Oct 27 (TM) The report of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks has raised the spectre of a dangerous possibility where a deeper state lies within the state. This deeper state, if at all it does exist, is immune and independent of the elected Govt and acts on an agenda dictated by vested interests. The world has been aware of such covert and overt governance structures in the West and the communist countries but the possibility for such a structure existing more..

Oct 27 (SO) Ten days after the 2015 presidential election, the MV Mahanuwara was detained by Galle Harbour police, on suspicion of carrying illegal weapons. That was the beginning of a scandal involving floating armouries owned and operated by a private security firm run by a former Major in SL Army. After the ship was detained on Jan 18, 2015, the CID quickly took over the investigation of the vessel docked at the Galle Harbour. more..

Oct 27 (ST) Ever since Maithripala Sirisena was elected Prez of this country in Jan 2015, for four years this island nation never witnessed a single terrorist attack or for that matter the many civilian marches held in exercise of their right as enshrined by Article 14 in the Constitution, never heard the sound of a single shot fired nor was a single death reported at any one of these protests. Beneath the din of democracy in practice, beneath the sharp cacophony of the clash of opinions the nation more..

Oct 27 (ST) This week, a citizen called into a popular (Sinhala) political programme on national television and asked the Minister being interviewed as to why it was that, one year following the 52-day old coup in Oct 2018 installing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM, no legal action had been taken against rowdy parliamentarians who smashed the Speaker�s microphone, poured water on his chair and threw chili paste into the eyes of policemen guarding him. more..

Oct 28 (TM) The 2019 prez election campaigns are well and truly in full swing. As rallies pick up across the country, candidates have begun to announce a series of strategies to develop the country, improve living standards, and expand employment opportunities. While a range of promises have been bandied about, this week�s manifesto releases mark a critical juncture for candidates to inform citizens about where their priorities actually lie for the next four years. Tax cuts, govt subsidies, jobs, and more..

Oct 28 (CT) The SLPP Prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa has released his manifesto on Friday with several pledges, mainly focusing on strengthening the economy of the country which remains in bad shape. Several aspects in the manifesto remain appreciative as far as reducing the burdens of the citizens of all walks of life in the country by giving relief from the excessive taxes. Deadliest separatist war escalated the defence expenditure and destroyed almost all healthy more..

Oct 28 (FT) The IMF is calling for prudent policies and fiscal discipline as Sri Lanka prepares for multiple elections stressing that the mandate from the latter must be used as an opportunity to accelerate structural reforms. �It will be important to maintain prudent policies and fiscal discipline in the run-up to and after the elections. SL still has high public debt. Central Bank and the Treasury have been proactive in external debt financing but more..

Oct 28 (Island) With only a few weeks left for the 2019 Prez Election, two questions seem to dominate our social conversations and news coverage: who will win? and what will be SL�s political destiny? In the absence of country-wide scientific polling, the first question is typically answered by using anecdotes, quasi-scientific, social media or social network specific speculations or gossip. The second question, which categorically stems from the liberal quarters of society, more..

Oct 28 (ST) TeeJay Lanka PLC is working with expert external design consultants to develop innovative fabric in a bid to enhance the company�s product portfolio, officials say. �Materials which come under stretch and better moisture management were developed and some were picked up by major apparel brands,� Hasitha Premaratne, Director, Teejay Lanka said. Much of the fabric is still imported from China to South Asia, in particular to Bangladesh, which takes a longer lead time. more..

Oct 28 (CI) Almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for Sri Lanka in Adelaide. And the one thing that went right for them, turned out badly. Lasith Malinga called correctly at the toss and put Australia in. Twenty overs later they had 233 against them. The chase was equally, if not more, one-sided as Sri Lanka limped to 9 for 99 to suffer their heaviest runs defeat in T20Is by a considerable margin. more..

Oct 28 (Reuters) The shadowy leader of the Islamic State group who presided over its global jihad and became arguably the world�s most wanted man, is dead after being targeted by a U.S. military raid in Syria, Prez Donald Trump said. �Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,� Trump said in a televised address at the White House, saying the U.S. had �brought the world�s No. 1 terrorist leader to justice.� As U.S. forces bore down on him, Trump said al-Baghdadi fled into a tunnel with 3 of his more..

Oct 28 (CT) India and Sri Lanka advanced to the final of the ACC Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019 yesterday. India recorded their second win in the preliminary round when they beat Pakistan by 7 wickets at Navy grounds Welisara, while Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets at R. Premadasa Stadium. The final will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday (27). At RPICS (SL won by 4 wickets) Bangladesh: 127 (48.3) (Sobhana Mostary 29, Fahima Khatun 21, more..

Oct 28 (CT) Lakshika Sugandhi and Ushan Thiwanka from Western Province walked away with the ultimate jackpot - the motor cars on offer - when they were adjudged best female and male athlete at the 45th National Sports Festival 2019 concluded at the unsupportive grass track of Vincent Dias Stadium, Badulla. After two disappointing days of competition, Sugandhi found her form when it really mattered and clocked an impressive 13.90 seconds to win more..

Oct 28 (Island) Tissapura Junior school situated in Andalla, Weerawila got a face lift with the Hambantota Int'l Port officially handing over a new two-story building and completely restored outer buildings for the use of 300 students and a teaching staff of twenty-four. At the handing over ceremony, chief guest, Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan said that it was encouraging to see Chinese companies not only being involved in major development in SL, but also engaging with more..

Oct 28 (FT) Hotels Association (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte last week called for private sector-led marketing along with tax reforms as key for Sri Lanka to harness its fuller potential in tourism. Speaking at the 54th AGM, Ukwatte made a compelling case for both suggestions citing global examples with regard to private sector-driven marketing. Noting that the industry is yet to recover from the unfortunate Easter Sunday tragedy, Ukwatte said it was likely that more..

Oct 28 (ST) Grand Hyatt Colombo (GHC), a 47 level skyscraper that will house an iconic 5 star luxury class hotel and serviced apartments marred with corruption and controversies during the previous Rajapaksa regime, is an incomplete building even after spending a staggering Rs. 21.6 billion. The project was earlier estimated to cost around Rs. 9 billion but was readjusted to US$302 million (Rs. 45.3 b) more..

Oct 28 (FT) The British Council in Sri Lanka and the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) are seeking to map the creative sector to include and reflect a wide spectrum of the creative sector in this exercise, (i.e. personnel engaged in businesses or professions in the creative industry). If you are a creative (see categories below) and if you consider yourself or your business to be engaged in a creative sector, the mapping team wants to hear from you. more..

Oct 28 (CT) Sri Lanka participated at the GIC 2019 - Food and Beverage Sector Int'l Exhibition, which is one of the most popular professional food and beverage sector exhibitions in Canada. GIC is visited by several thousand buyers, buying agents, importers, food sector distributors, experts, wholesalers, and retailers. The event was held in Toronto from 22 to 23 Oct. Sri Lanka's national participation was coordinated by the High Commission in Ottawa and more..

Oct 28 (FT) Central Bank Governor during former Prez Rajapaksa�s regime Ajith Nivard Cabraal on Friday declared We are ready to take over and kick-start the economy, which he said has been contracting since 2014. �We are on top of the situation and we are ready to take over. We are ready to start the engines of growth again. We will not say we need 3 more months to think about. For the last four years, more..

Oct 28 (CT) ATG Group of Companies through its sustainability programme recently partnered with 22 Division of the Sri Lanka Army to plant 1,500 trees in Morawewa, Trincomalee. The programme was fully financed by the ATG Group with an investment of Rs 3.1 million and initiated by the SL Army together with other State organisations such as the Central Environmental Authority, Forest Conservation Dept and Dept of Wildlife Conservation. The entire vegetation which consists of f a host of more..

Oct 28 (EN) Sri Lanka will scrap a controversial carbon tax from the end of the year, under tax changes passed in parliament. SL brought a carbon tax for cars escalating for older cars used by less affluent persons who drive less. But Minister Mangala Samaraweera has now scrapped the tax. However it will be charged for 2019. It will be removed from Dec 1, 2019. SL proposed the carbon tax despite charging a lower tax for diesel so that the more expensive fuel is cheaper at the pump more..

Oct 28 (AD) NDF Prez Candidate Minister Sajith Premadasa says that he will create a strong country within a unitary state. Speaking at a public rally, Premadasa said that he would not allow foreign nations to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. He says that he will protect Army Commander Shavendra Silva, who was dedicated to freeing the country, with his life. Premadasa stated that he will continue to keep Silva as Army more..

Oct 28 (AD) NPP Prez Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayaka says that fellow prez candidate Sajith Premadasa�s stage is full of extremists. Therefore, one can never defeat terrorism by voting for the NDF candidate, stated Dissanayaka. He mentioned this addressing a public meeting held in Eravur, Batticaloa. He pointed out that the Easter attacks was an attack on Muslims as well as Catholics. Dissanayaka declared that he will never join racists or extremists to his political campaign. more..

Oct 28 (CT) Test match cricket is likely to make a return to Pakistan in Dec 2019 with the PCB putting forward Rawalpindi and Karachi as possible venues for the two-match series against Sri Lanka. ESPN understands progress has been made with regard to ensuring the Test series takes place in Pakistan - the first of its kind since 2009 - with the Board just awaiting the go-ahead from Sri Lanka Cricket. As for the players themselves, it is not yet clear who, if any, are reluctant to tour. more..

Oct 28 (AD) Office of the President has categorically denied the allegations made by PM Vijitha Herath that an amount of Rs 8 billion has been allocated for the personal use and future endeavors of the Prez. Office of the Prez, stated that the relevant allegations are completely false and baseless. Recently, media reported that JVP MP, at a press conference, had stated that another Rs 2.4 billion has been allocated for Prez through more..

Oct 28 (AD) Large-scale heroin racketeer and organized crime figure Tharanga Hettiarachchi alias Kudu Dileepa has been arrested, the Police stated. The arrest has been made at the Nagahamulla Road in Wellampitiya in a raid carried out by the officers of the STF. The officials have seized a foreign-manufactured firearm found on the suspect at the time of arrest. Upon a search at the suspect�s house, the officers have discovered an air rifle, 3 steel swords, and a mobile phone. more..

Oct 28 (Island) Elections Commission (EC) has received 1,835 complaints by 4 pm on Oct 26, NEC said. It states that it has received 586 complaints directly while its district offices have received 1249 complaints. Of them, 17 are of election related violence, 1,738 election law violations and 80 other issues. PAFFREL said that it had received 254 complaints by yesterday morning. They include 19 cases of threats and assaults, 93 cases of misuse of public property and 28 cases of bribery. more..

Oct 28 (AD) The incumbent govt will never be able to ensure the security of the country, according to SLPP Prez Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He pointed out that this is because the current govt has a Cabinet of ministers that who subjugated to influences of foreign nations and NGOs that are against the freedom struggle and war heroes. He stated this addressing a public meeting held in Meegahakiwula area, yesterday (26). more..

Oct 28 (FT) NPP prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake unveiled his election manifesto titled Hope of a Nation. The manifesto is aimed at strengthening democracy and the rule of law, ensuring a corruption free administration and a State in which public security and national peace are ensured. It also lays down proposals to create an intelligent, healthy and environmentally sound nation and also has proposals to bring about national unity and improve agriculture and other sectors. more..

Oct 28 (AD) The atmospheric disturbance in the southwest Bay of Bengal to the south of Sri Lanka is likely to move to the sea area to the west of the island through the southern sea area today. Under the influence of this system, showery condition is likely to enhance over most parts of the island particularly in the Northern, Eastern, Uva, Southern, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces until 29th Oct. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most provinces of the island, DMC said. more..

Oct 28 (TS) Investigation papers involving 12 detained Malaysians, including two lawmakers from the DAP, for alleged links to a SL militant group have been forwarded to Attorney General's Chambers, counter-terrorism chief Ayob Khan said. The arrest of the men has raised tensions within Malaysia's governing coalition Pakatan Harapan that includes DAP, with claims & counter-claims over their alleged involvement more..

Oct 28 (Island) Prez candidates are making a plethora of promises, which, if fulfilled, would make this country the best place to live in, on earth. Having included those attractive pledges in their election manifestos, those crafty politicians must be laughing up their sleeves, for they know most people are gullible enough to fall for their promises, hook, line and sinker. The two main candidates, Gotabaya Rajapaksa (SLPP) and Sajith Premadasa (New Democratic Front) are apparently competing more..

Oct 28 (DM) On Saturday, US Prez Donald Trump triggered a wild guessing game after announcing on Twitter that something very big has happened, amid rumours that the US military had killed the Islamic State leader. White House spokesman, Hogan Gidley, said Donald Trump planned to make a major statement at 9 am on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, rumours have been swirling that the US Prez was going to announce on Sunday the killing of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) leader Abu Bakr more..

Oct 28 (TM) Top officers of the CID have raised fears over their safety and one officer last week informed the court that he was facing pressure from the highest office in the country. Officer-In-Charge of the Gang Robberies Branch of the CID, IP Nishantha Silva told the Colombo Fort Magistrate that he had been facing numerous difficulties while conducting his duties as a police officer and was also under pressure from more..

Oct 28 (TM) A former SL Navy Commander has been named the 16th suspect in the high-profile Magistrate�s Court case over the disappearance of 11 youths, allegedly tortured in a secret cell at the Gunside Navy Camp. The CID, in a B-report submitted to Fort Magistrate last Wednesday, said that a request was made to Court to issue notice to former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda but was refused, more..

Oct 28 (RN) Media in Sri Lanka becomes very controversial during election times, and allegations of bias, malicious reporting and fake news become as common as Tuk-tuks on the streets of Colombo. This is also the first major election being fought after the Media was granted unprecedented freedom following the advent of the Good Governance administration in 2015. But, that freedom has now resulted in questions being more..

Oct 28 (Island) Sixty seven maternal deaths had been reported so far during the current year, the latest edition was an abortion victim from Jaffna last Friday, said Dr. Kapila Jayarathne, National Program Manager, Maternal and Child Morbidity and Mortality Surveillance, Ministry of Health. Speaking on the topic Influenza vaccination in pregnancy at the Vaccine Forum of SL�s 10th Annual Symposium on Vaccines, more..

Oct 28 (MFA) Addressing the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan on 26 Oct, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reaffirmed Sri Lanka�s commitment to the founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and called for the group�s collective attention to the need to address contemporary global challenges, highlighting in particular, poverty and terrorism. more..

Oct 28 (Island) Election monitors, urged the Elections Commission (EC) to reconsider the deployment of members of GMOA for election duty as the organisation had consistently shown that they were biased towards a particular political party. "On Oct 25, we wrote to the EC about the President of the GMOA, Anuruddha Padeniya attending the launch of election manifesto of SLPP prez candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. more..