Oct 28 (DM) The student who was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital after a wooden stick that had pierced just below his neck after falling off a tree had undergone a three- and- half- hours surgery at the hospital. CNH Chief Instructress Nurse Pushpa Ramani Soysa said the pointed wooden stick has been removed during the surgery. However, she said the condition of the student is serious and currently receiving treatment at the ICU. �We still can�t say anything exactly because more..

Oct 28 (DN) Flights between Austria and Colombo suspended for the last eight years due to the conflict, will resume today. An Austrian Airlines flight with 265 passengers is due to land at the BIA at 7.30 a.m. today. A special ceremony will be held under the patronage of Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to welcome the passengers. A Transport Ministry spokesman said Austrian Airlines will begin a once-a-week direct flight to Sri Lanka following bilateral talks between more..

Oct 28 (ENS) India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday began their bilateral naval exercise off Trincomalee, reinforcing their strong neighbourly ties. The fourth edition of Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise (SLINEX) will be on till Nov 1. The SLINEX series of bilateral maritime exercises were initiated in 2005. Since then, three such successful engagements were conducted. According to Navy, the Indian naval ships Kora, Kirpan and Savitri along with more..

Oct 28 (Hindu) Even as the fishermen community was expecting the release of 86 fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan jails, the island nation�s Navy arrested 34 fishermen on charges of poaching on Tuesday. State govt had announced that all the 86 fishermen would be released on Wednesday and AIADMK MPs had met External Affairs Minister Susham Swaraj seeking a permanent solution to the fishermen issue. When the outlook was optimistic, the Rameswaram fishermen ended their more..

Oct 28 (DN) Foreign Ministry Secretary Chitranganee Wagiswara on Monday informed the Colombo District Court that action can not be filed against UN representative in Sri Lanka Subiney Nandy, as he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Foreign Ministry Secretary told court by letter that the UN representative in SL enjoys full diplomatic privileges and that action cannot be filed against him. Wagiswara made these revelations when the case filed by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera was more..

Oct 28 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, denied any knowledge of a group of newly appointed members seeking personal protection weapons. Asked by The Island whether he had endorsed personal weapons for newly elected members, Speaker said that he had not been consulted in that regard. When it was pointed out that there couldn�t be any justifiable reason for arming members over six years after the conclusion of the war, more..

Oct 28 (CT) Police STF organized a firearms training session at the Katukurunda Police STF Academy Grounds for newly elected MPs. 35 newly elected MPs participated at the training session yesterday at the Academy Grounds inspected by Ranjith Perera of the STF. The session will continue today (28). Sources also stated that even individuals from the business sector, who get the approval of the Ministry of Defence, can receive basic training through this programme. more..

Oct 28 (DN) Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya issued notice on Commissioner of Motor Traffic to produce the documents with regard to the ownership of the vehicle bearing number H H 8687 which was parked at the BMICH premises. Chief Magistrate made this order after a number of govt institutions claimed ownership of this vehicle. Cinamon Grand Police told court that they have received informtion that this vehicle must have been left at the BMICH premises two days prior more..

Oct 28 (Island) Law and Order and Prisons Reforms Minister Priyankara Jayaratne has been summoned by the PRECIFAC. The Commission plans to question Minister Jayaratne on Oct. 30 at the BMICH where the powerful body conducts investigations. Commission sources told The Island that Minister Jayaratne�s statement had to be recorded in connection with an on-going high profile investigation into SriLankan Catering more..

Oct 28 (DM) In an interesting interview to the CNN, Tony Blair, the former British PM has apologized for his role in the Iraqi war and has admitted he could be partly to blame for the rise of the Islamic State terror group. �Those of us who removed Saddam do bear some responsibility for the situation in Iraq today,� the ex-premier said. However, he does not seem to be clear and explicit in the point he was trying make as he had made a contradictory statement in the same interview. more..

Oct 28 (DM) The ill-fated mishap which drove young Sasanka Alwis, a vibrant student of Royal College to a permanent vegetative state with lasting brain injuries is perhaps a mere memory dating back to two years in many a mind. Sasanka who was a grade nine student drowned in the school swimming pool two years ago while engaging in school activities and the repercussions that followed ever since have not taken a favourable turn of events, given that his health is deteriorating to more..

Oct 28 (DM) Change: A word that has reverberated around society since the beginning of this year. Not many were sure what exactly this change encompassed nor what exactly was supposed to change but nevertheless they wanted it and this is claimed to have been reflected on the morning of the Jan 9, 2015. A principal method of bringing about this change is via the governance of the country and this in turn is best brought more..

Oct 28 (ST) In a new drive to protect beaches around the country, the Coast Conservation and Costal Resources Management Department will remove unauthorised structures, declare as sensitive zones areas where construction would be prohibited and introduce green beaches by planting trees. The move follows the submission of a report, by the Department regarding the destruction of beaches and remedial measures, more..

Oct 28 (GDI) A 60-day Housing Development Operation has been launched. It will be operative in the months of November and December. The objective of this operation is to complete the development work of all houses targeted in the Shelter for All national programme mooted by the Govt. Accordingly Minister Sajith Premadasa has given instructions to comple work on all houses launched under Shelter for All more..

Oct 28 (CG) Sri Lanka�s LGBT community is cautiously optimistic of having their rights protected under the new Govt, Daily Xtra reported. �I�m sorry I�m a lesbian,� a SL woman says she told her mother, after her sister outed her. �I was young. I would never say that now,� says the woman, who asked for confidentiality to avoid the possible repercussions of coming out publicly. In Sri Lanka, life for LGBT people can be a struggle. more..

Oct 28 (CT) President of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) Fr. Emmanuel has hinted that he may visit Sri Lanka in the near future in response to a personal invitation from President Maithripala Sirisena and Foreign Minister Managala Samaraweera. NLSP General Secretary Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne told the writer that Fr. Emmanuel has accepted a personal invitation extended to him by the President and more..

Oct 28 (AD) Justice Vijith Malalgoda has entirely denied allegations leveled against him by a website that he accepts dollars from the Rajapaksas in a bid to influence the judgments and decisions he makes, Ada Derana court reporter says. The observation was made when the Writ Application filed against former Tamil Tiger rebel leader Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) was taken-up for hearing at the Court of Appeal this morning. more..

Oct 28 (SL) The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has now become a cause for a clash between two state authorities � airport and aviation authority and the Paddy Marketing Board. The govt decision mooted by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to store paddy at the MRIA warehouse has resulted in Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva demanding the removal of paddy from the airport�s warehouse and payment more..

Oct 28 (AD) The Negombo Magistrate this morning returned the passport of MP Wimal Weerawansa. He was arrested earlier and produced before the Negombo Magistrate Court after a statement was recorded from him regarding the use of an invalid passport to fly abroad. Weerawansa says he was preparing to travel to Europe for a series of lectures following invitations from Dubai and Italy when he was stopped by more..

Oct 28 (DM) Former Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne was questioned by the PRECIFAC today. He was questioned over the alleged misuse of the catering service on Sri Lanka�s National airline, Srilankan Airlines, when he was the Minister in charge. A complaint had been received at PRECIFAC over the alleged use of Srilankan Catering Services for private functions of former President Rajapaksa and his family. more..

Oct 28 (CG) Officials of the Presidential Commission investigating large scale fraud today boarded the Avant Garde ship at the Galle harbor to conduct investigations. The Commission had sought approval to board the ship to investigate the weapons found on the ship said to belong to Rakna Lanka. Approval was granted to the Commission by the police and accordingly officers of the Commission boarded the ship today. more..

Oct 28 (Island) Minister Navin Dissanayake has appointed Jayantha Jayewardene as the new chairman of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI). He worked as a superintendent, manager and visiting agent for 18 years in the tea plantation sector and carries an extensive knowledge of agriculture and agricultural management. He has also received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Scientific Research. He also served at the Mahaweli Development Project for 20 years as a more..

Oct 28 (CT) Members of the families of those forcibly disappeared, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank the organising committee for the invitation to deliver this speech on Enforced Disappearance from a Tamil perspective. I will start with the story of a Tamil mother � Chandra. Her life changed forever just before midnight on 11th of Sept 2008. Armed men broke into the house where her 24 year old son Jasinthan was sleeping and took him away in white van. more..

Oct 28 (CT) An order delivered by a Madras High Court calling upon the Central Government of India to improve laws to deal with criminals who indulge in child sex abuse to castrate the criminals is an eye opener to Sri Lanka where child sex abuse, rape and murder is rampant. Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake proposed the same punishment for child sex offenders when he spoke in Parliament recently on a Private Member's Motion moved on his behalf by Hirunika Premachandra. more..

Oct 28 (Reuters) Sri Lankan shares rose for a sixth straight session on Wednesday to a more than two-week high despite foreign outflows, led by market heavyweight John Keells Holdings Plc. Foreign investors were net sellers of 226.4 million rupees ($1.61 million) worth of shares on Wednesday, extending the year-to-date net foreign out flow to 3.12 billion rupees. The main stock index ended 0.15% or 10.61 points up at 7,094.09, its highest close since Oct. 12. more..

Oct 28 (DM) Colombo Additional Magistrate rejected a bail appeal by Tamil prisoners, who were in remand prison for alleged terrorist involvement, since the Attorney General�s report on them was not received by the TID of the Police. Magistrate made this order considering the submission made by Counsel Senaka Perera and Thushara Dasun for the suspects, who contended that suspects had been in remand custody more..

Oct 28 (NS) The re-opening of the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo after refurbishment took place under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and in the presence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. Among those present were Ministers John Amaratunge and Arjuna Ranatunge, Deputy Minister Arundika Fernando and Chairman of the Galle Face Group of Companies Sanjeev Gardiner. Here Sanjeev Gardiner is seen escorting the President on an inspection tour of more..

Oct 28 (DM) Former Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva, who claimed that he is following the non-violence path adopted by Anagarika Dharmapala, today urged the govt to bring in laws to ban cattle slaughter. Taking part in a signature campaign organised by a youth organization in Matara against cattle slaughter, he requested new MPs to create policies that prevent animal slaughter. The signature campaign was commenced near the Anagarika Dharmapala statue opposite the Matara Bodhiya this morning. more..

Oct 28 (LBO) Sri Lanka has declined 8 places in the World Bank�s Doing Business 2016 index, which measures the ease of doing business in 189 different countries, a report released by the bank revealed. Sri Lanka ranked 107th out of 189 countries in terms of ease of doing business for 2016. It was in the 99th place in 2015. However the report indicates an improvement in the score between 2014 and 2015 and therefore more..

Oct 28 (CG) The Maldives Govt is to brief the diplomatic community on the arrest of Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor. Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon will be in Sri Lanka tomorrow to brief the diplomats based in Colombo and affiliated to the Maldives. Maumoon is also scheduled to meet the Sri Lankan media for a briefing on the latest developments following the arrest of the arrest of the Vice President. The Govt of the Maldives announced that more..

Oct 28 (DM) Six more suspects had been arrested today in connection with the killing of the nightclub owner in Anuradhapura. ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said four more suspects had surrendered to the Anuradhapura Police this evening, while two suspects were arrested by the police. He said six suspects, who were arrested on Tuesday and another two who were detained for questioning in connection with the killing and injuring several others including manager of the nightclub, more..

Oct 28 (Island) In an effort to combat an alarming increase in child sex abuse, Minister Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle proposed chemical castration for repeated sex offenders. She was responding to the recent recommendation by the Madras High Court which recommended castration as punishment to child sex abusers observing that "barbaric crimes should definitely attract barbaric models of punishment." more..

Oct 28 (Island) All trade unions of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) would meet in Colombo today to form a common front to fight for their grievances and protect the SLTB, General Secretary of the All Ceylon Transport Workers Union Sepala Liyanage said. He said that leaders of all trade unions in the SLTB had already agreed to form a common alliance and they would officially meet today at the auditorium of SLTB head office in Narahenpita. more..

Oct 28 (Island) Some of the suspects taken into custody in connection with the murder of Karate exponent and owner of Panorama nightclub, Anuradhapura have told police interrogators that they had been given large amounts of alcohol to consume by the mastermind of the attack known as SF Lokka before they carried out the attack on the nightclub. "Hours before the attack was carried out, SF lokka took us to a guest house in Anuradhapura and had a drinking binge," they said, more..

Oct 28 (NS) Head of Colombo University Physics Department Prof. Chandana Jayaratne says that there is no reason to fear over the mysterious chunk of space debris which foreign media reported would hit the Earth off the coast of Sri Lanka on Nov 13. He said that such forecasts about the places on the Earth where space objects would fall have often gone wrong in the past and it is very unlikely that there will be any danger or more..

Oct 28 (AT) Signaling a significant shift in the country�s foreign policy, Sri Lanka�s new govt is slowly but steadily renewing its ties � deteriorated over the years under the rule of former President Rajapaksa � with countries such as the US, India and Japan. Rajapaksa relied heavily on China for infrastructure aid during his decade-long rule while sidelining most other countries. However, after assuming office, both the new PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Sirisena have more..

Oct 28 (Island) Freedom from fear is the biggest dividend people have been enjoying since the Jan. regime change, Minister Sajith Premadasa says. He said that his government had been able to restore law and order and people were now experiencing a freedom that had not existed in the country during the last few decades. "When we gained independence, Sri Lanka which was then known as Ceylon had been called a model of democracy and all nations predicted that we would be more..

Oct 28 (CG) The Government has dispatched a report to the European Union (EU) on the steps taken so far to meet the requirements of the EU on fishing. The Foreign Ministry said that an EU delegation is scheduled to visit the country next month to assess the progress and will submit a follow-up report. The EU has imposed a ban on fisheries products from Sri Lanka but the Govt says it is confident the ban will be lifted next year. more..

Oct 28 (CT) A 23 year-old second year student of the Ruhunu University killed himself by hanging after his girlfriend ended their relationship. He had left his laptop web cam switched on to record the suicide.The student had killed himself at his residence in Madalagama in Kahawatte. A senior Police officer who is directly involved in this investigation said every sequence of the suicide was recorded on the laptop. Police have taken possession of the laptop and a suicide note. more..