Oct 30 (CI) Thilanga Sumathipala, Sri Lanka Cricket's president, has vowed to support Pakistan in their bid to host top-flight cricket on a regular basis. He was speaking at a media conference in Lahore, during SL's short visit for the third T20I. "Since we have experienced more than 30 years of war, we know what isolation means," Sumathipala said. "We have gone through more than 30 years of war in Sri Lanka, but more..

Oct 30 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said those who had expressed concern over a Chinese submarine docking at the Colombo port in late 2014 had received nuclear powered US aircraft carrier Nimitz led strike group at the same port over the weekend. MP Weerawansa said that India had reacted angrily to the Chinese submarine visit with Indian media alleging that it was a nuclear powered though the navy denied allegation. more..

Oct 30 (PSL) �President Maithripala Sirisena has a immense capability to overcome critical challenges faced by the country. He is the only leader who can give a solution to the national issue, with an agreement of all communities�, says Ven. Medagoda Abhayathissa Thero, senior lecturer of Sri Lanka Pali and Buddhist University. Ven. Thero made these remarks at the Katina ceremony and the religious ceremony held today (29) to open more..

Oct 30 (CT) It is conspicuous that Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) are competing to reign over the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF). Earlier, prior to the split and subsequent formation of FSP, it was the JVP that had the sole influence over the IUSF. FSP has now entered the scene and has ended up as a major competitor and a threat to the JVP's monopoly over the IUSF. more..

Oct 30 (CT) It has now been confirmed that the adoption of the National Audit Bill which appears to be stuck in the Yahapalana govt's network, is second only to the false promises given by various politicians in SL history that the Executive Presidency will be abolished. It has been established that politicians with a penchant for theft and certain top officials in the govt have created a phobia regarding imposition of surcharges more..

Oct 30 (AD) The PM of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, will visit Sri Lanka on November 2, the Australian High Commission in Colombo said.� PM Turnbull will meet President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit.�Prime Minister Turnbull said �this year marks the 70th anniversary of Australia�s bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, and I am delighted to be able to visit Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 30 (AD) UPFA MP Duleep Wijesekara, who was removed from his post of Deputy Minister of Port and Postal Services yesterday, says that he will join the JO and sit independently in Parliament.�He is currently participating in the protest organized by the Joint Opposition at the Parliament at the Parliament Roundabout.�After the Constitutional Assembly debate on the Interim Report of the Steering Committee formulating more..

Oct 30 (CT) USS Nimitz one of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world, along with several other American Naval vessels arrived in Colombo on Saturday. USS Nimitz is the first American aircraft carrier to visit SL, 32 years after the now decommissioned USS Kitty Hawk anchored in Colombo in 1985. Sri Lanka being the corridor for maritime activities between the West and East, from time immemorial SL remained an ideal geographical location for seafarers for transit purposes. more..

Oct 30 (EN) Container volumes handled at Sri Lanka's Colombo port rose 6.3% in the eight months to August 2017, with transhipment up 6% to 3.057 million twenty foot equivalent units, official data showed. Domestic volumes rose 7.4% to 913,382 TEUs, data released by the central bank showed. Total containers including re-stowing handled at Colombo was 4.021 million in the eight months to August, up 6.3% from a year earlier. In the month of August volumes grew 4.2% to 538,605 TEUs. more..

Oct 30 (FT) Imagine a situation like this. You make an online payment to your internet service provider using your bank�s internet banking portal. You follow all the safety measures imposed by the bank like the first step password entry to your account, validating the transaction by using a second password and clicking all the relevant fields on the dialogue box.�The payment is instantaneous and you get a transaction number from the bank. You immediately get an SMS on your mobile phone that more..

Oct 30 (SLN) The crew members of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sutlej which arrived in Sri Lanka on 26th �of this month, conducted a beach cleaning campaign at the Crow Island beach in Mattakkuliya yesterday (28). The beach cleaning drive was attended by officers and 35 senior and junior sailors of the Indian Navy. The initiative was well supported by 25 personnel of the SL Navy along with members from the SL Coast Guard, SL Police and Civil Security Department. more..

Oct 30 (Reuters) China and Sri Lanka should focus on strengthening cooperation over key investment projects, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday told his visiting counterpart from Sri Lanka, amid strong local opposition to some major Chinese-invested schemes. In July, Sri Lanka signed a long-delayed $1.1 billion deal to lease its southern Hambantota port to China, ignoring an appeal by more..

Oct 17 (AD) Former Deputy Minister V Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman has been exonerated by the Colombo Magistrate�s Court from the case filed against him regarding the alleged misuse of state vehicles.� When the case was taken up before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe today, FCID informed the court that Attorney General has decided not to take any further action regarding the defendant.�Therefore they requested the former deputy minister be exonerated from the case. more..

Oct 17 (EN) Sri Lanka�s govt is working on a trade facilitation platform that will simplify processes and reduce costs and time for exporters and importers, Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera said. �In order to realize Sri Lanka�s ambitions to become an Indian Ocean trading hub, it is essential that we streamline our trade processes to ensure efficiency, transparency, and integrity in a rule based environment,� he said. With the support of development partners, more..

Oct 17 (DM) There was ample time for the preparation of a draft for the new Constitution, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. PM made this remark at a function held in Hatton to distribute land title deeds for the plantation community last morning. "Some are talking about a draft of the new Constitution. No draft for the new Constitution has been prepared as at today. There is ample time to prepare draft of Constitution" more..

Oct 30 (TN) Former Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has lauded Sri Lankan team's visit to Lahore to play a T20 international as a good sign for the return of international cricket to Pakistan. "I am very happy to see that the Sri Lankan team is in Lahore and played a Twenty20 at the Gaddafi Stadium. Their visit is very important for our cricket and hopefully it will now lead to more teams to come to Pakistan," Waqar said. Waqar said the PCB deserves credit for bringing back more..

Oct 17 (AD) Six suspects found guilty over the attack on Douglas Devananda at the Kalutara Prison in 1998, have been sentenced to 10 and a half years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court.�� Delivering a verdict in the long dragged out case, which was heard without the presence of any defendants, HC Judge Piyasena Ranasinghe delivered the sentence today. A total of 16 accused had been charged over the incident while 9 of them including former top LTTE member more..

Oct 17 (DM) Amarapura Maha Nikaya in a statement on the Constitutional Reforms Steering Committee proposals and the alternatives if implemented would downgrade the present status afforded to Buddhism and compromise the unitary character of Sri Lanka. The statement has been signed by the Mahanayake of the SL Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Most Ven. Aggamahapandita Kotugoda Dhammavasa more..

Oct 30 (NR) JVP says it vehemently rejects the set of proposals issued by the govt pertaining to SAITM. The JVP said it is clear that the govt intends to change the name of SAITM and maintain it. The JVP accordingly said the party will not accept any other solution other than removing powers vested with SAITM of granting medical degrees. Presidential Committee appointed to resolve issues related to SAITM yesterday recommended abolishing the Faculty of Medicine at SAITM. more..

Oct 30 (Island) Ajith Dias Chairman, SriLankan Airlines Limited, has issued the following statement on our news item, yesterday, Sri Lankan chairman gets ticking off from the Prime Minister: "My attention was drawn to the Sunday Island article -SriLankan chairman gets ticking off from prime minister. At the NEC meeting held last Tuesday nothing on govt procurement procedures was discussed and that I was ticked off by the PM or the other comments attributed to him is completely false. more..

Oct 30 (DM) Responding to the Govt Information Department�s statement with regard to a final decision on SAITM, its management said today the relevant proposals need to be discussed at length with all stakeholders to ensure that justice was meted out to the concerned parties. SAITM's management said in a statement it would like to inform the general public and reiterate their legitimacy following media statements more..

Oct 30 (AD) Two Sub-Inspectors (SIs) of the Police Special Task Force (STF) were killed while a woman was critically injured after a train collided with a car at a railway crossing at Andagala in the Ambalangoda Police Division, a short while ago.�The Police Spokesman�s Office said that the injured person, the wife of one of the deceased, has been admitted to the Ambalangoda Hospital and is in critical condition.�A train traveling from Matara to Maradana had hit the vehicle more..

Oct 30 (DN) The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the victims of explosion of the Salawa Army Camp. Supreme Court three-judge-bench fixed the petition for argument on May 11. Through this FR petition, thirty petitioners, the victims of explosion of the Salawa Army Camp are seeking an order directing the respondents to pay compensations to the victims following a proper valuation. Petitioners cited the Secretaries to the Ministries of more..

Oct 30 (PTI) Tamil political representatives' acceptance of proposals in the interim report of the Constitutional Assembly represents a historic moment for Sri Lanka, a senior TNA legislator told parliament today. TNA's M A Sumanthiran was addressing the House when it met as the Constitutional Assembly started discussions on the interim report of all-party steering committee in order to formulate a new Constitution more..

Oct 30 (GDI) A four-member delegation from the European Parliament, led by MEP Jean Lambert, will visit Sri Lanka this week. The purpose of the visit is to meet Government and civil society representatives to discuss Sri Lanka's progress on national reconciliation and its implementation of the international conventions applicable to GSP+. The MEPs will also visit European Union (EU) funded projects in the North and will conduct an inter-parliamentary dialogue. more..

Oct 30 (DM) UNP today removed Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake from his UNP organiser post for Divulapitiya and appointed Kithsiri Manchanayake for the post. Srinath Perera was also removed from the post of Colombo East Organiser and Rosy Senanayake was appointed as the new organiser for the area. Party appointed 35 new organisers. Among others who received organising posts were Jayantha De Silva and Ajith Pathirana for Borella, Asoka Priyantha for Nattandiya, more..

Oct 30 (CT) A team of Australian medical experts is expected to arrive in the country tomorrow (31) to conduct research into the Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu), which has spread over several regions in the North Central Province. The research team is expected here as part of a MoU signed between the Presidential Task Force for the Prevention of CKDu and Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation. more..

Oct 30 (Xinhua) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Sri Lanka's largest business organization, said on Monday that it wanted to further strengthen commercial ties with China to attract more foreign direct investments (FDI) into the island country. A Chinese business delegation led by Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai (CPIT Shanghai) visited the CCC to hold discussions on commercial ties between the two countries. During the discussions, more..

Oct 30 (CT) The controversial files for individuals known as 'AM' and 'RK', maintained by Perpetual Treasuries Private Limited (PTL), are yet to be handed over to the PCoI investigating the Treasury Bond auctions of the Central Bank. 'AM' and 'RK' have been suggested as denoting the former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran and former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake. Secretary to the Commission, Sumathipala Udugamasuriya said that several individuals including more..

Oct 30 (DN) The GMOA has sent a letter to the President requesting an appointment for a meeting in order to inform him of GMOA's stand on SAITM solution presented by the Govt, GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said.�He said today that during the meeting with the President, GMOA also expects to resolve unclear facts mentioned in the set of proposals presented by the Govt to solve the SAITM issue. more..

Oct 31 (CT) Due to the prejudiced defiance of the ruling regimes in the past, many dejected youths in the Tamil community of the Northern and Eastern provinces, converged towards a militant movement, called LTTE. They resorted to armed conflict to accomplish their inalienable rights without the support of their Muslim brethren and were annihilated at the end of thirty years old struggle. The LTTE in these provinces, also universally conveyed a wrong message and committed more..

Oct 31 (CT) When UN Special Rapporteur Pablo de Greiff arrived in Sri Lanka on the 10th of October, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement the next day which said that �the govt is under no obligation to take his advice and will decide whether there was anything that they needed to heed in Sept 2018 when his final report would be presented to the UNHRC.� Pablo de Greiff however was to create a mini-storm at his mandatory press briefing at the end of his two week tour, when he chastised more..

Oct 31 (SO) Would a multi-disciplinary approach pave the way for Sri Lanka to burrow in the goldmine of the global wellness market? The organisers say Yes. In a bid to cut out a path to the already robust traditional and complementary (alternative) medicine market, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine and the Department of Ayurveda in collaboration with the University of Sri J'pura more..

Oct 31 (ST) The launching of the govt�s Vision 2025 (V 2025) was followed soon after by the PM�s statement on the economy in parliament. Are these twin events a turning point in the country�s economic performance? The ultimate objective of Vision 2025 is to make Sri Lanka a rich country by 2025. And it will be achieved by transforming Sri Lanka into the hub of the Indian Ocean, with a knowledge-based, highly competitive, social-market economy. Can the objective of Vision 2025 of making more..

Oct 31 (ST) Now and then � well more often than the phrase suggests � politicians turn their guns on the media. Which politicians turn on what media depends very much on the prevailing relationship between them. Woe unto the media that seek to comment adversely on politicians who fail to keep their faith with the public they claim to represent or cheat both the people and the state to fatten themselves and their families � immediate and extended. more..

Oct 31 (CT) Tamil community in the country must be given some sort of power through the new Constitution, and their concerns must be addressed, lest another war may take place, said State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle. She emphasised that a draft constitution has not yet been released & public misconception pertaining to an imminent Constitution is solely based on reports published by various parties. more..

Oct 31 (Island) Those who dismiss, as an urban myth, the reign of King Kekille, who was notorious for his wrong judgments, will have a hard time, proving that the bovine king never existed and our self-conceited political leaders are not his descendents. At a time when the public is fed up with raucous argy-bargies on whether or not the country should retain its unitary character, cynics may suggest that the Sri Lanka be converted into a kingdom & named after Kekille as a way out. more..

Oct 31 (CT) Judging by the debate initiated by Michael Morris, Lord Naseby PC, it is clear that we do have friends in the British establishment, an establishment that is decidedly not our friend. The whole blame though cannot be put on the British neo-colonist policies. It is obvious that we too have not attempted to make the correct impression in the world, not even with friends like Lord Naseby, who had been associating us for the last 50 years. His take on our pre-colonial history, more..