Aug 4 (CG) A mob threatened families of missing people who were attending a meeting organized by a NGO in Maradana this afternoon. The meeting was organized at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), at Dean�s Road, Maradan to listen to the plight of the families of those missing and was attended by some foreign diplomats as well. Organisers told the Colombo Gazette that one hour into the meeting, which was by invite only, a group of monks and some 20 others more..

Aug 4 (CT) The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) takes effort to maintain the title, 'Most child friendly country in South Asia' it gained from a report last year, citing several measures NCPA had taken, to uplift the standards of child protection in SL. NCPA had received 210,314 calls on its hotline, till end-June this year. Chairman, NCPA, Anoma Dissanayake said that the majority of those calls raised minor incidents. more..

Aug 4 (ST) The streets of Kandy are resounding with the sounds of the annual Esala Perahera with the Kumbal Perahera starting on August 1. With an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people, both local and foreign, arriving daily at the hill capital to watch one of the most venerated and culturally significant events in Sri Lanka, Dalada Maligawa officials say steps have been taken to ensure that standards are maintained. Cost of the preparatory work for the perahera was nearly Rs. 50 million. more..

Aug 4 (GDI) President Rajapaksa assured to launch a Bank exclusive for women joining the 'Rata Rakina Nil Pavura - Surakimu Maubima' Women's Convention of the Tissamaharama Electorate. The President made a surprise visit while the convention was taking place under the patronage of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa at the Singapore Hall on Saturday. President was warmly greeted by those present at the Convention. Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, MP Malini Fonseka and more..

Aug 4 (AM) Wasantha Siriwardhane, Principal of Mahinda College, Galle, has been removed from office with immediate effect, following a series of allegations on financial misappropriations. Speaking to Asian Mirror, a spokesman from the Ministry of Education said it took the decision to remove the Principal from office following a thorough investigation. He added that the misappropriations were. largely based on Grade 01 admissions. more..

Aug 4 (AD) OIC of the Excise Department�s special investigations unit has been arrested by the bribery commission for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs 50,000. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) stated that Excise Special Detection Chief Rosman Fernando had demanded a sum of Rs 500,000 from an illicit liquor brewer in Kalutara in order to refrain from taking legal action against him. Individual had already paid Rs 450,000 to the excise officer more..

Aug 4 (AM) A journalist in Vavuniya has lodged a complaint with the Vavuniya police station claiming that he had received death threats via phone calls. Navarathinam Kapilanath a journalist in Vavuniya on Saturday night had received warnings saying that he would be killed. Kapilanath has told that the caller said "You do not know us. Do you not wish to live after complaining about us to the police," after he threatened to inform the police. Kapilnath has told the police that the calls were more..

Aug 4 (DM) UNP said it would raise questions in Parliament about the incidents which occurred at several Colombo schools last week during a visit by a politician and a singer. UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the politician and the singer had violated regulations by visiting the schools without obtaining prior permission from the Ministry of Education. He said permission had to be obtained from the ministry even to purchase books for more..

Aug 4 (ML) Women�s International Shipping and Trading Association (better known as WISTA), was launched in Sri Lanka on the 3rd July, at the Hilton Residencies Colombo amidst a large and distinguished gathering including the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Chairmen & Chairpersons of leading Public and Private Sector Organizations and Institutes. WISTA Sri Lanka will function under the Presidency of Ms. Shehara Jayawardana, and consists of more..

Aug 4 (AD) The Water Board says that the 36 hour water cut imposed in several areas including parts of Colombo will continue in some areas and that the water supply will be restored by midnight today. The water supply to Kotte, Baththaramulla, Malabe, Thalangama, Koswatta, Kalupaluwawa, Thalawathugoda, Kalalgoda, Hokandara, Jayawadanagama, Hokandara, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa, Kesbewa, Borella, Kirulapone and suburb areas was suspended 36 hours more..

Aug 4 (LT) A group of thugs that broke into the hostel of University of Sabaragamuwa on the 3rd at about 2 a.m. has attacked a first year student of Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages. Thugs gagged the student, assaulted him, cut him with a sharp weapon and had fled. The student was admitted to Pambahinna Hospital and had been transferred to Balangoda Hospital later. There had been 5 in the gang of thugs. more..

Aug 4 (LBO) Sri Lanka's regulator driven consolidation is on track with 12 banks and 57 non-bank lenders submitting plans for mergers and recapitalization, the Central Bank said. Another 19 non-bank lenders have completed internal processes to allow them to submit the plans, the regulator said. Already 19 proposals have been approved. Consultants have completed Information Memoranda, Due Diligence Reports and Valuation Reports of 38 NBFIs which have been more..

Aug 4 (PTI) Govt is taking necessary steps to ensure release of boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen seized by Sri Lanka, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan today said. "The Centre is making all efforts in this regard, without an iota of doubt. The Ministry of External Affairs is holding meetings this week over the issue," the Minister, who was elected from Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu, said outside Parliament House here. Radhakrishnan, who is Minister of State for Heavy Industries and more..

Aug 4 (AM) The High Court today granted permission to the defence, the lawyers of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and computer experts, to access the Database of NDB Bank and inquire into the account details of the former CJ. The Colombo High Court issued this order by dismissing a request for a stay order filed by NDB seeking to prevent the defense from accessing its database. more..

Aug 4 (IANS) Members of the Tamil film fraternity assembled here Monday to protest against Sri Lankan government for a controversial article degrading Tamil Nadu CM J. Jayalalitha and PM Narendra Modi. The article was published on the Sri Lankan defence ministry's website. Members of Tamil Directors Union and Producers Council protested outside the Sri Lankan consulate here. Tamil film stars such as Vijay, Suriya, Vinay Rai, A.R Murugadoss, Sarath Kumar, Vikraman, more..

Aug 4 (HN) CID investigations revealed that Business tycoon Mohammad Siyam murder suspect Ravindu Gunawardana has exchanged telephone conversations with North Western Provincial Councilor Piyumal Herath. This information was revealed today when a confidential report was submitted to the Colombo High Court by the Attorney General. The report disclosed that Ravindu Gunawardana, who is the son of main suspect of Mohammad Siyam murder case and more..

Aug 4 (CI) Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal will play no part in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, having sustained severe swelling above his left ankle following the second Test against South Africa. Shaminda Eranga may be available for the first Test, however, providing he proves he has recovered well enough from a hand injury to field without complaint. Sri Lanka had named Lakmal in the Test squad in the hope more..

Aug 4 (CG) Consequent to the attack on the SriLankan Airlines booking office at Tiruchi, in India on Saturday, the City Police has provided security to the office. A team of police personnel have been deployed in front of the office to thwart any such untoward incidents. Police personnel forming part of the Quick Reaction Team have also been roped in to provide security to the airlines office. A nine-member team headed by a Sub Inspector is providing security in two shifts round-the-clock, more..

Aug 4 (PRIU) Sri Lanka, being an important player and stakeholder with its strategic location, will discuss and exchange matters of regional maritime security concerns at the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference this year. Galle Dialogue 2014 International maritime conference will be held in the port city of Galle on 1st and 2nd December 2014 at the Lighthouse Hotel in Galle with local and foreign participation from the maritime fraternity. The "Galle Dialogue" initiative, inaugurated in 2010, more..

Aug 4 (NS) The 13th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Workshop on Quality Assurance in Higher Education was held today with the participation of several key personalities including Minister of Higher Education, S.B. Dissanayake. The conference is hosted by Sri Lanka this time and is partnered by UNESCO. more..

Aug 5 (ST) While Lanka�s largest opposition party, the UNP, struggles to find fringe parties to form a united front to meet the challenge they face from the Government on the Uva polls plateau, a pint-sized party with a pint-size leader decides to alight from the seemingly unstoppable UPFA juggernaut and brave the hustings on its own � a move which has made the political grapevine rumble agog as to exactly what bizarre game plan is on, this time around. more..

Aug 5 (CT) I was more than disappointed when I read your editorial in the Sunday Times (Aug 2) where you directly compare the Hamas with the now vanquished LTTE suggesting that Hamas too is a terrorist organisation as Israel and its backers in west, the so-called �international community�, want the whole world to believe. It is open season on Muslims in Sri Lanka as in the whole world, so I will be treading on dangerous grounds when I say Hamas is not a terrorist organisation. more..

Aug 5 (SO) Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Prasanna Wickramasuriya dismissed allegations by the UNP over the MRIA saying that Sri Lanka was on the right course towards becoming the aviation hub of Asia. He rejected a recent report that poorly rated the BIA adding that all the well- known organisation in the field of rating airlines and airports worldwide had ranked Sri Lanka's primary international airport exceptionally. more..

Aug 5 (CT) The post-independent politics of Sri Lanka can be characterised as a two-party structure. Invariably, since independence we have seen the patronage of two leading political parties in shape of the UNP and the SLFP. Although more recently the Sri Lankan political landscape is punctuated by the sway of emerging political parties, having the clout of the king-maker, hence, an indication of the multi-party system and greater democratic propensity. However, SL, like many developing nations more..

Aug 5 (CT) Planning unity is of paramount importance for any political party to forge ahead towards victory. Unity is the only criteria for effective management that stabilizes the leadership. A political party that lacks unity will never possess well defined objectives to achieve targets and will end up with many failures. Plans drawn up by the leadership in an arbitrary manner without consulting the membership will only drive a political campaign into dire straits, losing sight of objectives. more..

Aug 5 (NS) Schools in similarity to homes are supposed to be safe havens for children. To date, there is greater awareness than ever about the topic. And also there is increased understanding of how serious it is and how many students are significantly affected by both emotional and physical violence in an environment that is supposed to protect and nurture them. How have we as a nation done in effectively addressing school more..

Aug 5 (CT) JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had a narrow escape when the cab he was travelling in collided with a 'tipper' truck carrying a sand load at Holipitiya on the Ratnapura-Horana road last week. Anura who was in the rear seat suffered shock and contusion on the chest though he did not sustain external injuries. A motorist driving past the scene of the accident who had recognized the JVP Leader as a victim of the accident had rushed him along with the other injured to Ratnapura hospital. more..

Aug 5 (ST) As predicted, the swing of the UNHRC this year towards initiating an inquiry into war time excesses in 2009 has forcefully enabled the emergence of a full blown military State in post-war Sri Lanka. As a result, even those fragile checks and balances which had survived emergency rule in the face of prolonged civil and ethnic conflict have been rendered redundant. The already tightly controlled space for expression and opinion has been restricted to the point of virtual paralysis. more..

Aug 5 (CT) In a dramatic turn of events that connect to tragic political assassinations over the past quarter century, the truth seems to be emerging in a slow but steady manner. Film idol, the late Vijaya Kumaratunga was known as the heart throb of the silver screen. The actor turned politician was shot dead opposite his Polhengoda residence in the manner most gruesome by an unidentified gunman on 16 February 1988. more..

Aug 5 (CT) To achieve the govt's ambitious aim of becoming a regional maritime hub and strengthen operations at the Colombo Port, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority plans to increase its handling capacity to 12.5 million TEUs and also connect the port and the Port City to the Katunayake Expressway. According to Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama the current container handling capacity, which is around 7.5 million TEUs, is not adequate to meet the increasing demand. more..

Aug 5 (SL) The concentration of governmental power at the present time necessarily means the exclusion of those who are not within the govt leadership�s range of special interest. Govt leaders frequently report on the rapid strides that the country is taking to achieve its development goals. They are able to show concrete evidence in the form of visible assets that include the newly opened Independence Square shopping arcade, the two new expressways and many greatly improved more..

Aug 5 (FT) WorkInSriLanka, a volunteer-led brain gain initiative that aims to position Sri Lanka as an attractive work destination, for highly skilled individuals and high calibre businesses, held its quarterly meet up in Colombo recently. The event was attended by nearly 100 expatriate Sri Lankans who have recently returned to Sri Lanka from countries including Australia, USA, UK, France, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, more..

Aug 5 (Island) GCE A/L exam commences today. Its importance to the children of ordinary people cannot be overemphasised; it is the only avenue open for them to realise their dream of receiving university education. More than 296,313 students are expected to sit it this year at 2,120 centres countrywide and only eight percent of them will be admitted to the resource-starved national universities. How stiff the competition is goes without saying. more..

Aug 5 (OD) On 17 May 2009 President Mahinda Rajapaksa cut short his visit to Jordan, and made a triumphant return to Sri Lanka. He signaled to the country, with supreme confidence, that the war between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE had ended. Confirmation came later the next day; the much dreaded LTTE leader was pronounced dead. The long war was indeed over. There was dancing and jubilation in the streets. Sri Lanka�s post-war woes had just begun. more..

Aug 5 (ST) The �National Integrity System Assessment (NISA) 2014 report presented by Transparency International (TI) strongly recommends dismantling the executive presidency and creating a more equitable balance of power among the executive, the legislature and judiciary. The president should give up holding any ministerial portfolios and there must be a limit on the number of cabinet ministers, the report stressed. more..

Aug 5 (Island) Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) has acquired a series of state-of-the-art immobilisation devices and a Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) package to further enhance treatment and patient care at its TomoTherapy Centre in Colombo. The company said these devices costing Rs 10.2 million, will helpto reduce patient setup time and ensure exact daily positioning of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, thereby increasing the more..

Aug 5 (Island) Hatton National Bank is a pioneer in microfinance in Sri Lanka and has been operating through its internationally renowned 'Gami Pubuduwa' programme for over 25 years. Considering the opportunity to be part of the upliftment of the rural economy in line with the national vision of Sri Lanka, the Bank was keen to further penetrate in to the untapped market potential in microfinance. Subsequent to evaluation of several options the Board of Directors of HNB has more..

Aug 5 (DM) In response to a longstanding cry by the spices and allied exporters, action is now underway to obtain the Geographical Indication (GI) for Ceylon cinnamon and other allied products of which the geographical origin and its possessed qualities will be identified with a unique sign in the international market place. Among other local authorities, the World Trade Organization (WTO), more..

Aug 5 (TP) Ooredoo Mobile Money has announced that customers can now send money directly to accounts at 28 banks in Sri Lanka from their mobile phones through an agreement with MoneyGram. Customers can also send money to more than 1,500 MoneyGram agent locations across the country, and enjoy one of the best exchange rates in Qatar and a competitive fee. Ooredoo Mobile Money is an instant, safe, convenient and cost-effective way to handle money transfers and other more..

Aug 5 (CI) 22: Number of years since either Pakistan or Sri Lanka have beaten the other in consecutive Test series. In the 10 years between 1982 and 1992, these teams played each other in four Test series, with Pakistan winning three and the other being drawn. In the fourteen series since then, the ten series that have had winners have been alternately won by both teams. The last series that had a winner was played in 2012, with Sri Lanka winning on that occasion. more..