Nov 24 (Island) It states, I quote: "Both sides discussed the need to move towards a peacefully negotiated political settlement in the island including the North. Both sides agreed that terrorism should be countered with resolve. The Indian side called for implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment and greater devolution of powers to the provinces. Mr. Basil Rajapaksa emphasized that the President of SL and more..

Nov 24 (NR) Minister Lakshman Kiriella says the current govt is committed to protecting the rights of citizens of all communities. Raising a question JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake charged govt of failing to compensate the public whose houses were damaged in the Gintota unrest recently. Minister Kiriella responding said regardless of race and religion the govt is devoted to ensuring rights for all. more..

Nov 24 (DM) Two govt Ministers representing SLFP- John Seneviratne and Susil Premajayantha had discussion with former President Rajapaksa on Wednesday to seek the possibility of uniting the two factions. Minister Seneviartne confirmed that an information meeting took place at the residence of the former President. �We discussed how this unity can be brought about,� he said. Asked whether there was any positive more..

Nov 24 (DM) TNA MP S. Sridharan had allocated Rs.4 million out of his decentralized budget to renovate the Mahaviru Mausoleum where the bodies of dead LTTE members are buried in Kanakapuram in Kilinochchi. This sum is to be taken out of the decentralized allocations made to the MP for development work of the Kilinochchi District. Approval for this had been granted by both the Karachchi DS more..

Nov 24 (NR) The seven suspects, who were accused of abducting a man in Dematagoda in 2015, were sentenced to two years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) suspended for 12 years by High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe today. The seven suspects were sentenced to one year RI on the 1st charge and another one year RI for the 11th charge. Except for the second suspect, all the others were also ordered to pay Rs. 20,000 each as a fine more..

Nov 24 (CT) President Rajapaksa's CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, after the end of SL's 26-year-old Tamil terrorist war on 18 May2009, used to talk of positioning Sri Lanka as a five hub nation for global trade and commerce. Those were aviation, maritime, energy, knowledge and trading hubs respectively. Later, Cabraal added a sixth hub, tourism. But none of those hub statuses materialized despite the 5� years of peace since 18 May 2009 to 8 Jan 2015 that the country enjoyed more..

Nov 24 (FT) I was distraught to discover the other day that our Head of State had allegedly caused some distress to a na�ve young politico. Maybe it was because the n. y. p. is not savvy enough yet to know the difference between governance and politics. Perhaps there was some justification in his grievance given that elder statesmen in our republic are more renowned for playing ducks and drakes with coalition politics than working for the wellbeing of democracy these days. more..

Nov 24 (DN) A corruption case filed against State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation A.H.M. Fowzie for allegedly causing a Rs.1.07 million unlawful loss to the govt by misusing a vehicle belonging to the Disaster Management Centre was yesterday fixed for trial by Colombo Chief Magistrate. The Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara fixed case to be taken up for trial on Feb 16 and 23. Meanwhile, Minister A.H.M. Fowzie was not present in Court. more..

Nov 24 (NR) Army says personnel who left the service without seeking legal discharge will be arrested in an operation that gets underway today. Army has identified 2,600 officers who left the service without official discharge. Arrests will be made by the Army Police and by Police Stations across the island. The extended general amnesty period offered to Army absentees to receive legal discharge after reporting to their respective Regimental Hq ended on Wednesday. more..

Nov 24 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka will enter the satellite technology era by sending its first nano technology satellite into space by 2020. The Arthur C. Clarke Institute, Sri Lanka's state institute for Research and Development, specializing in several areas including information technology, space technologies, robotics and other related fields of modern technologies, signed an MoU with Russia to strengthen Sri Lanka's satellite technology. more..

Nov 24 (FT) With congenital heart disease being one of the major killers in Sri Lanka for children under five years of age, treating it is key to reducing the infant mortality rate in the country. Almost 2,500-3,000 children are born with a congenital heart disease every year and most of them need either surgical- or catheter-based treatment within the first year of their life. Unless treated in a timely manner some of them do not live to see their first birthday and a majority will die before more..

Nov 24 (Island) UPFA MP Roshan Ranasinghe brought to the attention of Parliament that the Govt Analyst�s Department had determined that the fire that erupted in his office building in Wadduwa on�August 22�was an arson attack.�Raising a privilege matter the MP complained of threats to his life and political activities. "I am representing Parliament from the Polonnaruwa district since 2010. The fire in the building at Wadduwa completely destroyed the Ground & 1st Floor. more..

Nov 24 (CI) Treating these Tests almost as tour games for the series in South Africa, India were in no danger of the apparent disrespect to Sri Lanka, biting them on the backside instead. For the sixth straight Test between these two sides, Sri Lanka failed to reach 300, getting bowled out for 205 after winning the toss on a pretty good batting surface. Ishant Sharma, replacing the injured Mohammed Shami, presented his claim to more..

Nov 24 (DN) The hostel facilities of state universities will be completed next year, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. He said that after providing hostel facilities the Government will pay attention to improve other facilities in universities including common rooms, libraries, canteens and toilets. Minister said the Higher Education Ministry will work in collaboration with the Health Ministry to come up with a plan to avoid a shortage of House Officers in hospitals as a result of disruption to more..

Nov 24 (GT) The announcement comes after the United Nations (UN) criticised the SL penal system for criminalising homosexuality. Nerin Pulle, Deputy Solicitor General, has pledged to change the penal code in Sri Lanka after the country�s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a process where countries within the UN have their human rights records scrutinised by other UN member states. SL govt received seven specific recommendations, which included more..

Nov 24 (LBO) Proposed Liability Management Act and recently introduced market-based Treasury bond auction system will create a win-win situation for both Central Bank and Treasury, CB Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. He said these two measures in future would also insulate monetary policy from fiscal dominance. He said the provisions of the proposed Act would facilitate the treasury to more..

Nov 24 (DM) �Thailand and Sri Lanka have plans to triple the trade values between the two countries by the year 2020,� announced Ambassador of Thailand to SL Chulamanee Chartsuwan, during a meeting held at the National Chamber of Commerce, on economic relationship, investments and bilateral trade between the two countries.�She further stated that in line with her mission to promote trade and investment in SL, initial discussions have already been carried out between the two govts more..

Nov 24 (AD) Muruththetuwe Ananda Thero stated that a substantial number of Sanghas� against the government will descend on streets if Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is arrested. The statements were brought out today during Mawbima Surakime Jathika Balawegaya media briefing. �The present govt is carrying out large scale retaliations. The country will experience in massive catastrophes due to the impiety of these rulers� the Thero said. more..

Nov 24 (AJ) Muhammad Abrar is still in shock, nearly a week after his house in Ampitiya village in the southern town of Ginthota came under attack from a Sinhalese-Buddhist mob. On Nov 17, he had returned from the mosque after evening prayers and was about to retire for the night, when he heard his neighbours' home being attacked. "First attack on our home was when our window panes were broken by rocks," said Abrar, more..

Nov 24 (CB) After the humiliating whitewash against India at home, there was a ray of hope when Sri Lanka did well to end Pakistan's unbeaten run - that had lasted for seven years - in the UAE. But in the second Test against India at Nagpur, the same problems resurfaced as the batting collapsed once again. On a wicket where there were no demons, a total of 205 was well below par. When they struggled to see off one and half session of play to save the Kolkata Test, there were concerns that more..

Nov 24 (Island) Out of the 1,950 candidates who had passed an examination for the recruitment of graduate teachers 667 only could be appointed to the available vacancies, in the province, CPC�s Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said, referring to a protest demonstration by graduates who sat the exam some months ago. CM Ekanayake told the Tuesday�s meeting of the CPC that the Central Provincial Public Services Commission had been directed to recruit the 667 graduates more..

Nov 24 (CT) A call made in Parliament by a TNA MP for the removal of temples from northern areas received much flak from Govt ranks. Speaking on the controversial incident where Northern Province Minister S. Sarveswaren had refused to unfurl the National Flag at a school event on 16 Nov, TNA MP Sivagnanan Sritharan claimed that the Sinhala Flag or the National Flag had failed to recognize the Tamil people in it. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Having delighted aspiring students seeking placement at prestigious foreign universities over the years, Aspirations Education has announced the launch of the Second Phase of Aspirations International Education Exhibition (AIEE) for the 11th consecutive year. The First Phase of the Aspirations International Education Exhibition (AIEE) 2017 was held in July � which is the usual month during which this event has been held over the years. more..

Nov 24 (CT) A South Asian regional criminal intelligence sharing centre is expected to be established in Colombo, facilitated by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The official announcement was made during a high level meeting of Secretaries of Home and Interior Affairs Ministries in the South Asian Region, with the participation of the Ministry of Law and Order and Southern Development and the UNODC, yesterday. Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, more..

Nov 24 (NR) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has returned to the island following a 3-day state visit to India. Lankan delegation arrived at the BIA this afternoon. During the visit, PM Wickremesinghe held discussion with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Premier and Modi held discussions to improve bilateral ties between the two countries. PM also held talks with Indian Prez Ram Nath Kovind during his stay. more..

Nov 24 (AD) The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said that water supply to several areas in Colombo would be disrupted tomorrow (25). An 18-hour water cut will� commence from 8 am tomorrow including Colombo, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Kotte, Kaduwela, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa, Kolonnawa Urban Council area, Kotikawatte, Mulleriyawa Local Govt Area, Ratmalana and Soysapura Flats. The water cut will be imposed due to the essential repairs that more..

Nov 24 (PSL) �If there are undue criticism and complaints against the decisions taken by me to stop corruption and fraud, I am ready to leave all positions and join the people to continue the struggle� says President Maithripala Sirisena. He was speaking at a public meeting held today in Nikaveratiya. �As the govt of SLFP did wrong things, the SLFP candidate lost in 2015. If the UNP is doing the same faults and mistakes being in the govt, people will not approve that�, he said. more..

Nov 24 (EN) President Sirisena hit back at the senior partner in his coalition Friday suggesting that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's govt could be more corrupt than the previous regime. In a scathing attack on the UNP, an emotional Sirisena said it was easy to break up, but difficult to reunite and urged mature politicians in the UNP to stop grand standing by its juvenile members. The remarks were at UNP backbenchers who more..

Nov 25 (DN) If all goes well, on Nov 27 the Election Commissioner will call nominations for Local Govt elections to be held early next year. This in itself is a challenge won by the people for the elections were delayed for over two and half years due to a series of technical and practical problems, which of could have been solved in a shorter time had there been enough foresight, planning and efficiency on the part of officials and politicians responsible. A formidable challenge won was more..

Nov 25 (CT) Verbal intimidation within the boundary ropes of the cricket field has been tolerated far, far too long by the cricketing authorities (ICC and MCC). This disease has been sustained by weak umpiring from personnel of all nationalities and by clever cover-jobs from eminent cricketers of all nationalities manning the TV commentary teams (including Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, Simon Doull, Russel Arnold and Matthew Hayden and Murali Karthik in the present series in India). more..

Nov 25 (SO) Arumuham Kohilaraj (43) is all smiles. With the task of family washing already accomplished, she beams at the cameras. �I used to get water from the public stand post. However, we didn�t get water throughout the day. It was available only for about 2 hours in the morning from 6 to 8 a.m. and then again from 4 to 6 p.m.� Those were the days she had to go out there with pitchers, buckets or any other container more..

Nov 25 (NS) We live in an era dominated by information thanks to the existence of social media. Facebook, Twitter and all those networks are flooded with thousands of information which can be accessed by millions around the world. It is good in a way. During the floods and landslides and many other disasters, it was these social media sites which helped the victims connect to helpers. These websites provided invaluable information and guidance to the volunteers, rescuers and more..

Nov 25 (DN) Sinhala and Tamil conversations surround me as I walk through Toronto�s underground path system in the downtown financial district. Sri Lankans fill the banks and other financial institutions that fill the skyscrapers in downtown Toronto. Even more than in London and New York, Sri Lankans seem more visible in Toronto despite its great diversity of ethnicities and nationalities. Now that I am spending more time in Toronto, I have started looking at the city�s history more..

Nov 25 (CT) UPFA MP Lohan Ratwatte says, apart from the North and East the Joint Opposition can win in all other areas. Q: What is the connection between the JO and Maithripala Sirisena now? A: When Maithripala Sirisena established this Unity Govt he held a discussion with all of us. He told us that those who want to join the ruling party can do so and those who want to remain in the Opposition can remain there and express their views. more..

Nov 25 (FT) Will the Local Govt election prove to be the great fall of the Humpty-Dumpty coalition, or will all the Queen�s horses and all the Queen�s men be able to put Yahapalana Humpty together again? And how many of the UNP�s Humpty-Dumpties will survive the stress-test of the local authorities� election? Will the new, non-unitary Constitution project survive? Will the Budget, with its policy triad just described by Mangala at a Colombo University forum as non-negotiable more..

Nov 25 (FT) It has been made known that the Sri Lanka Tea Board is now finalising plans to embark on an ambitious international promotional program to promote the tea produced in our country. We have no information available yet of the campaign details but we assume that Ceylon Tea will be portrayed� as being superior to any tea in the same category originating from any other producing country.� Presently, all tea produced in SL which complies with basic minimum standards more..

Nov 25 (CT) The subject given was the effect of the internal war on Higher Education in this country with special reference to the region mainly affected by the Tamil insurgency and its suppression. Addressing a Science Faculty forum on university recruitment, Professor Tharmaratnam told the raise our future teachers. If you abuse this process to bring in favourites, they would in turn be paranoid about recruiting those with superior ability and character. more..

Nov 25 (Island) The Joint Opposition (JO) is all out for Provincial Councils and Local Govt Minister Faiszer Musthapha�s blood. It has handed over a motion of no confidence against him for the postponement of local govt elections in the wake of the suspension by the Court of Appeal of the delimitation gazette till Dec. 04. Musthapha owes his political career to President Maithripala Sirisena, who appointed him a National List MP and Cabinet minister. more..