Sep 25 (DN) Minister Rajitha Senaratne has instructed Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe to hold an inquiry into an incident where at least 17 patients who sought treatment for eye-related conditions at the Nuwara Eliya hospital suffered vision loss after an injection. �The minister who is in New York to attend the UNGA sessions had called Dr. Jasinghe and advised him to conduct an immediate inquiry,� Health Ministry said. more..

Sep 25 (CT) Following the recent inspection visit by Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe in the Eastern Province, especially to the Port of Trincomalee, a special meeting was convened with the initiative of the Eastern Province Governor Rohitha Bogollagama at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), a press release stated. The meeting was held to discuss the development of the Port of Trincomalee and the implementation plan for the development of the Trincomalee District. more..

Sep 25 (AD) First thing to be done in relation to the investigations being conducted regarding the conspiracy of assassinating the President and the former Defense Minister is to temporarily remove the IGP from his post, says Prof. G.L. Peiris. The public has to consume Moringa (drumsticks) leaves to survive in the current situation, says SLPP Chairman. Meanwhile, the govt has failed to even set a series of basic economic policies to drive the economy, he points out. more..

Sep 25 (DM) The govt may have to curtail imports by US $500 million to US $1 billion because of the current economic circumstances, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. PM who attended the opening of D.S. Senanayake Gama in Hambantota said Sri Lanka would have to do so by increasing import duty. �We are discussing various forms of debt management with the Minister of Finance and had a discussion last week as well. more..

Sep 25 (FT) Govt has decided to implement a Genetic Research Facility to diagnose Non-Communicable Diseases, Minister Rajitha Senarathna said in a statement. Setting up of a new laboratory to conduct genetic base researches will cost around Rs. 482 million. A Cabinet proposal will also be presented on this regards in the due course, he stated. He said a Bill to set up the facility will be presented in Parliament as a follow up to a proposal in 2019 Budget in November. more..

Sep 25 (Island) Head of ICC Anti Corruption Unit Alex Marshall revealed that four Test captains had complained to the ICC that they had been approached by bookies to fix games or parts of the games. The governing body did not name the players, but it is widely known that Pakistan skipper Safraz Ahmed and Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer are two of them. Marshall went onto reveal that international captains are more vulnerable to be targeted by corrupt elements as they could more..

Sep 25 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the world leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela, who showed the correct path by his humanitarian qualities and the love for the people. Addressing the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit held on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly today (24) at the UN Hq in New York, Prez said Mandela was a great statesman and epitome of reconciliation. more..

Sep 25 (DM) Cable News Network (CNN)�s widely-respected analyst Fareed Zakaria in his programme Global Public Square on Sunday examined the response to the rise of populism or narrow-minded racist and religious thinking in Europe and said the United States and Europe should be celebrating the remarkable achievements of diversity in a democracy. Mr. Zakaria, a Harvard-educated millionaire quoted from the widely selling book Identity, saying he wanted the people to more..

Sep 25 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena who will address the UN General Assembly today, had earlier confided to the media bosses that he would, in his UN speech, seek a reprieve of war crimes against the govt forces. �I will also make a written request to the UNHRC to settle the allegations against our troops�I want to tell them to remove these charges. We can amicably resolve this issue,� he said. Though some sources suggest that the president is having second thoughts about more..

Sep 25 (DM) Attorney-at-Law Darshan Weerasekara, who supports those working against the UNHRC resolution on SL, speaks about the process that led to the current situation. He is the one who drafted a counter response to the UN High Commissioner�s report on SL. Q: How do you look at the process that led to the adoption of the UNHRC resolution 30/1 on SL in Oct 2015? A: On May 19, 2009, armed forces defeated LTTE. more..

Sep 25 (ST) Prez Sirisena has ordered that a large stock of contaminated canned-fish be reshipped to the country of origin after he rejected a request by a Cabinet sub committee to release the five-months-old stocks to the markets. Presidential directive came at Tuesday�s Cabinet meeting after the Cabinet Sub Committee on Cost of Living submitted a proposal seeking release of 31 canned-fish containers more..

Sep 25 (CT) The postponement of the installing of pipelines for the proposed sewage system, near the walls of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, due to the influence of a third party, causes a loss of Rs 1 million daily, said the Deputy Project Director Sunil Bandara. He said this at the Kandy District Coordinating Committee meeting at the Kandy District Secretariat. This meeting was also attended by the Co-Chairperson of more..

Sep 25 (CT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan are, within the course of this week, scheduled to finalize their list of two MPs and three non-MPs to be nominated for Membership to the Constitutional Council. When contacted and queried as to whether the MP to be nominated by agreement between the majority of the MPs belonging to the political parties and independent groups more..

Sep 25 (Island) Unresolved water issues prevailing in various part of Sri Lanka have become an impediment to attract and sustain investments into the sector, Minister Rauff Hakeem says. Hehighlighted issues in areas such as Iranamadu and Rajanganaya in distribution and sharing water had made it difficult for development partners to plan funding within their loan cycle with a projected possibility. more..

Sep 25 (EN) Sri Lanka's banks had loaned 46.5 billion rupees to private borrower in July down from 82.6 billion rupees a month earlier, while central bank credit to the govt fell steeply indicative of dollar purchases. Private credit rose 14.7% from a year earlier to 5,202 billion rupees, slowing from a 14.94% growth in June. Central Bank credit to govt, fell by 50.7 billion rupees from 307.3 billion rupees in June to 356.6 billion rupees by end July. more..

Sep 25 (DN) SL�s World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga said that SLC does not have a vision to win the 2019 WC and blamed the past and present Sports Ministers for the plight the country�s cricket has fallen to today. �I don�t think winning the 2019 World Cup will be an easy task. We lost to Bangladesh and to Afghanistan and the blame should not only go to the captain, but to selection committee as well� more..

Sep 25 (EN) Police investigating an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena have found several contradictions in statements an air force deserter who claimed he was contracted by a DIG for the hit. Sources close to the investigation said Namal Kumara, the man who held a press conference and made what appeared to be sensational claims, had changed his story many times more..

Sep 25 (HT) With over 1200 runs, Sanath Jayasuriya is still the highest run-getter in Asia Cup. Currently in the UAE as a member of the tournament technical committee, Jayasuriya couldn�t hide his disappointment at Sri Lanka�s early exit. �It is very painful to see the current status. There is no pride in our cricket at the moment. When you lose, you are under pressure, but you should be able to absorb it. more..

Sep 25 (DM) A group of young men and women, who climbed the Pidurangala Rock belonging to the Pidurangala Raja Maha Viharaya in the historic Sigiriya, had allegedly taken their nude photos and posted them on social media. These photos that have been taken by them within the sight of Sigiriya causing insult to these religious places have gone viral on the social media. Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala are located a few km more..

Sep 25 (CT) With an eye on the upcoming election season, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stepped in to the fray charging that a �lack of confidence in governance and contradictions openly displayed by the President and PM, has resulted in destabilizing the economy and the country as a whole.� This statement was made at a press conference he held last week at his official residence in Colombo. Taking inspiration from Sirimavo Bandaranaike�s actions in the 1970s, more..

Sep 25 (FT) The recent depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar in the market has apparently driven the entire nation to a panic mode. While it had been a field day for the media and opposition law makers, the public, made up of both gainers and losers when the rupee depreciates, have temporarily forgotten the gains and chosen to be driven by the sentiments of losing. For instance, those in the export of goods and services and those who send remittances back to Sri Lanka stand to gain more..

Sep 25 (Island) State Minister of Home Affairs J. C. Alawathuwala said, in Kandy, over the weekend, that the UNP would field its own candidate at the next presidential election. State Minister Alawathuwala said so responding to media when he was at Malwatta Vihare on Sunday (23) to pay a courtesy call on the Malwatta prelate Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera. "President Sirisena can contest a second time, but we are fielding our own candidate," he said. more..

Sep 25 (SLA) Approximately 45,000 drought-affected villagers, resident in the areas of responsibility of the 56 Division Headquarters of the Security Force Headquarters- Wanni in Vavuniya are continuing to receive drinking water, supplied by Army troops since Thursday (20) after the serious nature of the prevailing drought was brought to the attention of the troops serving the area. On being informed of the severe shortage, Major General Prabath Dematanpitiya, more..

Sep 25 (CT) The International Truth and Justice Project expressed strong doubts about Sri Lanka�s seriousness on the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), questioning the appointment of Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to overlook the implementation of its recommendations. Samarasinghe, an ally of President Maithripala Sirisena, was recently appointed the head of a 10 member Cabinet sub-committee overlooking more..

Sep 25 (EN) The World Bank is helping Sri Lanka improve data gathering on victims of natural disasters to speed up and better target relief and response to events that risk people�s lives and retard growth, its Country Director Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough said. Information systems are playing an increasingly pivotal role worldwide in directing and coordinating governments� responses to those in need, she told a conference on adaptive social protection. more..

Sep 25 (Island) State Minister Range Bandara said, in Kandy, on Friday, that in the past youth in Sri Lanka had a desire to join the police service as they admired the then police top brass, but the present day youth would think twice before joining the police. The services of leading police officers in the past were admired, but now the some leading police officers had stooped so low as to befriend notorious characters and to arrest the likes of Madush and Arjuna Mahendran, Range Bandara said, more..

Sep 25 (NR) Court today granted approval for the CID to produce Operations Director of the Anti-Corruption Movement Namal Kumara before the Department of the Govt Analyst to obtain a voice recording for sampling. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne this afternoon. CID today sought the approval of Court to produce Namal Kumara before the Govt Analyst�s Department in order to more..

Sep 25 (AD) Neluwa Range Wildlife Department Office has announced that legal actions will be taken against the individuals who engage in Kithul (Caryota urens) tapping in the vicinity of the Sinharaja Rainforest without a proper license. Neluwa Wildlife Officer B.A. Bamunusinghe stated this responding to a query regarding the issues related to the Kithul tappers. Kithul tappers are able to acquire the necessary license from the Department of Forest Conservation, more..

Sep 25 (DN) Laggala Police said that Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) Laggala Pradeshiya Sabha member Jayampathi Bandara was hospitalised on Sunday after being assaulted. The member has been assulted during a clash with a group of local tourists from Kadawatha who went for a bath in Thelgamu Oya in Laggala. According to the Police, Amila Priyankara of Kadawatha and Nalin Madushanka of Mangala Mawatha in Kadawatha too were hospitalised following the brawl. more..

Sep 25 (DM) The JVP today urged the govt to introduce short-term measures without delay so as to stabilize the rupee on the basis that the rupee depreciation against other currencies would lead to a severe economic crisis. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the rupee depreciation was the result of the govt�s botched economic policies and unfortunately it had no plans to rectify the situation. more..

Sep 25 (NR) General Secretary of the BBS Venerable Galagodaththe Gnanasara thera, who is currently serving a prison sentence, has been admitted to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital for a medical examination. When inquired by NewsRadio a member of the organisation said the thera is due to undergo several medical examinations. Gnanasara thera was transferred from the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital to the Welikada Prisons Hospital on the ninth of this month. more..

Sep 25 (CT) Attorney-at-Law, Nagananda Kodituwakku criticized the JVP dual attitude with regard to the manner in which to enact the proposed 20th Amendment (20A) to the Constitution. Kodituwakku said that the JVP makes claims to the citizens that the approval of the people at a referendum is needed in order for the proposed 20A to become law. However, this same political party explains to the Supreme Court, in submissions pertaining to the matter, that only a 2/3rd more..

Sep 25 (Island) Ceylex Pvt Ltd. signed a loan agreement with the NDB bank on Friday to develop two wind power projects in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna. Driven by state-of-the-art technology, each power project will have a capacity of ten megawatts. A statement issued by the promoters said: Generating power through a renewable power source such as wind is bound to make electricity a more affordable commodity more..

Sep 25 (DM) Minister Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka arrived at the CID a short while ago to give a statement over the abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr in that took place in 2008. Sarath Fonseka was the Army Commander at the time Noyahr was abducted. In an earlier occasion, the CID had also recorded a statement from Fonseka regarding the matter. Former President Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya more..

Sep 25 (AD) There are 5 main pieces of evidence to confirm the relationship between DIG Nalaka de Silva and the IGP, says PHU MP Udaya Gammanpila. Being biased towards a party, corruption, misuse of power, inappropriate behavior and nonsensicalness are those evidences said the MP. He stated this addressing a press conference held at the party headquarters of PHU, this morning. If the IGP isn�t removed, he can only be removed via a parliament decision, he points out. more..

Sep 25 (Island) Army Chief Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake said that security could be provided to those under threat only on the basis of intelligence services assessment endorsed by the Defence Ministry. Lt. Gen. Senanayake said that deployment or withdrawal of security personnel couldn�t be taken unilaterally. The Army Chief said so when The Island sought his views on UNP MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena throwing his weight behind more..

Sep 25 (DM) In response to Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith�s remarks that human rights had become the religion among the Western nations, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the Cardinal seems to got things wrong in trying to be a populist. In a tweet, the Minister said, �The need for Human Rights was an outcome of the marauding religious zealots of the Inquisition and the Crusades, where non believers were massacred En-Bloc. Pity, the Cardinal always seems to get more..

Sep 25 (DM) Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera has told the UNHRC in Geneva that the Tamils were discriminated by the Vellalas and not by the Sinhalese. In his speech on racial discrimination he said the majority Sinhalese are charged with discriminating the Tamil minorities but in fact it was a section of the Tamils who discriminated another section of the Tamils. �The high caste Vellalas kept away the low caste Tamils from Temples, schools, and Kovils. more..

Sep 25 (AFP) The defeated strongman of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen, is welcome in neighbouring SL, said Tuesday, two days after his surprise defeat in presidential elections. Sri Lanka has long been a haven for dissidents from the nearby Maldives over years of political upheaval, including for hundreds of opponents of Yameen since he became president in 2013. In a phone call on Monday, SL PM Ranil Wickremesinghe more..