Sep 22 (CT) Rains and early gloom harbinger the dying year. Fields are ploughed and sown in readiness for the earth�s renewal and the yield of her bounty. It was at such a time that Rajani Thiranagama was killed by the LTTE 29 years ago. Her questions and aphorisms often challenged our assumptions at their core. The following Appeal authored by her in October 1988 appeared in Laying Aside Illusions signed by 50 academics in the common room of the University of Jaffna: more..

Sep 22 (SO) In a wide ranging interview shortly after his arrival from New Delhi where he joined former President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s widely reported visit, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L.Peiris explained the purpose of their trip and the future of the SLPP while shooting down speculation on the notable absence of Basil Rajapaksa from Janabalaya sit-in protest. Q: What was the purpose of recent visit by former Prez Rajapaksa to more..

Sep 22 (CT) Of 4.2 million menstruating women in SL, only 30% use disposable sanitary napkins. Given the stigma surrounding menstruation, many Sri Lankans � including policy makers � are unaware of the impacts of poor menstrual hygiene management (MHM).This is worrying because poor MHM poses significant health risks including urogenital infections and cervical cancer. Additionally, poor MHM may adversely impact female educational performance and female more..

Sep 22 (Island) Many, many months ago I wrote a piece about the last surviving bak mee tree in Colombo. It yet stands, in lonely splendor, giving character to our building cluttered neighbourhood. I have lived in, and around, this area for over 70 years and remember this tree standing proud amidst the marshy grassland that then surrounded it. We will never know how, and when, this native of the Vanni jungles rooted itself in a Colombo that had not yet become the asphalt jungle of today. more..

Sep 22 (CT) Former President of Maldives and Leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Nasheed, meeting local and foreign journalists yesterday in Colombo, gave a brief summary on the upcoming Presidential Election scheduled for Sept 23, 2018. He accused incumbent President Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPP) of flouting election laws. more..

Sep 22 (DN) The current political and media hype over an alleged assassination attempt on President Maithripala Sirisena and a possible presidential candidate, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has pushed back the growing interest in the candidates in the coming presidential poll. Allegations made against Deputy Inspector General of the Terrorism Investigation Division of the Police, Nalaka de Silva, requires the most speedy and serious probe into the matter. It is proper that DIG de Silva has more..

Sep 22 (DN) Looking back after the dust had settled on the Janabala Colombata attempted mass protest earlier this month, in the overall context of the SLPP/Joint Opposition politics, several factors become clear. Firstly, with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa throwing his hat into the ring as it were to be the political heir apparent of term limit barred Mahinda Rajapaksa, this was the reminder by the eldest offspring, that there is age limit barred sons also waiting in the wings. more..

Sep 22 (CT) The seven weeks between my returning from Geneva in June 2009, and the closure of the Secretariat at the end of July, were intensely busy. Though I no longer had to get up well before dawn to finish my paperwork at the Secretariat � once leading our Director Administration to reprimand my driver for putting a false time of arrival, when we started work around 4 a.m. � I did get up before that on occasion to head off to the Refugee Camp at Vavuniya. more..

Sep 22 (Island) According to media reports President Sirisena is planning to attend the forthcoming 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, where he hopes to use the opportunity presented to amend the UNHRC Resolution 30/1 co-sponsored by the govt. General Assembly sessions are normally occasions for broad policy statements. However, in the case of SL presenting its case before the General Assembly is in order to bring to the attention of a world body such as the UN more..

Sep 22 (Island) Shouldn�t we stop this talk about Sri Lanka losing? Why, didn�t we lose against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and get thrown out of the Asia Cup? Come on, that is in cricket, and not even Test Cricket� It is time to think of bigger matters. What bigger matters are you thinking of? Just look at the Rupee �Dollar Match � we are rising every day. Just now we have gone past 170 to One Dollar. Did we ever have such a good score? more..

Sep 22 (Island) All it takes to destroy a country is the cancerous growth of partisan politics, as has been our experience. We have seen dirty politics eat into the vitals of the state, enervating them irreparably and create conditions for politicians to emerge as a privileged class. Everything King Midas touched turned into gold, instantly. Our politicians are also known for their magic touch, which transforms everything into an unholy mess. With them at the levers of power and more..

Sep 22 (ST) Rajapaksha Manikkunambi Saddasena Lionel Mendis was a well known cricket coach and a teacher. To me, he was an uncle, my fathers� elder brother. His 83rd birth anniversary falls on Sept 15, 2018. Loku thaththa was very fond of me as a kid and I, very much attached to him. At every visit we made to loku nanda�s at Quarry Road, Dehiwala, he would come out of his room to welcome me. Then, I would sit on his lap in the living room, in the company of amma and thaththa, more..

Sep 22 (Reuters) The SL rupee hit a record low for an eighth straight session on Friday, but closed the session firmer following intervention by the central bank, market sources said. The central bank will intervene aggressively to curb excess volatility in the exchange rate, Senior Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe told Reuters. �We will not tolerate excess volatility that we have seen in the market during the last couple of days. more..

Sep 22 (FT) A pair of key plots of land within the Hambantota Port premises has been assigned to two local-based Liquid Petroleum Gas providing companies, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told Parliament. Accordingly, Litro Gas and Laugfs Gas are the two companies that have received these lands, Minister revealed to the House. Minister went on to say the two plots of land in concern were valued at $ 5000 per a hectare in 2010 and 2012, & were revalued at $ 5600 per hectare in 2016. more..

Sep 22 (CI) India made vital blows with the ball in the second T20I, in Colombo, before the rains that had delayed the start of play by half an hour returned to force the teams off the field, and eventually wash out the match. In the 7.5 overs possible, India had Sri Lanka at 49 for 3, with the home team's captain and star batsman Chamari Atapattu back in the pavilion. Atapattu had looked good for a big innings, having hit two fours and a six over long-on against offspin of Anuja Patil, more..

Sep 22 (Island) Think Tanks within SriLanka cricket are similar to ostriches. They hide their heads in the sand hoping their problems would go away. There is no clinical assessment or logical thinking applied to their future planning. And they pay the price time after time, with unerring regularity. Disastrous overseas performances are glossed over or forgotten in the wake of flattering performances at home, on wickets doctored for more..

Sep 22 (EN) Sri Lanka coconut prices fell 5.4% at Thursday's auction in Colombo, to 36,346 rupees for 1,000 nuts, after rising 3.7% to 38,428 a week earlier. At this week's auction in Colombo, 689,948 nuts were offered and 358,440 were sold. Prices fell as slow as 30,723 on Aug 16. Sri Lanka has also lifted a ban on the export of fresh coconuts from this month. Sri Lanka banned the export of fresh nuts after a drought hit global production driving coconut prices to record levels. more..

Sep 22 (Island) Opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka has come under the spotlight again after he returned home early from the Asia Cup in UAE with a suspicious back injury. Gunathilaka was ruled out of the six-nation competition after he complained about back pain after the national cricket team�s first training session in Dubai. Now it has emerged that the left-handed top-order batsman was carrying a niggle but didn�t inform the team management prior departure from Colombo. more..

Sep 22 (Island) Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, yesterday, disclosed to Parliament plans to cultivate 15,000 acres of grass land for elephants. Minister Fonseka said funds for the purpose would be granted by the US, The land would be able to provide fodder for 1,500 elephants in that area, he added. The Minister observed that one of the main reasons why the elephants were invading the villages was the shortage of food & water. more..

Sep 22 (FT) Govt reconfirmed in Parliament that it had not divested land in the Hambantota Port to a Chinese company but had incorporated two companies � Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) and Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS), which are Public-Private Partnerships to carry forward development plans. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe responding to a question for oral answer said: �As per the development agreement signed between Govt of SL & Govt of China more..

Sep 22 (Island) After consistent expansion from a fledgling organization of just two persons, Pyxle, the brainchild of founder Prasantha Jayamaha celebrates 15 years of continuous progress in enterprise technology solutions. Although the quantum of moneys earned was not disclosed, Jayamaha addressing the press recently said his company could be considered a pace setter, delivering digital transformation and technology solutions across four continents. more..

Sep 22 (CT) High jumper Seniru Amarasinghe and distance runner Parami Wasanthi Maris Stella were adjudged best male and female athletes for their record-breaking performances at the 88th Sir John Tarbet Athletics Championship 2018 concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium, yesterday. St. Peter�s College once again sealed the all the major titles over all schools when winning the boys Championship with 206 points, more..

Sep 22 (FT) Govt this week decided to give prime land in the heart of Colombo on a 99-year lease for Rs. 1.1172 billion to Access Realties. The land, extending over 114.56 perches at Mudalige Mawatha, Union Place in Colombo 2, has been given a base value of Rs. 1.1 billion by the Govt Chief Valuer, Minister Champika Ranawaka told the Cabinet, proposing to lease the land to Access Realties. A legal dispute over the land which was vested with the UDA under Section 44 of more..

Sep 22 (Island) Two very generous patriotic SL citizens, Prof. A.H. Ganjavian and late Mr. Ahmed Afshar, owners of Ahmed Tea of London, have constructed and donated RAZAVI Apeksha Medical Complex, Phase 1 to the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama, to bring about the state of contentment and hope throughout life�s journey, as a token of appreciation and a gratitude towards all the citizens of SL. This magnificent up-to-date hospital of the highest standard that more..

Sep 22 (CT) A noted civil servant and the Director General (DG) of the Samurdhi Development Department (SDD), Jinasiri Dadallage has been transferred to the PM�s Office with immediate effect. To protest the move, SDD workers opted out of work yesterday afternoon and had staged a demonstration. When contacted, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Empowerment, Sriyani Weerakoon said that Dadallage had not been more..

Sep 22 (DN) SL's first-round exit from this year's ODI Asia Cup - which they were defending - should not really come across as a surprise, unless you've not been following much cricket recently. Dip in the form of one of the best Asian teams of the 90's & 2000's has touched rock bottom, to say the least. While the team still has just about enough time to prepare for the World Cup next June, their shocking exit to two teams that did not play a single Test match before 2000 won't be easy to digest. more..

Sep 22 (DN) The first ever Asia Men�s Volleyball Challenge Cup which was held in Sri Lanka came to an end with Iraq clinching the Cup beating Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a thrilling five setter (17-25, 25-14, 25-16, 26-28, 15-23). Saudis got off to a fine start to win the first set 25-17 making a strong challenge to Iraqis from the beginning of the set. Iraqis came back gallantly to take the second set at 25-14 to come on equal terms and posed a threat to their opponents. more..

Sep 22 (CT) Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the Cabinet Paper in connection with legalizing the cultivation of cannabis for the purpose of producing certain medicines would be resubmitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. He added that although the Cabinet had been reluctant to consider the proposal when initially submitted, President Maithripala Sirisena had since himself stated that he will consider the matter at hand. more..

Sep 22 (DN) Over 100 young couples living together in Jaffna registered their marriages led by Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the couples were not married because they are undergoing various issues. The Ministry resolved their many issues overnight during the Nila Mehewara National Mobile Service Programme held in the Jaffna District recently, he said. Minister said that over 12,000 issues of the Jaffna people were resolved during the September 14 and 17 Nila Mehewara. more..

Sep 22 (Island) Prelate of Getambe Rajopawanaramay Ven. Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Nayake Thera says the attempts to abolish the executive presidency are unwarranted. The JVP�s motion to abolish the Executive Presidency should be defeated in Parliament, Thera has said in a media statement. The move to introduce a new Constitution was initiated by the pro-LTTE groups operating overseas together with a group dollar-drive NGOs bent on dividing the country. more..

Sep 22 (CT) The decision of the Board of Directors of the SriLankan Airlines, to appoint Nishantha Wickramasinghe as a full time Chairman of the Airline, as per the Board minutes of 5 March 2011 sans a Board Paper, rendered the role of the CEO ineffective. This was disclosed in the testimony of the incumbent SLA Regional Head of Europe and the Americas and former CEO of the Airline from 2008-2011, Manoj de Vaas Gunawardena, more..

Sep 22 (DM) The GMOA said it would take decisive steps next week in connection with the Supreme Court upholding the Appeal Court ruling which had directed the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to register MBBS graduates of SAITM. GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge said that their counsel were currently studying the facts included in the judgment and that the GMOA�s emergency Central Committee which was scheduled to meet next week would decide on this matter. more..

Sep 22 (DM) Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara has advised Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to act in keeping with his status, Law and Order Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara said. He told a news briefing that an inquiry had been launched on this matter. �The media has exaggerated recent acts carried out by Police Chief. We are not trying to justify what he has done and should admire the good things he has done,� he said and added that the people see only the negatives. more..

Sep 22 (DM) Minister Faizer Mustapha said that the national cricket team was badly hurt due to some insulting facebook posts targeting them after the team's defeat against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the Asian Cup tournament and appealed cricket fans not to bring down the mentality of the players. He told this in parliament during the adjournment debate moved by JO MP Kanchana Wijesekara stating that more..

Sep 22 (DM) India was in crisis this week after a seven-year-old girl became the latest victim in a country where a rape is reported to be taking place in every 13 minutes. According to reports the seven-year-old girl is in a critical condition at a New Delhi hospital after undergoing surgery for injuries she suffered while being raped. Her mother was by her bedside after the girl underwent hours of surgery. It is alleged a metal pipe was used in the sex assault. A 21-year-old has been arrested more..

Sep 22 (DM) Media is agog with conspiracy theories over alleged assassination attempts on President Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Importance of Gotabaya in such a plot cannot be thought of. But the President on any scale is extremely high profile and in a two-party Govt that is into heavy conflicts, the alleged plot sounds eerie. With an unstable coalition Govt, it turns more serious with concerns raised about how investigations are conducted and in lack of trust declared on incumbent IGP. more..

Sep 22 (ST) Plantations Ministry has said a gazette notice confining the use of glyphosate only to rubber and tea plantations will be issued next week. Ministry Secretary J.A. Ranjith said the notice is with the govt printer and will be released on Sept 15, 2018. The weedicide will be distributed soon, he said. Imports will depend on the needs of Regional Plantation Companies and the Small Holding Companies. more..

Sep 22 (ST) The increase in fuel prices for the second time in two months, in keeping with a Cabinet-approved pricing formula, has sent up prices of goods and services, increasing the burden on households. The latest fuel price hike on Monday saw a litre of petrol, both 92 and 95 octane, go up by Rs4 while a litre of super diesel increased by Rs3 and auto diesel by Rs5. The main victims of the price rise are farmers more..

Sep 22 (ST) Working conditions and industrial relations in Sri Lanka�s Free Trade Zones (FTZs) need to be improved, a multi stakeholders workshop held to discuss occupational health hazards within global factories in and around the FTZ was told this week. The panel included ministry officials, BOI officials and factory managers. Chief speaker at the event was Dr. Sandya Hewamanne, lecturer at U of Essex. more..