Sept 10 (ICC) The ICC has congratulated former Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan for an impressive international career that ended on Friday with the Twenty20 International series against Australia. ICC CEO David Richardson said in a statement today that Dilshan, who is one of only 11 players to have scored a century in each format of the game, was the epitome of the modern-day cricketer with his ability to adapt. �Dilshan�s accomplishments across all three formats are fantastic. more..

Sept 10 (PMD) President Sirisena says all must unite to create a strong opinion in the society about preventing drug consumption, which destroys the entire society and increases poverty among the people of the country. He made these remarks participating at the Eighth phase of the Drug Free Country National Drug Prevention Program, held at Jaffna Outdoor Stadium, today (9). President requested all to fulfill their more..

Sept 10 (Island) Subsequent to the recent incident in Frankfurt, SriLankan Airlines in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL), re-commenced random breathalyzer tests on flight and cabin crew. This is a standard procedure in the global air transport industry that is fully approved by the CAASL. SriLankan Airlines uses certified equipment from Germany and trained personnel. The practice had been suspended earlier due to objections from the Airline Pilots� Guild of SL. more..

Sept 10 (CI) Sri Lanka has recently provided retiring greats with fond final outings. Muttiah Muralitharan got a wicket off his last ball in ODIs as well as Tests. Sangakkara and Mahela's final act together was a dismissal in which both were involved. Tillakaratne Dilshan, though, has had a less happy time. He couldn't cross fifty all series, and he finished with his lowest score in five innings at Khettarama. Slashing at a wide John Hastings ball, Dilshan sent an edge to first slip, more..

Sept 10 (NS) The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the country�s energy sector regulator, has revealed that the CEB saved Rs. 2.5 billion between April and July after they (PUCSL) refused a request by the latter for a short-term emergency power purchase. The CEB would have had to spend more than Rs. 29 per unit for the said purchase which would have resulted in a huge loss for the institution and the govt. more..

Sept 10 (FT) In a critical step for emergency preparedness across the WHO South-East Asia Region, Member countries yesterday In Colombo agreed to establish a dedicated funding stream aimed at building preparedness for health emergencies in the Region, which is one of the most disaster-prone. �To date, post-disaster funding through South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund has done an excellent job of helping countries respond to health more..

Sept 10 (FT) Setting up a new standard the Government has increased the compensation paid for paddy field acquisition for the Northern Central Expressway project. According to Minister Lakshman Kiriella, the Valuation Department has increased the compensation from Rs. 4,500/- to Rs. 11,000/- per perch of paddy field. �In case there are grievances, we are happy to consider appeals,� confirmed Minister Kiriella who urged public support for a national project. more..

Sept 10 (CT) Minister Kabir Hashim, is expected to make a statement in Parliament regarding the alleged excessive spending of finances for the digitization of People's Bank. Deputy Minister Eran Wickremeratne, responding to queries from the Opposition, informed that Minister Hashim would make a statement elaborating on activities of People's Bank, which have been strongly criticized by various groups. more..

Sept 10 (Island) SLBFE has requested Sri Lankan migrant workers illegally staying in Qatar to return home during the three-month amnesty period announced by the Qatari govt. Ministry of Interior of Qatar has declared a three-month amnesty period for those migrant workers to leave the country. The amnesty is from September 1 to Dec 1 2016, SLBFE said. Accordingly, Sri Lankan migrant workers who have overstayed their visas are allowed to return home during this period. more..

Sept 10 (Island) Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday confirmed that the SLFP-led Joint Opposition would go it alone at the forthcoming local govt polls. Rajapaksa challenged the government to hold the long overdue elections. The JO consists of about 50 members of parliament who contested the last general election on the UPFA ticket. The former President said that the JO had the wherewithal to score a significant victory at the forthcoming polls. more..

Sept 10 (DN) CMC informed Supreme Court that it has taken a decision not to dump garbage at the Meetotamulla area in Kolonnawa as it has recognised a land from Ja-Ela area for this purpose. At a previous occasion, Supreme Court ordered the respondents including the CMC to come up with their project plans that are said to have got underway as solutions for continuous garbage dumping at Meetotamulla area in Kolonnawa. more..

Sept 10 (CT) Nearly 40 underworld gangs, armed with weapons stolen during the height of the war, are roaming the cities and villages countrywide, Intelligence sources said. These gangs are being controlled by the underworld leaders from inside prison cells via mobile phones, sources revealed. Sources also said information in this regard was uncovered after the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers had interrogated a few prison inmates following approval from Court. more..

Sept 10 (DN) A 16-year-old boy has been arrested by Sampur Police in connection with the murder of a six-year-old girl in Neelakkarni, Sampur, Trinco. Girl disappeared on Thursday while playing outside her home. Her body was later found in a thicket close to her home. Police recovered the girl�s nude body and initial investigations showed that she had been raped. Investigations also revealed that the suspect was a relative of the family and lived close to their home. more..

Sept 10 (CT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe moved the Ratification of the Paris Agreement on UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, while stating that the govt was committed to green sustainable development in accordance with Maithripalanayak Election Manifesto. PM said govt had approved Sustainable Development Council Bill and that it had been referred to PCs for review & observations. more..

Sept 10 (DN) Airline Pilots Guild of SL (APGSL) president Capt. Renuke Senanayake said the Guild is looking forward to an acceptable conclusion over the issue of conducting alcohol tests for pilots, after discussing with SriLankan Airlines and the CAA authorities. Until reaching such an acceptable outcome, the APGSL has taken a trade union action to refrain from carrying out excess work. Accordingly, the members of the Guild refrain from working on holidays and doing overtime. more..

Sept 10 (DN) Third edition of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research and Project Symposium (EEERaPS) organised by Peradiniya University Electrical and Electronic Engineering department was held at the Waters Edge hotel on Sept 5. Theme of the 2016 EEERaPS symposium was Research and Development - Path to National Development. Minister Kabir Hashim who is also an alumni of Peradeniya University. The event showcased novel and cutting edge locally more..

Sept 10 (Island) The govt submitted a supplementary estimate seeking parliament approval for a sum of Rs. 19,837,132 to settle the leasing installments of 68 luxury buses imported for the CHOGM held in 2013. In addition, approval was sought for a sum of Rs. 112,100,000 for the Ministry of Health, to cover expenses of establishing Ambulance Service which had been introduced with assistance from India. more..

Sept 10 (DM) President Maithriapala Sirisena, visiting Jaffna yesterday for ceremonies to mark the 200th anniversary of the Jaffna Central College and other events, reassured that the National Govt would take effective steps to bring the North to the mainstream sustainable and eco-friendly development strategies. After the President and the National Unity Govt assumed office last year, several important steps have been taken to restore and consolidate the process for more..

Sept 10 (DM) I am constrained to give my comments on the Article published in the press by Asoka Obeyesekera titled Electoral reform - MMP the only game in town. At the outset, Sri Lanka being a very small developing country, it is befitting to have a simple electoral system that maximizes its human capital in the most productive manner. Unfortunately, we are already burdened with a colossal political administration structure though not fully of our own making. more..

Sept 10 (DBS) Former MP and presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra known as Lucky Aiya was gunned down along with three of his bodyguards in Mulleriyawa on Oct 8th 2011. The past few years have been a taxing period of struggle for Bharatha�s daughter Hirunika Premachandra �now a MP � as she sought justice for her father�s killing. Finally Hirunika�s quest for justice triumphed on more..

Sept 10 (FT) Counsel for the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday raised preliminary objection that the Parliament is supreme and the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to go into the matter on the issue as to whether the present govt is a national govt or not. President�s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing with Sugath Caldera for the Cabinet of Ministers said the question is whether the present govt is a national govt or not. more..

Sept 10 (CT) UPFA MP, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, said the UNP was always loyal to imperialistic forces even though the country has gained independence. Q: How do you view the recent developments in the SLFP? A: I am an SLFPer who believes in the fundamental principles introduced by the great S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. We believe in social democracy, a nationalistic economy and a centre-left ideology. more..

Sept 10 (CI) Tillakaratne Dilshan could not make an impact with the bat in his farewell game, but he has anointed Sri Lanka's highest-scorer in the match as a possible successor. Dhananjaya de Silva batted at No.3, but has had success as an opener on this tour. He was Tamil Union Cricket Club's highest wicket-taker in a triumphant first-class campaign this year, and has also begun fielding at backward point for Sri Lanka in Tests. more..

Sept 10 (ST) The Gem and Jewellery Authority has been directed to keep away foreign mining companies attempting to enter the local gem mining industry through local companies. The directive was given by President Maithripala Sirisena after he was alerted that foreign companies were already buying up lands through local companies in the Ratnapura district for potential gem mining. more..

Sept 10 (Island) Accusing the Yahapalana govt of seeking political mileage out of ongoing investigations into a few selected cases, including alleged murder of rugger player Wasim Thajudeen (28), the IUSF urged the police to go the whole hog. IUSF convener Lahiru Weerasekera said that Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake on Sept. 7 told the Colombo Chief Magistrate that former JMO, Colombo more..

Sept 10 (NS) The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) is to bring new laws to amend its Act to regulate smoking in hotels and pubs. According to law, smoking in public areas is prohibited. The SL Cancer Society highlighted that hotels and restaurants were exploiting loopholes in the law, specifically the NATA (Amendment) Act, which has resulted in non-smokers being exposed to second hand smoke. more..

Sept 10 (Island) The GMOA said it had decided to work with Deputy Director General (Medical Services � II) with regard to all transfer matters. Union representatives had met Director General Health Services (DGHS) Dr Palitha Mahipala and the Deputy Director General Medical Services-II (DDG MS-II) Dr Amal Harsha de Silva on Thursday to register heir protest against the conduct of Director Medical Services, Dr Priyantha Atapattu. more..

Sept 10 (Island) A heated argument ensued in Parliament between Minister Faiszer Musthapha and UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri over a question on an alleged financial misappropriation by Uva PC Chief Minister Chamara Dassanayake. UNP MP Wijesiri asked the minister whether the latter was aware that the funds of the Provincial Council had been used for a private foundation operating under the name of the Uva Chief Minister. more..

Sept 10 (FT) Students of the Uduvil Girls College (UGC) in Jaffna handed over a petition to President Maithripala Sirisena opposite the Jaffna Library yesterday, as crisis deepens in the church administered school over a popular headmistress who was retired this week. Falling at the President�s feet last afternoon, the schoolgirls wept and appealed to him to intervene to reinstate Shiranee Mills as Principal of UGC. more..

Sept 10 (CT) September session of the UNHRC will start on the 13th of this month. There is a report on Sri Lanka due to be presented there. It is the Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on its mission to Sri Lanka. I am no lawyer or any kind of expert but as I have closely observed the Council from a ringside seat (in the years 2007-2009) and am familiar with it, I checked it out. Even someone like me can see when a report is making a wildly expansive claim. more..

Sept 10 (CT) Sanath Jayasuriya, Chief Selector Sri Lanka Cricket, was recently heard in a TV interview say that the youngsters in the Sri Lanka team are not really professional players. This he says is due to the fact that you have to keep pushing them into action, in other words they need to be, so to say, spoon fed. Sportsmen have to be ready to play on the international stage before being called up for national duty even to play in the A team. No coach is able to undertake touching up players more..

Sept 10 (CI) Palk Bay, a narrow strip of water separating the state of Tamil Nadu in India from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, has historically provided rich fishing grounds for both countries. However, the region has become a highly contested site in recent decades, with the conflict taking on a new dimension since the end of the SL Civil War in 2009. Multiple issues have compounded to bring tensions to a near crisis point, with serious ramifications for internal & bilateral relations. more..

Sept 10 (CT) Monk Uduwe Dhammaloka, who is currently out on bail for possessing a baby elephant without a valid license, is alleged to be forcibly occupying Allen Methiniyaramaya Temple in Kirulapone. According to a case filed at the District Court of Colombo by Dr. Brahmanawatte Seevali Tissa Thero, Dhammaloka is alleged to have stormed the temple on the night of 06.01.2009 along with a group of thugs and had threatened Tissa Thero and chased him out of the Temple. more..

Sept 10 (APP) Pakistan and SL agreed to enhance their collaboration to reboot the Technical Training & Vocational Education (TVET) system in Pakistan. It was decided in a meeting held here between the Executive Director National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Zulfiqar Cheema and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. Cheema briefed the minister about the role of NAVTTC more..

Sept 10 (NS) Concerns have been raised by the Army over the increase in minor crimes carried out by groups linked to drug rackets in the north. Commander of the Security Forces in Jaffna, Major General Mahesh Senanayake declared that there was a dire need to take an aggressive approach to tackle the very serious issue of Kerala ganja (cannabis sativa smuggled from Kerala in India) in the north. He pointed out that alcohol and drug use among youth were on the rise more..

Sept 10 (DM) Govt has decided to extend the northern expressway up to Trincomalee via Dambulla and Habarana, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. He said Cabinet approval had been obtained for three key highway projects including the central expressway and the Colombo-Ratnapura highway. The northern expressway would branch off from the central expressway. �It will be developed by a Chinese company up to Habarana. We intend extending it up to Trinco,� more..

Sept 10 (ENS) Symbolizing the excellent relations that have historically existed between the Dawoodi Bohra community and Sri Lanka�s leaders, the current spiritual head of the community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, was very cordially received by the country�s top most leaders, President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe, when he called on them on Thursday. President as well as the PM, spontaneously invited Syedna to more..

Sept 10 (ST) They say the situation has been aggravated by mass destruction to the environment above the railway track. A businessman allegedly using a false property deed was felling trees on the slopes above the track, local politician Amara Sooriapperuma charged at the recent meeting of the Mawanella DS Co-ordination Committee. About 60 acres of land have been cleared of trees, he said. Up to four years ago, water coming off the slopes had trickled smoothly and safely over more..

Sept 10 (GT) A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced a Sri Lankan man to five years in jail for illicit drug dealing and consumption. Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that the court has fined the defendant QR200,000 and ordered his deportation for the same charges. The case has its origin with information that he was selling illicit drugs marijuana and hashish. One day the defendant offered to sell an undercover policeman a piece of marijuana for QR400. more..