Dec 7 (CT) Former SEC Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa is wanted for questioning by the FCID for the alleged misappropriation of Rs five million of SEC's monies. ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said that this alleged offence has taken place in 2013. He declined to name this organization, though it's widely believed the monies were gifted to a private company allegedly connected to Tharunyata Hetak, more..

Dec 7 (ST) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the capital market regulator, SEC are concerned about some listed firms that have never been traded or only have had a few trades, since they went public a few years ago. �The SEC is going though the history of these firms and the CSE will try to entice them to be more active in trading,� a source told the Business Times. Some were listed about two years ago, through introductions, which are a less-expensive alternative to an IPO. more..

Dec 7 (FT) Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) will launch a certificate course in nanotechnology which will be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. The course will be conducted over four Saturdays starting 9 Jan 2016 by senior SLINTEC personnel and will introduce the underlying principles and applications of the emerging fields of nanotechnology and nanoscience. Course instruction will be delivered through a combination of lectures and practical sessions more..

Dec 7 (FT) UNP Media Head and Working Committee member Krishantha Cooray has resigned from the Board of Sri Lanka Telecom as an Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 Dec, the company said in a filing to the CSE last week. Filling the vacancy on the Board is W.K.H. Wegapitiya with effect from 2 Dec 2015. Cooray was among three appointed to SLT Board after the change of Govt by the then more..

Dec 7 (CT) The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka wrote to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to urge him to pardon the two Sri Lankan migrant workers who were convicted for adultery. A 45 year old, unnamed Sri Lankan migrant domestic worker and mother of 4 has been sentenced to death by stoning in Saudi Arabia for adultery and the male migrant worker is to receive 100 lashes. Writing to the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said; more..

Dec 7 (DM) A minor flood situation remained in several parts of the country with sluice gates of almost all major reservoirs opened after the water levels reached spill level. Accordingly, gates of Kala Wewa, Rajangana, Agamuwa, Nuwara Wewa, Nachiduwa and Tissa Wewa in Anurdhapura, Senanayake Samudra and Parakaram Samudra in Polonnaruwa, Thabowa, Deduru Oya in Kurnnegala, Lunugamvehera, Muruthuwela in the South and Veheragala in Uva and Inginimitiya reservoirs more..

Dec 7 (FT) The first draft of the Megapolis project will be fine-tuned this week before being presented to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe ahead of Parliament wrapping up its duties for 2015, according to a top official. Western Regional Megapolis Project Chairman Ajitha de Costa said that efforts are underway to complete comprehensive studies and data gathering on the regions included in the Megapolis framework more..

Dec 7 (TRF) With a financial envelope of �14 million, more than 300, 000 people are expected to benefit from the support provided by the European Union to build houses and improve community infrastructure for internally displaced people and returnees. The activities will be implemented from 2016-2018 in nine selected divisions of the Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa districts by Habitat for Humanity. This initiative dovetails on the earlier housing programmes for which EU contributed with more..

Dec 7 (3N) The Sri Lankan Test cricketers arrive in Dunedin with the weight of history, recent results, their inexperience and the weather against them. The first of two Tests begins on Thursday and despite coming off an easy series win over the West Indies, the tourists will be up against it at the University Oval. New Zealand may have lost 2-0 to Australia but were competitive, and a much-publicised DRS howler may have robbed them of a victory in Adelaide. more..

Dec 7 (Hindu) Mallika, a Sri Lankan national, could stick to her travel plan till the torrential rain started in Chennai. Once the downpour started, she was forced to return to the island nation. The catastrophic flooding in the city due to the record-breaking rainfall left her stranded in the completely crippled for four days. Ms. Mallika was not the lone tourist from Sri Lanka to have got stranded in Chennai over the last few days. more..

Dec 7 (FT) President Sirisena on Saturday participated in the musical show Sasara Vasana Thuru at the BMICH to felicitate the veteran musician Pandit Amaradewa, in line with his 88th birth anniversary. �The greatest musician of the nation of Sri Lanka, Pandit Amaradewa is a world renowned musician with heart-felt cordiality. He will be honored not only by the people today, but also by future generations�, President said. President also joined Pandit Amaradewa to sing few songs. more..

Dec 7 (DM) Police Fraud Investigation Bureau has commenced an inquiry into a case where over one hundred local pilgrims who went on a pilgrimage to India were allegedly deceived by the travel agency that sent them. officials had recorded the statements of over a hundred pilgrims at the BIA, on their return from India last evening. The officials had begun a probe into possible criminal breach of trust, following a complaint lodged by the family members of the pilgrims. more..

Dec 7 (DM) While claiming that 500 soldiers had not been assigned to former President Rajapaksa at all as reported, his spokesman Rohan Weliwita said that Mr. Rajapaksa was in need for 500 more military personnel for his security as his life was in danger, instead of current strength of 102. He said Rajapaksa only had 102 military personnel for his private security at the moment, a number that needed to be increased to 500 with release more..

Dec 7 (CT) Cancellation of Mihin Lanka flights to Chennai due to heavy downpour and floods has cost the airline nearly Rs 11, 459, 804 within the last six days Mihin Lanka said. Mihin Lanka which flies to Chennai five times per week, so far has missed four flights beginning from 2 December 2015 till yesterday. Each Mihin flight brings about USD 20, 000 as revenue and they have missed four flights in the past six days. Mihin Lanka's flights MJ 129 and 130 have been cancelled so far. more..

Dec 7 (CG) The TELO which has two members in Parliament, has decided not to back the 2016 budget during the third reading if the Tamil political prisoners are not freed. TELO leader, MP Selvam Adaikalanathan informed this decision to TNA leader R. Sampanthan today. Following a meeting held today, TELO decided to take the position that all Tamil political prisoners arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) must be given a general amnesty. more..

Dec 7 (SL) Former Army Commander, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has been accused of allegedly accepting money from Avant Garde security services, which is mired in controversy over a floating armory. It has been learnt that Fonseka was offered Rs. 30 million from the company as well as vehicles and money to operate an office. However, when contacted Fonseka, he denied accepting any money or more..

Dec 7 (DN) Thailand golfers stole the limelight as they won both the men's and women's championship titles at the 128th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship concluded at the Royal Colombo Golf Club on Saturday. Witchayanon Chothirungren won the men's crown while A. Yubol bagged the women's crown. Witchayanon defeated Indian golfer Samarth Dwivedi in a closely contested 36-hole final to win two up while Yubol overcame her Indian opponent R. Dwivedi 7/6 in the women's final. more..

Dec 7 (SL) Former President Rajapaksa has been accused of busting millions of rupees to construct a museum at Medamulana in memory of his father, the late politician D.A. Rajapaksa. Documents presented to Parliament last week revealed that the D. A. Rajapaksa Museum and memorial statue was constructed at a cost of Rs. 62.07 million using public funds. It was also revealed that the Navy was paid Rs. 25 million to construct the museum by the former govt. more..

Dec 7 (DN) Former rugby player Wasim Thajudeen's family will go before the National Police Commission (NPC) seeking action against Police officers who made false reports dubbing the rugby player's death as an accident. Their lawyers would meet NPC members this week to discuss the matter. Family will lodge complaints against the former OIC of Narahenpita Police station & several senior Police officers who handled more..

Dec 7 (DM) When the American brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright invented and built the world�s first successful aircraft and made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903, these daring creative geniuses may not have imagined the height, breadth and length to which aviation has risen in 2015. Sri Lanka joins the world community today in marking International Civil Aviation Day which was first celebrated in 1994 by more..

Dec 7 (DM) A Saudi Shari ah court has sentenced one of our women there to death by stoning. Her offence was indulging in a sexual liaison out of wedlock with a fellow Sri Lankan. (The man has also been sentenced to 100 lashes) In generally, sex is a personal matter of adult individuals, in which the State has no say. However, the Saudis have a penchant for capital punishment for many otherwise mundane affairs, including renouncing Islam and blogging dissent etc. more..

Dec 7 (DM) The Committee on Public Enterprises, popularly known as the COPE has taken a centre stage in reporting cases of corruption and malpractices at the institutional level. However over the years it has been a committee that was subject to only publishing reports and not taking any step beyond that to prevent corruption. This time over the COPE committee is yet to take one step beyond its conventional tradition of publishing more..

Dec 7 (Island) Former heavyweight of Sri Lanka Cricket Nishantha Ranatunga has suffered several setbacks in the run up to next year�s Cricket Board elections, but the 49-year-old is not prepared to throw in the towel just yet as he pursues ambitions of heading the country�s most powerful and influential sports body. When amendments were introduced to the Sports Law two years back, Ranatunga looked to be their architect and more..

Dec 7 (DN) Two high profile businessmen and a former senior state official are now in hot water as the FCID has concluded initial investigations into a large-scale financial fraud alleged to have taken place at Lanka Hospitals. "We have forwarded our findings to the Attorney General's Department. Our future course of action will be based on the recommendations of the Attorney General. Suspects will be arrested more..

Dec 7 (ST) Vegetable vendors, desperate for sales as steep prices keep customers away, are looking for new ways of making a sale. The public is used to vegetable prices fluctuating but the continuous increase in prices due to chilly weather and untimely rains has become a matter for real concern. One vendor, 36 year-old Ranpalee Munasinghe came up with an innovative idea when she realised that people were not buying more..

Dec 7 (IRIN) As delegates in Paris search for new ways to mitigate the effects of climate change, an innovative scheme that does exactly that is in the works in Sri Lanka. Struck by a worsening cycle of floods and droughts, the Indian Ocean nation has begun planning for a $675 million project to capture heavy rainfall that can be used for irrigation in dry periods, as well as generating electricity. more..

Dec 7 (Island) Deputy Foreign Minister Dr Harsha de Silva strongly rejected Opposition claims that Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had deprived him of an opportunity to play a constructive role at the ministry. UPFA MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage recently alleged in Parliament that De Silva could speak only on two unimportant countries. Aluthgamage claimed that the govt hadn�t utilised the expertise of more..

Dec 7 (Xinhua) Parliament on Monday raised concern over the decision by Saudi Arabia to stone to death a Sri Lankan maid found guilty of committing adultery. Minister Thalatha Atukorale said that her Ministry and the Foreign Ministry are in touch with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia to seek clemency for the maid. SL govt was urged to ban sending maids to Saudi Arabia but Atukorale told Parliament no such more..

Dec 7 (Island) EPRLF leader Suresh Premachandran, charges that the govt is deceiving and disappointing the Tamils in the North and East. He admits that there is big internal dispute within TNA due to what he calls its leader R. Sampanthan�s incorrect policy decisions. President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe had made so many promises before Presidential and General Elections but most of them had not been fulfilled, more..

Dec 7 (SL) President Maithripala Sirisena recently stated at a SLFP parliamentary group meeting that the local govt election would be held under the new Electorate System. However, many opinions have been made on holding the next local govt election under a mixed electoral system that includes both Proportional Representation System and First Past the Post System. The matter is still under discussion. more..

Dec 7 (DM) University and GCE A/L students will be tested for HIV and all other diseases in future, Minister Rajitha Senaratne informed Parliament today. He said this while responding to question asked by opposition MP Dallas Allhaperuma and pointed out that this step was taken as a means of controlling the spread of AIDs in the country. 191 HIV positive cases have been detected up to October this year. more..

Dec 7 (CT) A 45-year-old Sri Lankan mother of 4 children, still legally married to her Sri Lankan husband, has been charged for adultery and is to be stoned to death if the Saudi Supreme Court confirms her sentence. Her identity has been withheld honouring her plea to protect her family. Her alleged male lover, another Sri Lankan, will receive 100 lashes only, because he is not a married man. Adultery if proven beyond any reasonable doubt or by admission of guilt by more..

Dec 7 (EN) Sarathkumara Premachandra has been appointed as Managing Director of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Ministry of Ports and Shipping announced. Prior to this appointment, Premachandra was serving as the Regional Manager of Asian Terminals of CMA CGM, the world's third-biggest shipping line, which he had joined in 2002. �We can make SLPA a successful & competitive public institution that feeds national economy of the country in a real big way,� more..

Dec 7 (Reuters) Shares closed at their lowest in more than eight months on Monday on worries that the new budget proposals would hit earnings of financial firms. Police detained a former chairman of the country's stock market regulator on Monday amid an investigation into financial misappropriation, days after detaining another top regulatory official. IMF on Monday said Sri Lanka's 2016 budget raises questions about its ambitious revenue and capital expenditure targets as more..

Dec 7 (CT) Last week, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) actions could trigger economic instability in the Middle East in 2016 which could adversely affect the Sri Lankan economy; thereby the govt is seeking an IMF standby facility as a contingency measure to prevent possible fallout in the economy. Although the IMF predicts the global economic growth rate to rebound to 3.6% next year from the readjusted growth rate of 3.1% this year more..

Dec 7 (Island) UK will work with the Sri Lankan military on accountability issues in the wake of the country co-sponsoring a resolution at the UNHRC. British Defence Adviser in New Delhi will concurrently function as non-resident military representative for Sri Lanka to facilitate the process. UK is a member of the UNHRC comprising 47 countries. Asked for a clarification regarding a recent reference to military reforms in a statement more..

Dec 7 (AD) The chairman of Avant Garde Security Company Nissanka Senadhipathi will be summoned to the FCID within next few days, it was reported. Nissanka Senadhipathi will be summoned to record a statement with respect to the controversial Avant Garde issue. Earlier, Ministers Champika Ranawaka, Dr Rajitha Seenaratne and Arjuna Ranatunga requested the IGP to investigate the allegations made against them by the Nissanka Senadhipathi. In a joint letter to the IGP, more..

Dec 7 (CG) Health Ministry says information has come to light of injectable heroin circulating in the Slave Island area. Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told Parliament today that the spread of HIV has been contained as heroin use had been limited so far to consuming the snuff powder. However the Minister said that now heroin with injections have surfaced in Slave Island and this could pose a threat to the spread of HIV. The Minister said that measures will be taken to educate more..

Dec 7 (DM) Minister Champika Ranawaka yesterday averred that the JHU�s support which was extended to President Maithripala Sirisena and the current coalition govt would continue until 2020, even if the govt had to face problems in the future. He vowed not to let any so-called patriot to destroy the country�s image which was founded on democracy. Delivering the main speech at the 12th convention of the JHU, at the Ape Gama more..