Aug 31 (TI) Earlier this year marked a historic moment in Sri Lanka as five MPs from across party lines came together to take a significant leap forward to improve the transparency and accountability of elected representatives. At a press conference convened by Transparency International Sri Lanka, the five MPs released their declarations of assets and liabilities for 2017�2018, making this information public for the first time more..

Aug 31 (FT) Respected corporate and telco veteran Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya will be delivering the keynote address at the 165th AGM of the Planters� Association of Ceylon which is set to take place on 20 Sept at Kings Court of the Cinnamon Lakeside at 7 p.m. Serving as the Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) since July of this year, Dr. Wijayasuriya made his reputation in the telecom industry over a remarkable career that now spans over a quarter of a century, more..

Aug 31 (Island) World Food Programme (WFP) was supporting Sri Lanka through its innovative and sustainable new project � R5. It was designed to target the most vulnerable rural communities to enhance their resilience against recurrence of natural shocks, reduce and mitigate climate risk reduction through the reconstruction of productive assets and ensure recovery and diversification of livelihoods, said Secretary, Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, more..

Aug 31 (FT) SriLankan Airlines is celebrating 40 years of flying with a massive year-long travel fest starting tomorrow, 1 September, with special discounted fares to online destinations throughout its route network on its official website Srilankan.com. The first promotion is being launched immediately with a very special Economy and Business class discount exclusively on Srilankan.com that is offered on 1, 2 and 3 Sep, for travel anytime over a nine-month period from 20 Sep to 15 July 2020. more..

Aug 31 (FT) The tourism industry has welcomed the much-awaited Govt decision to lift the State of Emergency, with a collective sigh of relief, with hopes that it will serve as a huge boost to the revival of tourism, SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) said. Minister John Amaratunga welcomed the move by the Government, adding that Sri Lanka within the last few months was able to neutralise the terrorist threat whilst consolidating its more..

Aug 31 (DM) Primary Industries and Social Empowerment Minister Daya Gamage is to submit a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers to make people legally bound to be dressed in batik clothing every Friday. Gamage who announced this move during the opening of the Batik Lanka Exhibition at BMICH yesterday said the objective of this new law was to promote local industries and products and also to give the opportunity to maintain a healthy local market for their products. more..

Aug 31 (CT) Massive protests were held in both, the Northern and Eastern Provinces, by the relatives of missing persons, yesterday (30), marking the International Enforced Disappearances Day. In the Northern Province, a protest was organised by the relatives of missing persons in Omanthai. At 10.30 a.m., relatives of missing persons gathered at the Vavuniya - Pandrikeithakulam Kovil to dash coconuts, more..

Aug 31 (Island) Dates for the prez election would be announced during the second half of October, Elections Commission sources said. They said that most probably the nominations would be called between Nov 15 and Nov 30 and the election would be held on a Saturday. As per the provisions of the Prez Election Act nominations for candidates have to be called within two weeks of its announcement and the election has to be held within five to seven weeks of the closing date of nominations. more..

Aug 31 (SLN) A Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Course for the Coast Guard and Navy officers of Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka commenced at the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Headquarters in Trincomalee on 19th Aug. The programme is being held under the guidance of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. The opening address of the course was held in the presence of Commander Dharmasiri Herath, the Training Commander Special Boat more..

Aug 31 (DM) While maintaining that he was not aware of the UNP General Secretary, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam calling for an explanation for alleged breach of party discipline from State Ministers Ajith P. Perera and Sujeewa Senasinghe, Minister Mangala Samaweera said one individual alone could not call for explanation from members of a political party. As far as he knows the two State Ministers have been called to more..

Aug 31 (DM) The world-renowned chef Peter Kuruvita will join as the guest chef representing Sri Lanka to deliver the contemporary version of Sri Lankan cuisine with the richness of Sri Lankan spices, at the Culinary Experience Pod event of Expo 2020 Dubai. The Culinary Experience Pod is a significant event planned to take place within the entire time period of Expo 2020 Dubai, featuring an array of authentic cuisines from all over the world and welcoming an equally diverse audience. more..

Aug 31 (DM) One should not hold rallies and dinners and spoil the UNP, its assistant leader Ravi Karunanayake said. �It is a crime to hold rallies around the country and hold dinners as such activities ruin the party,� he said. �Just give us time and we will decide on the best candidate,� he added. Meanwhile, UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim also said there is nothing wrong in holding meetings and claiming one's eligibility to be the party�s candidate, as that is democracy. more..

Aug 31 (DN) Extremist elements could be seen in every religion and every country and the religious leaders have a duty to act against them, Archbishop of Canterbury Most Reverend Justin Welby said yesterday. He made this observation when he met with the Mahayanake Theras of the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters of the Siyam Nikaya in Kandy. Archbishop Welby pointed out that modern communication tools have helped more..

Aug 31 (FT) UPFA MPs Dulles Alahapperuma and Keheliya Rambukwella have been appointed as the official Media Spokesmen of the SLPP and prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa respectively. The decision was unanimously taken during a JO party leaders� meeting held at Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa�s official residence on Thursday. The decision was promoted by the widespread criticism levelled at the SLPP after the media was blocked from covering the SLPP Youth Convention. more..

Aug 31 (Island) 3 persons, including interdicted former magistrate Thilina Gamage, were granted bail by Colombo High Court, after being indicted over the unlawful possession of an elephant calf. AG has indicted four accused on 25 counts for possessing an elephant calf named Sakura in Meegoda between Nov 6, 2008 and May 18, 2015. Chandrasena Bandara, an individual claiming to be the owner of the elephant, who is also the first accused, were remanded after failing to meet more..

Aug 31 (TL) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa have sent separate unofficial messages to Prez Sirisena that they have no objections to postponing the presidential election, sources from the Presidential Secretariat said. Sources also said that a proposal has been forwarded asking for the presidential and general elections to be held on the same day. more..

Aug 31 (DM) With SL still probing the hundreds of cases of enforced disappearances in the north, east and the south, yesterday�s UN international day of the victims of enforced disappearances, needs to draw the special attention of the authorities. Some Northern families have been at roadside protests for more than 900 days seeking the truth and justice for their loved ones who disappeared. Coinciding with this event they held a big protest yesterday with many Colombo activists also joining them. more..

Aug 31 (DM) At a time when the timing is critical to conform to the requirements prescribed in the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka as far as the holding of elections is concerned at different levels and also due to the rapid changing of scenarios and loyalties, with the need to conform to Party manifestos and rules by MPs and Party members, it is vital that options are considered for the good of the country, rather than for individual benefit either while being or aspiring to more..

Aug 31 (EN) Sri Lanka�s king-maker Tamil political coalition is moving towards a red candidate as their current ally, the UNP, remained locked in a power struggle, party sources said yesterday. The TNA is yet to officially declare its preference, but has ruled out backing the SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa because of his role in the no-holds-barred military onslaught that crushed the Tamil Tigers over a decade ago. more..

Aug 31 (ST) Police have been forced to pay on special security for garbage convoys from Colombo heading north to the Aruwakkalu tip to fend off a string of attacks and interruptions, and say they are prepared to call in the STF and army if needed. A senior police officer said armed Police security escorts were being provided for the garbage trucks, with Police vehicles and motorcycles deployed along the road between Puttalam more..

Aug 31 (Island) Presidential aspirant Nagananda Kodituwakku, yesterday, said a new constitution had to be introduced to salvage the country from the abyss it had fallen into. Kodituwakku addressing journalists, in Colombo, said "I am contesting the presidential election to overhaul the existing system as the country has been robbed by a bunch of criminals in the guise of politicians from the two major parties for the last 71 years. more..

Aug 31 (TL) Tamils in northern SL have been protesting the detention of a forensic expert who had provided crucial forensic evidence on several human rights abuse cases exposing the involvement of security forces. Director of the Palai hospital in the Kilinochchi district, Dr Sinnaiah Sivaruban, who is a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), arrested by the military is been held in Terrorist Information Dept (TID) custody since 18 Aug. more..

Aug 31 (RN) Secretary to the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Ravinatha Aryasinha says despite the challenges faced in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks Sri Lanka has bounced back strongly. Delivering the valedictory address yesterday at the Colombo Defence Seminar held at the BMICH, Aryasinha said that there are lessons to be drawn by other countries about dealing with terrorism from the lessons more..

Aug 31 (CI) On a warm weekend afternoon, a left-hand No. 5 batsman is on a fourth-innings warpath for the ages. There are fearsome quicks tearing in - bowlers who together form one of the most lethal attacks on the planet. They are breaking like waves but they can't quench this inferno. The batsman is cuttting, hacking, driving and reverse-bludgeoning his way through incredible odds. On the leg side, it's open season. more..

Aug 31 (AD) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa says the only govt that was empathetic towards the plight of women is the former administration. Addressing the first convention of SL Podujana Women�s Front held at today, former Prez said it was the country�s women who were the most worried about his defeat in 2015. �Although we lost the election, it was women who taught us that we were not defeated in people�s preference more..

Aug 31 (EN) The prez hopeful of SLPP, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa says special attention must be given to the welfare of women and children when ensuring national security. He stated this addressing the first convention of SL Podujana Women�s Front at SL Exhibition and Convention Centre in Colombo today. Rajapaksa, pointing out the considerable increase in violence against women & children more..

Aug 31 (TL) Founder and National Organiser of SLPP, Basil Rajapaksa is engaged in a sinister plan to obstruct the successful discussions that have been initiated between the SLFP and SLPP�s prez candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a senior SLFP MP said. The MP made this observation in response to Basil�s move to give membership and officially take over two UPFA National List MPs, S.B. Dissanayake and more..

Aug 31 (DM) In the backdrop of a brewing political crisis, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with Minister Sajith Premadasa for one and half hours at Temple Trees on Thursday evening to find a way out, a party official said. Mr. Premadasa took time off from a function at a temple in Embilipitiya and rushed to Colombo for a meeting convened by the PM and accompanied by Non-Cabinet Minister, Dr. Harsha de Silva. more..