Dec 10 (OI) China could use the facilities created by it at the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka for both civilian and military purposes, a senior French Naval officer has said. Rubicon Project The statement comes in the wake of China repeatedly arguing that its interest in the port is purely commercial. French Navy is expected to soon sign an agreement with the Indian Navy of classified information. This would pave the way for both the Navies to boost inter-operability. more..

Dec 10 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said a committee had been appointed to investigate the misuse of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) during the UNF govt. Rajapaksa said, he had ordered the committee to submit a report on the matter soon. CCF was initiated to maintain the places of religious and historical interest and art galleries and support artistes. PM said, that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs could not allocate funds for the benefit of the aforesaid institutions and persons. more..

Dec 10 (RN) The govt is saying that the major Rice millers of the country have agreed to provide the essential commodity at lower rates for the festive season. In a Press Release issued by the Ministry of Finance, the govt said that the millers had promised to provide a kilo of Nadu rice for Rs. 98 and Samba for Rs. 99. This was after the millers held a meeting with the govt representatives at the Prez Secretariat this afternoon. more..

Dec 10 (SLN) DD-102 Harusame a Naval ship belongs to Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, arrived at the port of Trincomalee today (10) on a goodwill visit. She was welcomed in accordance with naval traditions on arrival. Commanding Officer of the ship Commander Ohshima Teruhisa paid a courtesy call on Deputy Area Commander of the Eastern Naval Area, Commodore Sanjeewa Dias. They held cordial discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation & exchanged mementos more..

Dec 10 (DN) Two men who took money from a woman saying they will arrange a teacher appointment for her daughter were arrested by the Police yesterday. Both were arrested in front of the building near Isurupaya as they accepted the woman�s money. The main suspect in the incident, Nihal Dasanayaka, 47, is said to have convinced the victim in this con that he has close contacts with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sources in the Colombo Crime Division said more..

Dec 10 (AD) Infamous drug dealer H.M. Thushara, alias Kalu Thushara, has been sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court after being found guilty on charges of possession of 25g of heroin and drug trafficking. The sentence was delivered by Colombo HC Judge Gihan Kulathunga today. Accused, Herath Mudiyanselage Thushara, was arrested by officers of Organised Crime Prevention Division (OCPD) on May 12, 2017 more..

Dec 10 (DN) Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that work on the expansion of the BIA will be expedited under Japanese assistance. The relevant Cabinet Paper will be submitted to members of the Cabinet this week,� he added. Minister made these observations when he met with Ambassador of Japan Akira Sugiyama recently. As a result of the former Prez and recent visits by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to Japan in 2013, SL received a loan package of Rs.49 billion for a new terminal more..

Dec 10 (AD) Former Sabaragamuwa PC member Hasitha Muhandiram alias Sarpaya, who was sentenced to death in connection with the murder of two individuals, has been ordered released by the Court of Appeal. Judge Kumuduni Wickramasinghe today delivered the verdict in the appeal filed by the defendant challenging his sentencing. Former UNP Provincial Councillor was sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court on charges of running over and killing two persons with his vehicle at more..

Dec 10 (RN) Big time emerging markets investor Mark Mobius sees potential in Sri Lanka and says he would invest in real estate and financial services. He told a forum in Colombo organized by Cinnamon Life, a real estate project promoted by John Keells Holdings in Colombo this morning, that there are opportunities in financial technology and tourism in Sri Lanka. Mobius said he has �bought one of the apartments more..

Dec 10 (EN) Sri Lanka�s tourist arrivals are expected to fully recover from the setbacks after the Easter Sunday attacks by the end of the 2019/20 winter season, a central bank official said. �We expect by the end of this season, for tourist arrivals to return to normal,� Senior Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. �But there are still discounts and promotions, so earnings may not be the same,� he said, speaking at a forum organized by Asia Securities. more..

Dec 10 (DN) Passenger Transport, Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera ordered Security Division of the Dept of Motor Traffic (RMV) to arrest touts and brokers harassing members of the public who visit the RMV head office in Narahenpita and other regional offices to attend their vehicle registration needs. Minister who visited the RMV Head Office in Narahenpita yesterday said that large number of touts and brokers operating at the premises causing a hindrance and more..

Dec 10 (CI) Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who has a strong side at his disposal in Pakistan, feels it is a great pleasure to play a part in the revival of Test cricket in the country. When Sri Lanka toured Pakistan for a white-ball series recently, as many as ten of their premier players had opted out, but the experienced Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are in the ranks now, and the only major player missing is more..

Dec 10 (AD) Brigadier Priyanka Fernando has been appointed as the new Director of Real Estate and Quartering of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). He officially took over duties at Army Headquarters in Sri Jayewardenepura on Monday (9), during a brief ceremony at his office, the SLA media unit said. After entering the new office, Brigadier Fernando performed religious observances and left his signature for a formal document to signify the acceptance of his new office. more..

Dec 10 (Island) Democracy would flourish if there was no bribery or corruption, head of the Elections Commission (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday at an event to mark the Int'l Anti-Corruption Day. He says: "When that happens free and fair elections can be held easily. We want people to understand that curbing corruption is really important. We also want to push for campaign finance reforms. It�s the lack of laws with regards to campaign finance that is causing a lot of more..

Dec 10 (USE) More than forty young SL leaders traveled to Colombo from across the country to take part in U.S. Embassy-sponsored workshops on leadership and public service during the week of Nov 25. The participants were all members of the U.S. Embassy�s Youth Forum program, which is conducted by the American Corners in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, and Matara. After the Colombo workshops concluded, more..

Dec 10 (RN) Japanese Govt is giving assurances to support the building of an LNG Gas Power Plant in Sri Lanka in order to address the power shortage in the country. Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama has made this show of support to the Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday. Ministry of Power and Energy said that the only viable solution to the long-term power crisis in SL is the establishment of the LNG gas power plant since none of such power plants was established since 2016. more..

Dec 10 (NR) Minister of Justice, Human Rights & Legal Reforms Nimal Siripala de Silva says a decision has been reached to relocate the Welikada Prison away from the Colombo city limits to Wataraka in Homagama. Speaking to media after an observational visit to the Welikada prison earlier today, Minister de Silva said the government had also directed its attention towards the reintegration of rehabilitated and well behaved prison inmates to society. more..

Dec 10 (AD) Supreme Court has extended the overseas travel ban imposed on the Royal Park murder convict Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, who was on death row and later pardoned by former Prez Sirisena. The overseas travel ban was extended till the 1st of June 2020. The three-judge bench consisting of SC Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda and Gamini Amarasekara delivered the order when more..

Dec 10 (AD) Coinciding with the global launch of the Human Development Report 2019 released by the UNDP, Sri Lanka�s PM met with UNDP SL Resident Representative, Mr. Robert Juhkam to receive the first copy of the UNDP�s latest report. Mr. Juhkam was accompanied by UN Sri Lanka Resident Coordinator, Ms. Hanaa Singer. PM Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his pleasure regarding SL�s achievements in human development as it ranks in the �high� human development category. more..

Dec 10 (CT) It has been revealed that IP Nishantha Silva had fled the country with the support of high ranking officials of the CID, after Attorney General Dappula de Livera ordered that Silva be arrested and produced before the Court based on a statement given by an eye witness stating that Silva had killed his nephew, known as Army Suranga. The Embilipitiya Police had sought the Attorney General's instructions through the CR/1/172/17 report regarding the incident. more..

Dec 10 (DN) �No CID team or any law enforcement unit of this country had abducted the Swiss Embassy employee. It is a totally fabricated allegation,� Defence Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (retd) Kamal Gunaratne said yesterday speaking at the Army Headquarters. Referring to the on-going controversy over a claim of abduction by a SL employee at Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo, Gunaratne said: �It is a big-time drama. more..

Dec 11 (CT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be ever indebted to the Sangha, because without its tireless canvassing he would not have achieved what he did on 16th Nov. Given the volatile ethno-religious cleavages and unpredictably shifting alliances in the country, it was the sheer commitment of the Sangha to establish a political regime solely on the strength of Sinhalese voters that made GR the Prez. In a sense, GR�s victory was even more remarkable than victory of SWRD in 1956. more..

Dec 11 (Island) This essay was written in early November and held back until the atmosphere was normally free of the battle dust that be-fogged us until after 20 Nov or so. I did not take the bother to re-write it to take account of new dramatis personae playing the same old tragi-comedy. I brought before you earlier instances where, people when they speak or write, misuse related words either to confuse or mislead the reader or because they are completely unaware that they cause such more..

Dec 11 (DN) Newly appointed State Minister of Investment Promotions and UPFA Kandy District MP Keheliya Rambukwella states that positive changes have taken place in all pillars of society since President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office. The state minister refers to the mistakes made in the past and elaborates what lies ahead. Q: How does the new govt stand out as against its predecessor? more..

Dec 11 (CT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his first public address, used the term technocracy. This is not just a term, but an advanced political approach used by a few of the world's well-functioning countries. The current positive changes in the political arena signal that the Prez's method of rule is a step towards a technocracy - which, in simple terms, is an advanced and more focused form of democracy. Democracy leads to the creation of a political aristocracy, more..

Dec 11 (DN) The first time I heard the word weaver was when my father sang the English folk song Foggy, foggy, dew. When I was a bachelor, I liv�d all alone, I worked at the weaver�s trade; and the only, only thing that I ever did wrong, was to woo a fair young maid, he sang and sometimes whistled the tune. I think it was the melody that captured me rather than the lyrics, which of course I was too young to understand. I didn�t know what woo was. I didn�t know what was wrong, therefore, about more..

Dec 11 (CT) Although there is a famous saying that parenthood comprises love and not DNA, there are several adopted children out there who are traumatised by being separated from their biological parents, not because they lack love and care from their adopted parents but because of the sense of belonging and attachment they have been missing out from those who brought them into the world. Thus is the story of Priyangika more..

Dec 11 (CT) The era of price controls were done away with after the introduction of the open economy 42 years ago in 1977, nonetheless, the Government is duty-bound to protect the rights of the consumer from shortages, natural or artificial and oligopolies and monopolies. If, however, the Govt fails in this duty, the end result is the non-availability of an item in the marketplace or its availability at exorbitant, black market prices, i.e. far above normal market prices as determined more..

Dec 11 (CT) After having exhausted the reading of the Presidential candidates� manifestos, Sri Lankans appear to be busy dissecting the manifestos put out by the political parties in UK prior to their general elections to be held shortly. It is evident from the statement Issued by the Ms Manisha Gunasekera, the High Commissioner, that the Sri Lankan govt is concerned about the manifesto issued by all the political parties in general and the conservative party in particular. more..

Dec 11 (DM) The detractors of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime (2004-2015) are fond of saying that the then President had an abyssmal record when it came to international relations. If such things are to be judged by approbation and contempt from high seats of global power, then they are not off the mark. Sri Lanka, especially after 2009 earned the wrath of the United States and her allies as well as International NGOs more or less aligned to Washington. more..

Dec 11 (Island) It is pleasing to see artists of different ages get together to paint murals in public places voluntarily. While giving expression to their artistic talent for a decorative purpose, they are on a commendable mission, which will hopefully help stem the poster tide, the main cause of visual pollution. Poster-pasting polluters have become a public nuisance; they ruin all spaces and even deface vital road signs. Unless the govt orders the police to keep these elements at bay, more..

Dec 11 (CT) The 20th edition of the Journalism Awards for Excellence programme, will culminate with the annual Awards Night on Tuesday (10), at the Empire Ballroom of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, the host hotel for the gala event. This year, there were 313 applications for 17 categories, from 37 daily and weekly newspapers in the three language streams - Sinhala, Tamil and English. more..

Dec 11 (Island) The tragic events of Easter Sunday were some of the most challenging times we have faced as a nation. Despite the tragedy, the eagerness demonstrated by Sri Lankans overseas donors alike to help those most in need and give them the necessary strength to overcome adversities created a new sense of hope across communities. As an extension of these efforts to ensure that the children affected in Katuwapitiya and Kochchikade have a bright future ahead of more..

Dec 11 (Island) Against the backdrop of a deepening crisis, caused by Switzerland providing political asylum to Inspector Nishantha Silva, his wife and three children, followed by accusations over alleged abduction of a local female Embassy employee, the writer examined a spate of high profile propaganda projects, carried out by interested parties, against the country, over the years. Last week�s Midweek column inquired into as to how SL pathetically failed to exploit Lord Naseby�s contradiction of more..

Dec 11 (CT) Led by strong performances by athletes and swimmers, Sri Lanka breached the 250-mark in the total medal count, backed by 40 Gold Medals, to end the South Asian Games in third place. In the 2016 edition, Sri Lanka placed second with 186 medals (25 Gold, 63 Silver and 98 Bronze). Unfortunately this time islanders had to settle for third place while India grabbed the top position with a whopping 310 Medals, more..

Dec 11 (DN) 16-year-old Sanghamitta, the charming princess married prince Aggribrahama; they were blessed with a son named Sumana. Emperor Asoka�s brother Prince Tissa, entered the Buddhist order, Aggribrahama followed him with his little son Sumana who was only seven years. Sanghamitta left with no option when her husband, son, brother and uncle entering the order. She decided to enter the Bhikkhuni order too under Dhammapali and Ayupali, two elderly nuns, and attained more..

Dec 11 (DN) The Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Dullas Alahapperuma inspected the Sugathadasa Stadium sports complex last Monday morning after it was revealed that the appalling conditions at the Sugathadasa Hotel was the reason that the athletes who participated in the South Asian Games in Nepal fell ill. Thirteen athletes who have travelled to Nepal to participate in the South Asian Games, have contracted dengue fever and seven others had fever. more..

Dec 11 (FT) The wide-ranging fiscal stimulus package outlined by the Govt will boost aggregate demand in the short-run, ICRA Lanka, which is the local arm of ratings agency Moody�s said, but warned it could create instability in the long-run and called for the expansion of the tax base to continue fiscal consolidation. Govt reduced a variety of taxes substantially in an attempt to revive the economy, which could possibly cost over Rs. 500 billion more..

Dec 11 (FT) P.A.C. Priyadarshani, Principal of St. Mary�s College, Mathugama, was crowned the winner of Integrity Icon 2019 on Monday, having earned the most votes through the public SMS poll, which garnered over 20,000 votes. The Integrity Icon 2019 final also felicitated four other icons - SL Customs Central Investigation Bureau Assistant Superintendent A.M.A.S. Amarasinghe; Coast Conservation Department Director General B.K.P. Chandrakeerthi; more..