Sep 27 (FT) In an apparent response to political rhetoric used to deflect pressure on the Finance Ministry caused by rupee devaluation, the SLFP yesterday called for swift action by experts to arrest the situation. Critical of the statements made by politicians quoting past statistics of rupee depreciation, SLFP spokesperson Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the Central Bank should �do what is necessary to ensure that the rupee more..

Sep 27 (FT) On 24 September, the World Sri Lankan Association conducted a press briefing at the UN headquarters in Geneva to brief the UN accredited Press Club on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and the concerns on Resolution 30/1. The briefing was done by Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa and Professor Mahmet Sukru Guzel. WSLA members Nimala Liyanapatabadi, more..

Sep 27 (DM) Sri Lanka would not have been affected by the current global economic crisis if the country did not get into a debt trap like the one it has got into, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. PM expressed this sentiment at the prize giving of Maliyadeva Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Kurunegala in the morning. �Sri Lanka is largely affected by the devaluation rupee because of the debt trap it has got into. more..

Sep 27 (CT) Everyone wants to live in the city; where the lights never go out, the people never sleep and the only place where you can truly make it in the world. Cities are the embodiment of the modern day livelihood and living which has transitioned from the village, to the town square to the massive mega scale expanse of skyline, high rises, heavy traffic - human and vehicle - all surrounded in an unhealthy dense smog of pollution. Humanity is on a constant race towards more..

Sep 27 (FT) On 5 Sept, the city of Colombo awoke to an unusually quiet morning and an uneasy air. Something big was going to happen. The sitting Govt may even fall, blood could be spilt. There were fewer vehicles on the roads and the buses had less than half the loads. The schoolchildren, usually early morning commuters, were conspicuously absent. Anticipating chaos, the housewives conscious of keeping the home fires burning, dipped into their meagre savings to stock up on the essentials; more..

Sep 27 (AD) Sri Lanka has signed two agreements with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) on the sidelines of the ongoing 73rd session of the UNGA in New York. The purpose of these agreements is to develop the fields which are directly linked with the social development of the country. Accordingly, agreements were signed to establish a Social Impact Fund and a Social Enterprise Fund. It is expected to get the assistance of the private sector for the projects more..

Sep 27 (SLN) A haul Kerala Cannabis weighted 114.955 Kg which was hidden in a shrub area at Vellamundalama in Puttalam, was recovered by a troop of naval personnel attached to ND Vellamundalama established under the Rapid Action Boats Squadron (RABS) HQ. Accordingly, yesterday (26) three naval personnel attached to ND Vellamundalama whilst on foot patrol in Karuwalkuda and Kollankanatta, have observed suspicious foot prints towards jungle from more..

Sep 27 (HT) Kumar Sangakkara has urged the SL team to rethink its strategies moving forward after the team�s failed campaign in the six-nation Asia Cup tournament. 5-time winners crashed out in the first round after humiliating defeats at the hands of Bangladesh and Afghanistan. �We need to find out whether we have the right strategy in place. Whether we should change it or stick to it. Results on tours are important, but the larger picture more..

Sep 27 (CT) Former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka who was questioned by CID today over the abduction of Keith Noyahr said all attacks on media and white van abductions in Colombo were handled by a special group operated under Maj. Gen. (rtd) Kapila Hendawitharana and former Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Fonseka, in his four hour statement to the CID today, had said, at the time Noyahr was abducted his sole focus was on military more..

Sep 27 (DN) The case filed against Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 20 million following his alleged fraudulent share transaction was yesterday fixed for trial on Dec 13 by the Colombo High Court. When the case came up before High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran, the court was informed that the Attorney General has sought the Chief Justice's approval to hear this case before the predecessor judge. more..

Sep 27 (DM) The JO was of the opinion that the Police was behind the conspiracy to assassinate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members, JO member MP Shehan Semasinghe said today. CID informed Colombo Magistrate's Court on Tuesday that the Indian national had claimed that there was a plot to assassinate Prez Sirisena and former Prez Rajapaksa and his family members. more..

Sep 27 (DM) Fort Magistrate�s Court today allowed the CID to detain Marsili Thomas, Indian national who was arrested recently, for three months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for further investigation. When Thomas was produced in the Court today, the Magistrate ordered the CID to produce the suspect in Court on Oct 23 for observation. The CID arrested Thomas last Thursday while he was visiting the house of Namal Kumara, the Operation Director of more..

Sep 27 (DM) Three youths, who were arrested on charges of posting semi-naked photos, which they had taken while on top of the Pidurangala Rock and posted them on social media were remanded until Oct 3 by Dambulla Magistrate today. The youths were arrested yesterday after they surrendered themselves to the Sigiriya Police. The suspects were residents of Galewela. They posted semi-naked photos which went viral on social media over the week and were criticized by religious leaders more..

Sep 27 (AD) The leader of the JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that they accept that neither a new Constitution nor a Constitutional Amendment can resolve the fundamental issues faced by the people of the country. He stated that the Sri Lankan Rupee continues to rapidly fall and that the country is facing an economic crisis. JVP leader also stressed that the behavior of IGP is a cause for fear more..

Sep 27 (DM) Popular singer Damith Asanka was arrested by the Kuda Oya police on charges of allegedly behaving in an unruly manner. Police said the singer was arrested following information received to 119-emergency-hotline from one of his neighbours. The neighbour has complained that the singer was on drugs and behaving in an unruly manner at his house in Wellawaya. He was remanded till October 9 after being produced in the Wellawaya Magistrate�s Court today. more..

Sep 27 (NR) Owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena, arrested over the controversial CB Bond issuance, have been further remanded until the 11th of October. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne this afternoon. Arjun Aloysius and Perpetual Treasuries Limited CEO Kasun Palisena were arrested on the 4th of Feb at their residences. The CID named former CB Governor Arjun Mahendran, Owner of Perpetual Treasuries more..

Sep 27 (DM) A tense situation erupted today at the Colombo Municipal Council premises, when depositors of the ETI Finance Limited (ETI) who were demanding their deposits back, gathered to show their displeasure to CMC Councillor Anjalee Edirisinghe, who is also a Director of ETI Company. Independent Association to Protect the ETI Depositors President Anusha Jayanthi said the Councillor was a member of more..

Sep 27 (CT) The Govt has no political will to hold Provincial Council (PC) Elections soon, election watchdogs alleged yesterday (26). Polls monitor, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) in a Media release stressed that the Govt is deliberately trying to postpone PC Elections in a shrewd way as they fear they will be defeated. The terms of six PCs would expire tomorrow (28). However, there is no chance that Elections for those PCs would be held soon, CaFFE states. more..

Sep 27 (AD) The response from Minister Mangala Samaraweera to a recent statement made by the Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is the minister�s personal opinion, UNP MP Hector Appuhamy said. The statement made by Minister Mangala Samaraweera is not the viewpoint of the govt or the UNP, he said. He further commented that necessary steps have been taken to implement a program to provide necessary knowledge on Italian language and industries in Italy to students studying in more..

Sep 27 (EN) A public listing of the catering unit of SriLankan Airlines in 2011 to raise 42 million dollars was blocked by the Treasury at the last minute, de-railing a restructuring and planned cashflows of the carrier. Head of Financial Management Yasantha Dissanayake, testifying at a PCoI, said that the initial public offering (IPO) for SriLankan Catering was ready to launch, with applications submitted to CSE & SEC. more..

Sep 27 (NR) Three trade unions attached to the Sri Lanka Customs have decided to resort to sick leave on the 4th and 5th of Oct. Co Secretary of the Customs Officers Association Sameera Wickramasingha said union action will be launched, requesting officials to provide prompt solutions to salary anomalies that were unresolved over an extended period. The Secretary noted despite acknowledging salary the issue of salary anomalies, they are following a policy of ignorance. more..

Sep 27 (DM) All Island Canteen Owners� Association (AICOA) said that they would increase hopper prices to Rs.15 from midnight today in the wake of yesterday�s gas price increase. AICOA Chairman Asela Sampath said they had had to spend about Rs. 6,000 of an extra amount for gas per month and added that it was not affordable for them. The price of a 12.5 kg cylinder of gas had been increased by Rs.195 from last night. �The CAA also gave permission to increase gas prices more..

Sep 27 (AD) The National Transport Commission (NTC) has launched a new website for the convenience of passengers commuting long distances in private sector passenger transport buses commencing from Colombo. Accordingly, the reservations for necessary bus seats can be made via the newly launched website (www.ntcbooking.lk) using any computer or mobile phone with internet access. The website was launched yesterday more..

Sep 27 (EN) Sri Lanka can make major gains from an aggressive campaign to entice professionals living abroad coupled with visa de-regulation, to bring new skills and international business links in line with other fast growing nations, an economist said. "We have to take aggressive measures to keep migrant professionals linked to our economy,� Bilesha Weeraratne, an economist at Colombo-based Institute of Policy Studies said. "It can become a cycle and benefit a lot of people," more..

Sep 27 (AD) Two persons have died while two others sustained injuries this morning in Ragama after being knocked down by the Siyane Kumari express train en route to Matara from Kandy. They were reportedly hit by the train at the railway crossing in Ragama. It was reported that the train has been stopped past Ragama railway station following the accident. Trains that were scheduled to commute from the Ragama railway station have been delayed owing to the accident. more..

Sep 27 (CT) Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) said that President Maithripala Sirisena�s speech at the UNGA yesterday, where he portrayed Sri Lanka as a picture of progress was in reality, however, far from the truth. Prez Sirisena at the UNGA urged the international community to consider the tremendous progress made by the Govt towards reconciliation, the restoration of democratic freedoms, more..

Sep 28 (CT) Kumar David�s delineation of this subject (Colombo Telegraph 23 Sept) deserves some comment/response as his analysis as well as recommendation for left unity plus alliance with some liberals pose serious questions in terms of the political trajectory in the near future. After writing about what�s happening around the world in terms of neo populism, he focuses on the Rajapaksa populism. He says, �in the case of Rajapaksa Populism (RP), the strands that intertwine more..

Sep 28 (DN) The controversy over an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa hit the headlines last week and led to accusations and counter accusations from every side of the political divide but even this issue could not hide the cracks appearing between the different factions of the UPFA. The controversy erupted when a Police informant identifying himself as Namal Kumara called a media briefing and claimed that more..

Sep 28 (SO) Living in an island one naturally adopts a liking for seafood. The deep blue seas of SL are blessed with an assortment of fish to suit any menu. Negombo is a name famous for its diverse seafood. We set off to discover the delights from the deep sea domain. As we entered the road leading to the fresh fish market, from the Negombo bus stand, sales were at their peak- with buyers and vendors trading comments about more..

Sep 28 (DN) The cardinal principle embedded in democratic governance is that people shall have their sovereignty with them which is inalienable to a coterie of rulers. This necessitates the assurance of the prevalence of the substantive safeguards in the Constitution to forestall any deterioration of the liberty of the people. Therefore an undeniable duty is cast upon the framers of a Constitution to insert provisions to strike a healthy balance between the powers of the rulers and liberty of the people. more..

Sep 28 (CT) Sri Lanka cricket was admired by cricket fans all over the world for the way they have played their cricket exhibiting technical skills, explosive batting, magical bowling, outstanding fielding, and canny dynamic captaincy. We won the cricket world cup in 1996 because we had the above qualities in our cricketers and a brilliant Administrator together with a very good Coach who worked together with the Captain, drawing up and implementing Strategies & focusing on them more..

Sep 28 (CT) MP for the Sabaragamuwa Province, Janaka Wakkumbura says that the UNPers tried to kill thousands of people who participated in the Janabalaya protest march by giving them poison milk packets. Q: The Janabalaya Colombata march turned out to be an all thunder and no rain affair, didn�t it? A: It�s not like that. What we wanted to do was to gather the people against the govt. Today, people are queuing up against govt more..

Sep 28 (CT) Recorded history reveals that political murders took place even in ancient times. Blatant and devastating political murders took place during the era of the Roman Empire. The assassination of Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC, is the most famous political murder. He was appointed as supreme commander and dictator for life, by his colleagues and friends, but differences of opinion culminated among his closest comrades, & it led to his murder. He was killed in name of liberty. more..

Sep 28 (Island) SL�s currency unit and de facto national game have suffered same fate. Mathews has been made to resign as captain over the recent Asia Cup debacle. Who should be ousted for the disastrous fall of the rupee? Govt pretends that there is no crisis as such. One is reminded of the reaction of past govts to humiliating military debacles which made soldiers run as fast as their legs could carry them with LTTE cadres in hot pursuit; they called those disasters tactical withdrawals. more..

Sep 28 (CT) Despite being a Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Eurasian, Buddhist, Hindu, or Christian, from this day onwards we are Sri Lankans, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya quoting from the country�s first Premier D.S. Senanayake�s speech on Independence Day in 1948, said these sentiments were a valuable lesson to society and guidance for long-standing issues that have been emerging in the country, even today. Speaker Jayasuriya expressed these views at a lecture on the theme, more..

Sep 28 (Island) The comments made by Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith last Sunday at the Ekala St Matthew�s church have made waves with Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Saliya Peiris criticising the Cardinal�s words and the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several Catholic MPs in the Joint Opposition condemning Samaraweera and Peiris for taking on the Cardinal. What the Cardinal said last Sunday during a sermon delivered in Sinhala was roughly as follows. more..

Sep 28 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has downgraded its growth forecast for Sri Lanka in 2018 and on weak domestic demand, investment and exports. In an update to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report, ADB downgraded the GDP growth forecast from 4.2% to 3.8% in 2018, after the country recorded a growth rate of 3.1% in 2017, as the Govt implements structural reforms supported by the IMF to lift more..

Sep 28 (EN) A proposed de-listing Morisons Plc, has hit a road block after minority shareholders opposed proposal for the parent to buy up remaining shares under existing rules which has also deadlocked other attempts to take firms private. Sri Lanka has imposed tight minimum float rules - which critics have said is in some ways than the New York Stock Exchange - forcing many firms to go out of the stock exchange and de-list. "�[T]he resolutions for the delisting of the Company from more..