Sep 14 (Roar) Sometime between Nov 9 and Dec 9 this year, SL will hold its eighth prez election to decide who will lead the country for the next five years. As with any election, the period leading to the election will be filled with fervid political activity as parties decide on which candidate is best able to amass the votes necessary to win. For many, this election, like others before, will be nothing more than a cacophony of political more..

Sep 14 (CT) On Thursday, this newspaper quoting a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report and published under the heading SL shows mixed results in fighting income inequities said, that 'though the income ratio of the highest 20% to the lowest 20% in such income categories gradually declined from 7.1 in 2002 to 6.8 in 2016, the growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40% of the population over a fiveyear horizon from 2012 to 2016, more..

Sep 14 (DM) With SL preparing for a prez election later this year, the UN tomorrow marks the Int'l Day of Democracy and we need to reflect deeply on the vital importance of democracy with its values and transparent processes. Already the National Elections Commission (NEC) has been informed by about 15 parties that they intend fielding candidates for the upcoming elections and the total number maybe about 20. On Thursday, an NEC official pointed out that at Jan 2015 prez election, more..

Sep 14 (FT) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the premier telecom service provider in Sri Lanka yesterday announced its epic accomplishment in the arena of technological infrastructure with the utmost dedication and commitment of the entire SLT family. It said the Lotus Tower � Multifunctional TV and Telecommunications Tower is foreseen to be one of the significant landmarks and an epitome of SL economy, culture more..

Sep 14 (Island) Six persons including some family members of notorious underworld figure known as Kanjipani Imran have been arrested and remanded following an abortive attempt to smuggle a mobile phone and a charger into the Boossa prison. This incident may have given the impression to the public that mobile phones and other banned items find their way into the prisons through visitors. But there is absolutely no need for any outsiders to smuggle such items into jails, where more..

Sep 14 (DM) With national security being touted as the most pressing issue in the upcoming presidential election campaign, good governance, an equally important issue, has virtually become a non-issue. The lack of concern for good governance is unfortunate and raises a question as to whether Sri Lankans are really interested in good governance and if so what percentage of the population is concerned about it. At the last prez election five years ago, in areas outside the N&E, more..

Sep 14 (DM) While the upcoming prez poll has left major and minor political parties in a dilemma in deciding their winnable candidate, the price of most tiny registered political parties have soared to some Rs. 5 million said one political party activist, explaining there were several individuals searching for a political party to contest from. Prez election leaves no room for an independent candidate unless an ex-MP. This shows how bankrupt mainstream political parties are. more..

Sep 14 (Island) No political party, anywhere in the world, is without disagreements. In fact, Brexit, which is currently embroiling the UK in controversy, became an issue initially because of differing perspectives within the Conservative Party, though the present crisis is mostly due to the reluctance on the part of the elected representatives to implement the verdict of the voters delivered at a referendum. But that is another story. However, what is happening in the UNP is unprecedented; more..

Sep 14 (Island) The drum beats of political pride get louder as the Gam Udawa � Village Re-awakening � score gets closer to the third century. Political legacy of the Premadasa Family is coming to new reaches in the spread of new village names, needing a new listing of the acres or hectares of nature destroyed to build the villages of political pride, drawn from a legacy of paternal distortion on progress. We are having village names more..

Sep 14 (Island) David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd was bestowed with the Gold Award for Best CSR Program in the Private Sector for Women�s Empowerment at the Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards � Ninth Edition - Sri Lanka & Maldives held at Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, recently. This award was presented for the Group�s Empowering Women through Technical Training initiative, which creates trained, certified women mechanics. It is the first of its kind in SL and more..

Sep 14 (FT) The Colombo High Court (HC) yesterday dismissed the revision application of former UPFA Parliamentarian and former Transport Minister Kumar Welgama. Former MP Kumara Welgama made this revision application in the Colombo HC against an order of the Colombo Chief Magistrate made in the corruption case filed against him by the CIABOC. HC Judge Gihan Kulatunge delivered his order after considering the written submissions made by Kumara Welgama�s more..

Sep 14 (Island) Lawmaker Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, alleged that Mahapola assets, worth as much as Rs. 50,000 mn, had been sold to SL Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) for a sum of Rs 408 mn, on May 12, 2015, under controversial circumstances. Former Justice Minister Rajapakse said that those who perpetrated the fraud had gone to the extent of deceiving the then Chief Justice K. Sripavan, more..

Sep 14 (DN) Men with disciplined minds, set their sights on far loftier goals than others given to average thinking. Such are the virtues that have made Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara become what he now is. Kumar Sangakkara has played many a fine inning in his time. They have spanned across every notable playing field and every nook and cranny worth knowing on the cricket map. They have stretched across all types of the game � from Tests to ODIs, to the T20s. In each of them, more..

Sep 14 (Island) Today, urban population accounts for more than half of the world�s population. This figure will increase to 68% by 2050 according to the UN. As a developing country, SL is without exception and a number of people migrating to urban areas seems to be on the rise. Massive apartment projects being constructed in the capital Colombo is a clear evidence for it. Essentially, our cities have to adapt to not only the increasing population but adverse effects of climate change. more..

Sep 14 (DN) Even as the Meteorological Department warned yesterday of more heavy rain and possible floods in southern parts of the island, the Disaster Management Centre drew attention to the continuing months-long drought prevailing in much of the North and north-central and eastern regions severely affecting an estimated 782,000 people. The DMC said that despite heavy rains, winds and floods being experienced more..

Sep 14 (EN) Children who grow up and leave the care of SOS Children�s Villages have high employability, with the charity giving them skills and vocational qualifications needed in the real world, officials said. �The employment rate of the �care leavers� are as high as 98 percent,� the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of SOS Children�s Villages International, Shubha Murthi said. �We make sure that a child has at least one employable skill when he or she leaves SOS Children�s Village.� more..

Sep 14 (CT) Minister Mano Ganesan claimed that Minister Sajith Premadasa had told him that he was requesting the Prez Candidacy in order to defeat SLPP Prez Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and also that in the next Govt, incumbent PM Ranil Wickremesinghe could be given the Premiership and the Leadership of UNP. Ganesan further claimed that he had pointed out to Premadasa that the Leader of the UNP should be the Leader of the DNF alliance and that the new alliance and more..

Sep 14 (Island) Editors� Guild yesterday said that Prez Sirisena owed an explanation as to why SL Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) was brought under the Ministry of Defence in the run up to the 2019 presidential election. Editors� Guild Secretary and Editor, Mawbima Sisira Paranathantri, said so in response to The Island query. Paranathantri pointed out that the SLRC had never been placed under the Ministry of Defence under any circumstances during the conflict. more..

Sep 14 (CT) UNP has appointed a four-member committee to analyse social surveys and opinion polls on who is most suited to be the Party's Prez Candidate and who can ensure victory for the Party. This committee is supposed to analyse reports which were presented during recent discussions between PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Deputy Leader and Minister Sajith Premadasa on choosing a Prez candidate for the upcoming Election. Minister Rajitha Senaratne and Adviser to the PM Dinesh Weerakkody more..

Sep 14 (AD) State Literary Awards Ceremony 2019, an occasion to give due accolades to the literati who have enriched the field of literature in Sri Lanka, was held under the patronage of Prez Sirisena at the BMICH yesterday. Many authors received awards for their invaluable contribution and excellence for the advancement of the literature in the year 2018. In addition, President presented Sahityaratna lifetime award to Prof. Walter Marasinghe, Ayyathurai Santhan and Kamala Wijeratne for more..

Sep 14 (DN) Building a nation is not merely the work of magic by one single person but is, always, a collective effort, presidential aspirant of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya (National People�s Power) and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka told a gathering of trade union and workers� organisation representatives in Colombo. Political alliance of the left-wing Jathika Jana Balavegaya is the only such collective force more..

Sep 14 (AD) The body of an 81-year-old woman named Walliamma Ragei, who was allegedly brutally assaulted by her son, daughter-in-law and eldest grandson, has been found dumped inside a well behind the house where she had been living. Her remains were exhumed yesterday in the presence of Hatton Acting Magistrate. On the 9th of Sept, daughter-in-law had told the Police that her husband took away the body of his mother to be dumped in the woods as they were financially struggling more..

Sep 14 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena said as we celebrate 50 years of commencing the Mahaweli Project, he was able to bring an outstanding revival of the Project. He made these remarks addressing the closing ceremony of the 31st Mahaweli Games held in Bisopura in Medirigiriya, today (08). Prez Sirisena further said that the Mahaweli Development Project that spreads over 40% of the land area of the country is the largest development project ever implemented in Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 14 (DN) Anuradhapura Archaeology museum was re-opened by US Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz on Thursday after renovation for which the US has granted financial aid worth Rs. 24.2 million. Addressing the gathering at the inauguration the Ambassador emphasised that she marvelled at the ancient stupas, shrines and other cultural monuments of great historical and archaeological value throughout the SL, more..

Sep 14 (CT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had reportedly held a secret meeting on 11 September with a number of UNP Working Committee and Parliamentary Group Members loyal to him. Several Party leaders had participated in this meeting on invitation of the Premier and UNP General Secretary, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. The meeting had taken place from 8 p.m. to midnight where they had reportedly evaluated the loyalties of all MPs and Working Committee Members. more..

Sep 14 (Island) Tamil Nadu politician Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, daughter of former TN Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi met PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and some members of his Govt yesterday for talks on latest developments including the issues of Indian fishers poaching in Lankan waters. Minister Rauff Hakeem and State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi were also present at the talks held at Temple Trees. TN MP had raised concerns over alleged attacks on TN fishermen. more..

Sep 14 (CT) The All Ceylon Deceased and Disabled War Heroes Collective yesterday, appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers to approve a Bill which would sanction lifetime salaries for them. Chairman of the Collective, Anura Weligama said, currently deceased and disabled soldiers were only paid salaries till the age of 55, after which they were given a pension. He said, a committee was formed when the issue had first come up more..

Sep 14 (DN) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in SL convened a high-level panel discussion at the International Conference on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 2019, also known as the Silver Age Conference, on the topic Feminization of Ageing and its Impact on Long-term Care� in Colombo recently. Women above the age of 80 years constitute two thirds of the population in SL. This phenomenon called feminization of ageing, occurs when women make up a larger share more..

Sep 14 (MB) For nearly five decades he�s helped introduce stunning new species of reptiles and amphibians found only in Sri Lanka to the rest of the world. He�s also inspired a new generation of scientists eager to showcase and conserve their country�s natural wealth. Now, legendary herpetologist Anslem de Silva � the father of modern herpetology in SL � is being honored with a new species of gecko named after him. Cnemaspis anslemi is a diminutive species more..

Sep 14 (Island) Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says that intelligence units should be rid of political interference to ensure national security. "Our intelligence units are forced to give priority to political missions over the tasks related to national security. They should be liberated from the political influences," the Minister said, addressing a convention organised by the Jathika Maga at the Batticaloa Town Hall, more..

Sep 14 (Island) Minister Rajitha Senaratne, says that trade unions have forgotten the way they had been suppressed by the previous govt. "Some unions exceed their limits in their struggles against the incumbent government which never suppressed them using extra legal measures," the Minister said. Addressing annual Sports Festival of the GNOA at Nuwara Eliya Race Course recently, the Minister said: "The union leaders have already forgotten how white vans full of goons visited their homes more..

Sep 14 (CT) History proves that rulers who ignored the fact that Buddhist culture is the mainstream culture of Sri Lanka have always been rejected by the people, Anunayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Sect, Ven. Anamaduwe Dhammadassi Thera said on 12 September. The monk made this remark while addressing a religious programme in which the UNP Deputy Leader, Minister Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella and several other UNP leaders participated. more..

Sep 14 (DM) Sri Lanka�s national commitment and resolve to make continued progress towards reconciliation, development and protection and promotion of human rights remain strong despite constraints, the country told the UNHRC. Deputy Permanent Representative of SL to the UN, Dayani Mendis said thus making a statement to the ongoing 42nd Session of the UNHRC in Geneva. more..

Sep 16 (TM) The main political parties contesting the upcoming presidential election have been having wide-ranging talks with Tamil political parties, making various promises to secure the support of the Tamils for the elections. The main discussion has been with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), who still has the power to dictate which way the Tamils in the North and East will vote. Most discussions, so far, have been at an informal level as the presidential election is yet to be declared. more..

Sep 16 (CT) Actioning the Blueprint was the title of the presentation. The venue was the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo. The packed audience included everybody who was somebody in industry, commerce, and other professional disciplines. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a determined contender. He is well on his way to the presidency; a hazardous prospect that should send chills down the spines of those who cherish essential human freedoms, specifically the freedom from fear that more..

Sep 16 (SO) Minister Champika Ranawaka said the Rajapaksas would not create a meritocracy because their politics was based on the principle of family bandyism. All important ministries and other bodies will be given to the family members and the military junta. He explained that there was a clear difference between war heroes and the military junta. He said the strategy of Rajapaksa faction was to create a security more..

Sep 16 (CT) Presidential Counsel and MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has chided the media �for not giving sufficient coverage to former Chief Justice Kanagasabapathy J. Sripavan�s testimony before the CIABOC. The case in question is one where it is alleged that Mahapola assets worth up to Rs 50,000 mn had been sold to the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) for a relatively paltry su of Rs 409 mn on May 12, 2015 under controversial circumstances. more..

Sep 16 (Island) It was the political scientist and theorist Anthony Giddens who coined the term, a third way, to describe a political alternative between the conservative right and the socialist left, a middle ground that avoided either the extremes of neo-liberalism or the dogmas of Marxist class struggle. Listening to President Maithripala Sirisena, most recently at the SLFP�s annual party convention at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium and in other public comments subsequently, more..

Sep 16 (CT) UPFA MP Johnston Fernando says SLPP has nominated the strongest candidate possible while the UNP has so far failed to even decide on one. Q: Is there no agreement in the discussions between the SLFP and the SLPP as yet? What we see is things stagnating? A: We are holding discussions not only with the SLFP but with persons representing other parties too. People in our group are even talking to more..