered to the Police over this incident and produced them in courts. more..

Dec 12 (INASP) Autism is a neurological and developmental diagnosis seen from early childhood marked by difficulty in communicating, forming relationships and using languages. In Sri Lanka, one in 93 children have been found to have autism. Studies have shown that the condition of an autistic child can improve with early diagnosis. Early diagnosis and provision of further information to caregivers is largely linked to the level of physicians� knowledge of autism. more..

Dec 12 (Island) Despite children�s massive online presence � 1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child � too little is done to protect them from the perils of the digital world and to increase their access to safe online content, UNICEF said in its annual flagship report. The State of the World�s Children 2017: Children in a digital world presents UNICEF�s first comprehensive look at the different ways digital technology is affecting children�s more..

Dec 12 (DM) The PHU said a letter of thank sent by President MSirisena to Lord Naseby had been kept concealed by the govt due to the pressure of Tamil separatists. MP Udaya Gammanpila said Lord Naseby of the British House of Lords made a statement in UK Parliament in October saying no war crime was committed in Sri Lanka. �President has sent a letter on behalf of Sri Lanka thanking Lord Naseby. This should be commended but neither SL nor UK knows about this letter,� more..