Sept 24 (NS) Every parent has the desire to give his or her child the best possible education. The platform to give such primary and secondary education is the country�s school network. It is a well-known fact that there is a huge disparity between urban and rural schools when it comes to facilities for learning and sports. The current fight by the government medical officers to get popular schools for their children is part of that issue. There is a great demand for the few more..

Sept 24 (NS) Whatever his faults, JNP leader WimalWeerawansa can be counted to make news and hog the headlines. The indefatigable young man is known for his racy rhetoric which even his harshest critics will concede, is entertaining and enthralling. He is also known for his blind loyalty to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, having firmly hitched his wagon to Rajapaksa, after having defected from the JVP where, had he remained, he would arguably be the leader today. more..

Sept 24 (SL) Leader of PLOTE and TNA MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan claims that the development of the Northern Province has come to a standstill. He feels that no concerted effort is being put in constructive development that will truly benefit the people of the North. He said that unemployment rate is high in the North and proper development should take place to provide more employment opportunities for the youth. more..

Sept 24 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has, in his address to the recently concluded UNGA, reaffirmed his govt�s commitment to bringing about national reconciliation. He has also ruled out the possibility of the country being plunged into another war. His commitment to the reconciliation process and safeguarding minority rights cannot be called into question. In fact, he is duty bound to protect the rights of minorities who overwhelmingly backed his presidential bid. more..

Sept 24 (Island) "Did you see that new notice at the office of that guy who is supposed to represent us in that august assembly", asked Maha Janatha. "What new notice", asked Podu Janatha. "He has opened a telephone service to the public". "Is it a free service?" "No, no. They never give anything free - the notice says it is at half rates, as a public service," said Maha Janatha. "Well he is the ideal people�s representative, making a good profit from monthly Rs. 50,000 phone allowance they get now," more..

Sept 24 (CT) Chief Justice K. Sripavan graced the annual prize giving of his alma mater, Jaffna Hindu College as Chief Guest last Monday. Sripavan is the second Old Boy of Jaffna Hindu College to become the Chief Justice of SL after late S. Sharvananda. Jaffna Hindu College being one of the premier educational institutions in the North, the school celebrated its 125th anniversary last year. Apart from Sripavan and late Sharvananda, Jaffna Hindu College has also produced several legal more..

Sept 24 (Island) Adverse weather conditions, combined with rising costs and greater competition, threaten to weaken SL�s position in the global tea industry, though efforts to develop new markets could help offset downturns in exports and revenue. Flooding in mid-May struck a number of tea-producing regions and led to the inundation of several tea export facilities around Colombo, causing widespread disruption and compounding losses from El Ni�o-related drought more..

Sept 24 (SL) Much anticipated judgement on Bharath Lakshman murder case was delivered recently. 5 people including former MP Duminda Silva were given the capital punishment. Issue of Death Penalty and life imprisonment has become a much discussed topic in the society at present. With the issue of child molestation and murder there was a outcry from the society to impose the capital punishment. more..

Sept 24 (VoA) Ambassador Keshap noted that the US, through a number of ongoing assistance programs, seeks to further strengthen the strong economic ties with Sri Lanka. An inter-sessional meeting of the U.S.-SL Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting was held on Sept 1, in Colombo. The meeting was Co-Chaired by Minister Malik Samarawickrama and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South & Central Asia Michael Delaney, representing more..

Sept 24 (CT) Pole Vaulter Hasitha Dilrukshi of Army's 3rd Women's Corp (3(v) SLAWC) set a new Sri Lanka record vaulting over 3.40m at the women's pole vault final in the 53rd Army Athletics Championship started at Diyagama yesterday. Dilrukshi, who started her vaulting at 2.70m, vaulted 2.90m, 3.0m and 3.20m in the first attempt while her competitors could only manage to vault 2.50m. Fighting a lone battle to get at the Sri Lanka record Dilrukshi took two attempts to go over 3.20m more..

Sept 24 (FT) The first batch of Lankan rubber industry PhDs, scientists and research and development personnel will fly out to India on Sunday to gain more insight and experience to develop the industry. �My ministry is an implementing partner in the Govt�s Rubber Master Plan. These training opportunities are provided as part of this Master Plan,� said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. Minister was addressing 25-member team, more..

Sept 24 (ST) Saffron-robed monks and nuns in their hundreds carrying sprigs of white flowers solemnly walked along the red carpet at Parliament grounds to pay their last respects to one of the most erudite Maha Theras in modern Sri Lanka, the Most Venerable Nauyane Ariyadhamma Anu Nayaka Thera of the Sri Ramanna Nikaya. Well -versed in the Burmese tradition of meditation, the Maha Thera�s serenity, composure and loving kindness were evident in his personality. more..

Sept 24 (DN) Digital poverty is the worst form of poverty in a technological age and without better access to affordable IT related services, a huge proportion of the global population especially unconnected countries and people are likely to live in digital poverty, missing out on the immense social and economic benefits that the ICTs represent in the future,Information and Communication Technology Agency of SL CEO Muhunthan Canagey said. Speaking at National ICT Networking session more..

Sept 24 (FT) Northern Provincial Council (NPC) denied an opposition motion requesting CM C.V. Wigneswaran to intervene in Uduvil Girls� College crisis, where students and parents have been protesting against the appointment of a new principal for the school. Uduvil school crisis was raised at the NPC just hours before retiring headmistress Shiranee Mills formally vacated the principal�s bungalow inside school premises. more..

Sept 24 (NS) There has been a call from civil society for the establishment of five special High Courts to hear cases pertaining to crimes including murder, corruption and money laundering. National Movement for a Just Society (NMJS) urged the Govt to create a system which would result in the State being able to obtain the support of public officials in relation to the administration. Civil society organizations also called for certain Cabinet Ministers, whose conduct and behaviour they more..

Sept 24 (CT) Dilhara Lokuhettige announced his retirement from Test and ODI cricket. Lokuhettige is one of the first Sri Lankan cricketers to be labelled a Twenty20 specialist. His reputation as a dangerous Twenty20 player had been built on his powerful batting � as a pinch-hitter or lower order batsman � coupled with his bustling seam bowling. Although he announced his retirement from two formats he would continue to play T20 cricket and he also made the following comments: more..

Sept 24 (FT) The recently announced Colombo International Finance Centre (FC), formerly known as the Colombo Port City, will have legislation and tax laws separate from that of the rest of SL, govt revealed, as it ramped up efforts to attract investment and capitalise on its strategic location in the region. �We are home to almost one-fourth of the world�s population, bordering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc. more..

Sept 24 (Island) Nalanda College continued with their impressive early-tournament form with another clinical display on day two of the Murali Harmony Cup 2016, defeating Kaluthara Maha Vidyalaya to remain group leaders. Batting first, Nalanda College made 118 runs thanks to a sensible run-a-ball 51 by S. D. Wijewardana who anchored the innings for his team. Lakshan and Silva were impressive with the ball for KMV each bagging three wickets for 27 runs. Set a target of 119, KMV were more..

Sept 24 (CB) Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan captain, resigned with the English county club Surrey on Friday (September 23) for a one-year period. The new deal will see Sangakkara in action for another season in the county circuit through to the end of the 2017 season. "Surrey CCC are very pleased to announce that Kumar Sangakkara has signed a new one-year contract for the 2017 season," Surrey's official Twitter account declared on the micro-blogging site. more..

Sept 24 (NS) A battle-scarred SL soldier is on course to becoming just the kind of exhibit his country may have yearned for after gaining Olympic or Paralympics immortality and then stepping off a plane only to pocket Rs.2.5 million for bagging a bronze medal in Rio last week. Dinesh Herath, who took three bullets in his left forearm during a firefight in the jungles of Killinochchi against the now obliterated LTTE, more..

Sept 24 (DM) Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said he had given a list that contains the names of several ministers and opposition MPs who were engaged in corrupt activities to Bribery Commission. Speaking during the debate on the motion to increase remuneration to the heads of independent commissions in Parliament, the Deputy Minister said he would continue to talk about these ministers & MPs. "I will name these MPs even though their names are expunged from Hansard. more..

Sept 24 (Island) Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) Lasantha Alagiyawanne alleged that investigations undertaken by the CID, CIABOC as well as FCID into fraud and irregularities at the Inland Revenue Department, the Customs Department and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles had been badly affected due to disappearance of vital documents. MP Alagiyawanne was addressing the media in Parliament in the wake of the presentation of COPA report. more..

Sept 24 (Island) Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) says that the proposed amendment to Criminal Procedure Code will severely undermine constitutionally guaranteed rights of people. A senior spokesperson for the HRCSL said that the proposed amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure Act was meant to deprive suspects access to lawyers until their statements were recorded violated the rights more..

Sept 24 (DN) Sri Lanka still maintains lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence in South East Asia which is less than 0.01. �SL cannot be satisfied and rest because this is a result of hard work which should continue, strengthened and expanded,� Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala said. He said that 2,436 HIV/AIDS cases had been reported from Sri Lanka so far from the day the first cases were detected in 1987. �Govt provides free ARI treatment for HIV/AIDS affected persons. more..

Sept 24 (Island) The former SL captain will make an appearance at the Police Station not because he has been on the wrong side of the law. He has been invited to deliver a talk to the police personnel attached to the Emergency Unit 119. Sanga has been invited to address police officers attached to the 119 by former Royal College and Police SC rugby player Chief Inspector Salinda Samarakoon. Sanga, who returned home on Sunday after finishing his county stint with Surrey more..

Sept 24 (NS) In an unexpected turn of events, the Chairman of the Tea Board, Rohan Pethiyagoda has tendered his resignation, protesting against regulations that constitute an unlawful invasion of privacy over the mandatory disclosure of one�s HIV status to ensure the official�s position in the institution. Pethiyagoda who was appointed Chairman had expressed his protest over the request made by Committee on High Posts more..

Sept 24 (ITN) CID is conducting inquiries into the 30 Sri Lankans who were deported for staying illegally in Japan. 27 men and three women who were illegally staying in Japan have been deported. They arrived in the island yesterday in a special flight. Japanese Police Officers who nabbed them handed over the Sri Lankans to officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Accordingly they were directed to the CID for further inquiries. As a result of such Sri Lankans staying illegally in Japan more..

Sept 24 (DN) Colombo is the world�s fourth fastest-growing destination for international visitors, according to 2016 Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index. According to the Index, which projects the number of tourists staying in 132 of the most popular cities worldwide, Colombo will see a 19.57% increase in foreign travellers this year. Mastercard�s latest list shows the growing international significance of Asia, as seven of the 10 most-visited cities in the world are in the continent, more..

Sept 24 (CT) Chairman of Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna, said Committee had indentified that several key State institutions needed to develop their IT proficiency and infrastructure to increase productivity and curb losses. COPA Chief, while noting that SL Customs Department, Inland Revenue Department, Excise Department and the Department of Motor Traffic were the four institutions that earned more..

Sept 24 (NS) JVP has observed that the proposed Indo-Sri Lanka Economic and Technical Technological Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) would not make any contribution to domestic production. JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa claimed that the ETCA would not result in the increase of the country�s export revenue. He pointed out that although PM wanted to make the Colombo Port City a financial hub dealing with monetary capital and services such as those in Dubai, Hong Kong more..

Sept 24 (CT) Joint Opposition (JO) and the JVP are planning to call for a debate in Parliament on the alleged misappropriation of a sum of Rs 700 million to digitize People's Bank (PB) services. Sources attached to both JO and JVP said that they will be focusing their attention on the alleged scam at the next party leaders meeting in Parliament. Meanwhile, COPE has ordered the AG's Department to promptly submit a detailed report on the controversial PB digitizing project. more..

Sept 24 (FT) An IMF mission winding up their review of the Sri Lankan economy yesterday warned a second tranche of the $ 1.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) would be dependent on the implementation of the proposed VAT hike. Head of the IMF staff team Jaewoo Lee told reporters after completing the first review mission that they could not in good conscience recommend the release of the second tranche to the Executive Board of more..

Sept 24 (DM) Powerful transnational corporations especially those involved in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and food are known to be pushing hard to sell their products here in what social justice analysts see as economic neo-colonialism which is more dangerous than the old military colonialism. We wish to spotlight today one such key area. In June this year, President Sirisena, resisting pressure from TNCs and their highly paid lobbies, banned the import of the weedicide glyphosate more..

Sept 24 (DM) Climate change is now internationally accepted as a scientific fact. At present, the global climate is changing at an unprecedented rate and on an unprecedented scale. The driving force behind these changes is human action, principally through the emission of carbon into our atmosphere. We are witnessing the impact of global warming on our environment, our economy and our society. The recent floods that devastated Sri Lanka is a prime example of this. more..

Sept 24 (SL) Following their land mark victory in Supreme Court, Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and protection of the environment through public interest litigation vouched they would continue to fight to put an end to coal based power plants that severely pollute the environment. However, on the other hand, CEB claims coal is cheapest source of electricity. more..

Sept 24 (Island) Consultant Community Physician National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Dr Janaki Vidanapathirana said that disparities had been identified in the law while carrying out reviews for the Situation Assessment of Condom Programming in Sri Lanka � 2015. The gap between the age of consent and the marriageable age is one of them. She said 16 was considered the age of consent and 18 the marriageable age. more..

Sept 24 (DBS) Sri Lankans were shocked and disturbed in the first week of September by two violent incidents directed against a Buddhist prelate and a senior diplomat in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur(KL). In the first incident on Saturday September 3rd the chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Malaysia � Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thera was attacked opposite the Buddhist Temple at Sentul in KL. more..

Sept 24 (ST) It is an extraordinary audience, from a short distance away, with a King. As we spot the majestic tusker, monarch of all he surveys, we are spellbound. Scene is picture-postcard perfect. Fairly strong breeze blowing across vast wewa makes ripples on the waters, set a-shimmer with silvery hues by gently setting sun. Two pairs of mongoose slinking close to jungle�s edge and birds are winging their way home. more..

Sept 24 (SL) Plans are afoot under the Uva Province Director of Agriculture to ascertain the losses that the regional farmers incur through the much debated Uma Oya Multi-Purpose project, officials said. The villagers in and around the Uma Oya Project say they are facing severe water shortages since June as a result of the tunnelling that led to a water leak. Naturalist Indaka Kamaladasa, a resident of the area, said more..