Sep 20 (TM) As climatic conditions worsen in small pockets of Sri Lanka due to the prevailing drought, it is crucial that long-term solutions be implemented to recover the livelihoods of many families suffering the effects of the longer period of drought in SL. As of 12 Sept, the total number of persons affected by the drought across 18 districts stood at 781,952 and over the weeks, the number keeps increasing. Agriculture still plays a vital role in the social and economic framework of the country. more..

Sep 20 (TM) Illegal drug trade has virtually taken over social media and the authorities are finding it hard to curb the menace. Several raids have been carried out in recent times where parties organised using Facebook were found to have been hubs for drug dealing and consumption. However, the authorities say many of these activities are going undetected as they do not have required resources to detect & crackdown on such activities. more..

Sep 20 (CT) Presidential Election details are coming and the Election Commission Chairman has summoned party leaders for a discussion. JVP, NSSP, have declared their candidates and several other registered parties have done the same. There is a heavy struggle among SLFP, SLPP, and organisations loyal to the President to reconsider the name of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. However, Gota is already embedded among the fascistic crowd and there is only a minute chance of a change. more..

Sep 20 (CT) SL will be holding its 8th Prez Poll on 16 Nov with nominations to be called on 7 Oct. Only two political parties have thus far named their candidates, the fledgling SLPP and JVP. SLPP candidate is former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, younger brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who wears several political hats, including being the current SLPP leader, immediately preceding Prez of the country, whilst also being an SLFP/UPFA MP in present Parliament. more..

Sep 20 (CT) The world has seen many examples of how progressive countries and Nations have become weak Nations, as a result of politically motivated witch-hunts by successive govts. The continent of Africa is a good example of how successive govts have been solely focused on eliminating political opponents, instead of focusing on the country and its citizens, which has led to disastrous consequences. One of the prominent 100-day election promises made by more..

Sep 20 (DN) Good old traditions will continue for the betterment of the game as the 41st Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year gala awards ceremony takes place at the Grand Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton starting at 5.30 pm today. The Mega Show which has rendered yeoman service to thousands of up and coming schoolboy cricketers across the country for over four decades is organized by English newspaper Sunday Observer and sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel. more..

Sep 20 (SO) State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake made another explosive revelation last week, urging authorities to investigate the recent purchase of a brand-new luxury house and property worth US $1 million in Los Angeles, California, alleging that the home was owned by a presidential hopeful and his family. The deed of trust on the property had been signed by a Daminda Rajapaksa & Sewwandi Rajapaksa, more..

Sep 20 (DM) National Elections Commission (NEC) on Wednesday announced the dates for the much-talked-about Presidential election and the nomination period for it. Nominations will be entertained on Oct 7 and the election will be held on Nov 16, according to the announcement by the NEC. This is not a snap election or a mid-term election as the last Prez election in 2015. This is an election to be held according to the Constitution at the end of the tenure of incumbent Prez. more..

Sep 20 (ST) Much has been written about the pyrotechnics of Lasith Malinga who captured 4 wickets in 4 successive deliveries, for the 2nd time in his career, whilst defending a total of a mere 125/8. He ended with stunning figures of 5/6, that resulted in a consolation victory against the touring Black Caps, who, nevertheless, won the series 2-1. Admittedly, both teams had injury issues, still, the packed crowd at the Pallekele stadium went into raptures, as SL snatched a 37-run win. more..

Sep 20 (ST) Champion power-lifter Ransilu Jayathilake launched a scathing attack on the national body for sports and the Ministry of Sports over the lack of support and recognition they receive despite winning medals on the int'l stage. Speaking on the eve of team�s departure to Canada to take part at Commonwealth Powerlifting C'ships, he is hopeful of doing well despite the step-motherly treatment, the sports has received. more..

Sep 20 (DN) Hurdler Senuri Anuththara of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, shattered a ten-year-old record in the under 18 Girls 100 meters hurdles event. She clocked 14.65 seconds. The previous record of 14.83 seconds was held by J.S. Dayananda of Ferguson Girls High School, Ratnapura in 2009. Senuri� made a determined run on a wet track, running against the wind at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletic Championship 2019 meet held at Sugathadasa Stadium recently. more..

Sep 20 (DN) Morison PLC, a fully owned subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, will invest over Rs. 2.9 billion to build SL�s largest pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Homagama. The ground braking on the two acre plant, would take place next month, Managing Director, Morison, Murtaza Esufally said. The factory would be ready in 2021. He said that they are already manufacturing some pharmaceuticals at their factory in Mutwal, while 50% of this operation too would be moved to Homagama Plant. more..

Sep 20 (RN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe�s opponents in the ruling UNF are saying that he suffered a setback today Sept 19, as the Cabinet of Ministers rejected an idea to bring in a proposal to abolish the Executive Presidency. But his supporters reject that notion. Minister Lakshman Kiriella said that the PM and Prez Maithripala Sirisena had brought the matter up �not as a Cabinet Memorandum but just as an idea and more..

Sep 20 (DN) Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, (SLTPB) plans to gain from the forthcoming World Travel Market (WTM) 2019 in London with a focused campaign to attract more tourists. The event will be held from Nov 4 to 6 in London. WTM is an internationally acclaimed trade event where it enables the growth and development of the global travel industry, and encourages small and medium scale entrepreneurs, destination management companies, hoteliers & travel enthusiasts to more..

Sep 20 (DN) Finance Ministry has made arrangements to reach the people and conduct Enterprise Sri Lanka mobile service throughout the country in order to provide capital loans at subsidized interest rates to enable the people to begin small and medium, self employment or industries in several districts during the next few days. Accordingly, Enterprise Sri Lanka mobile service would be held at the Kirindiwela Maha Vidyalaya on Sept 21 and 22, more..

Sep 20 (EN) Sri Lanka is ageing with expanding over-60 population and a greater share of the older persons will be women, experts said giving early warnings to prepare for challenges ahead as the country goes through a feminization of ageing. �Sri Lanka is one of the fastest ageing countries in the world and is faced with addressing this rapid demographic transition,� Reiko Hayashi, Director, Dept of Int'l Research & Cooperation, more..

Sep 20 (ST) Trincomalee Master Plan for massive development drive in the area has been completed after a long delay by a Singaporean Consultancy Group incurring a loss to the govt due to their failure to finish it on time, a progress review report revealed. The much-delayed ambitious plan of the govt envisages a third int'l airport in Hingurakgoda and an int'l stadium in 30 years in the region. As per the plan, Trincomalee would also be repositioned as the Eastern Tourism Hub, more..

Sep 20 (FT) MAS Holdings was awarded the Export Conglomerate of the Year award, while Brandix Apparel Ltd. won the Exporter of the Year award at the 23rd Presidential Export Award ceremony held yesterday under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. The awards ceremony, organised annually by the EDB, is the most important annual national event that recognises and honours SL's export champions for their excellence in the 2018/2019 financial year. more..

Sep 20 (AD) Central Bank needs to protect its independence and preserve its accountability to the nation former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of SL, Dr. W.A. Wijewardena said. �We should be accountable to the nation and that is what we have to maintain. In modern Central Banks this has been ensured by having special provisions of disclosure, special provisions of transparency, special provisions of explaining what the CB more..

Sep 20 (FT) With this year�s World Conference on Drowning Prevention set to be held from 8-10 October in Durban, South Africa, Sri Lanka Life Saving, in collaboration with Life Saving Victoria and the High Commission for Australia in Sri Lanka, has organised an event announcement for its key stakeholders, on 26 Sept at the ORCHID meeting room of the BMICH from 9.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. The Chief Guest at the event is the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, David Holly, more..

Sep 20 (HCI) High Commission of India has been offering more than 400 fully-funded slots every year to officials in various Ministries of Govt of SL and also to other eligible citizens of Sri Lanka for short-term training programmes in various institutes in India to enhance their skill-sets. The courses are spread over a multitude of sectors such as Management & Leadership, Int'l Trade, Tourism, Textiles, Agriculture, Banking, Accounting, Artificial Intelligence, Yoga, Renewable Energy, more..

Sep 20 (DM) UNP group of the SLFP would either back UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa if he gets the ticket to contest the prez poll or slant against the JVP as the once great political party has become politically destitute today, SLFP rebel MP Dilan Perera said. He added that the SLFP has no option now but to hang on to another party as it put unrealistic conditions to the SLPP to prevent the formation of proposed political alliance. more..

Sep 20 (TM) JVP will not form an alliance with any party for the upcoming prez elections MP Vijitha Herath said. However Herath said any party willing to join the JVP was most welcome to join them under the National Peoples Power Movement (NPPM) led by the JVP. �We are open to discussion with the SLFP and any other party if they are willing to join us under the NPPM� he said. Herath said the only candidate the JVP will support is its NPPM candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Sep 20 (DN) Two independent candidates and a political party candidate have deposited money for the Prez Election 2019 after the Gazzette pronouncing the Prez Election on Nov 16. Director General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayaka said that Jayantha Ketagoda and Siripala Amarasinghe deposited money as independent candidates, and Dr. Ajantha Perera of Socialist Party of SL deposited money to the Election Commission yesterday as a political party candidate for the Prez Election. more..

Sep 20 (DN) Elections Commission has begun accepting applications for postal votes from yesterday and will do so till Sept 30, Director General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake said. The Commission requests those who are eligible to cast postal votes to submit their applications on or before that date as incomplete or late applications would be rejected. All public officers/ employees, school principals/ more..

Sep 20 (DM) A businessman from Kotikawatta, who defrauded over Rs. 1.7 million from the relatives of three Easter Sunday attack suspects to get them released from the police custody, was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) today. Police said the suspect, 48-year-old Mohammed Usuf Smith, is a vehicle spare parts businessman. He had defrauded Rs. 1,715,000 from the relatives of the three suspects. Suspect had claimed that the 3 individuals who are in remanded custody, more..

Sep 20 (CT) A director of the Beralapanathara Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society in Urubokka, Matara was abducted, by a group of people who arrived in two white vans yesterday. The incident took place in Beralapanathara Town. Police said the victim has been identified as Suranga Edirisinghe, a 45-year-old father of two. The abduction had taken place when he was returning home after dropping his children in school. It has been revealed that the two vans had no number plates more..

Sep 20 (FT) A Cabinet meeting was hurriedly summoned last afternoon to obtain approval to rush the 20th Amendment, which seeks to abolish the Executive Presidency, through Parliament, but was stopped on its tracks after a group within the UNP, as well as three minor parties, opposed the move. There were heated arguments at the meeting, with Minister Mangala Samaraweera strongly objecting to the move, saying the proposal more..

Sep 20 (FT) SL Tourism Promotion Bureau will today launche its latest global TV advertising campaign with CNN, featuring the new destination branding So Sri Lanka. Commercial spots across CNN International channels in Europe, Middle East, Africa feed, Asia Pacific feed, and South Asia feed will run for a duration for 3 months from Friday (20). This high-frequency prime-time targeted advertising will provide much-needed awareness for the destination among consumers worldwide, more..

Sep 20 (AD) Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has brought in Turkish terrorists and is sheltering them, UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake alleges. He stressed that the govt must take legal action against Minister Bathiudeen. There is evidence to make an arrest of the brothers of Rishad, MP said adding that the deeds these brothers had used to fraudulently purchase nearly 6,000-7,000 acres of land plots have been submitted to BC and CID. He also alleged that Minister had sheltered extremists more..

Sep 20 (DM) SL Ambassador to China Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku issued a clarification regarding the Lotus Tower project allegations. �Since the Lotus Tower was declared open on Monday, various news versions have been shared regarding the companies that were involved in its construction. I am releasing this interim statement to clarify the extent of the interventions in this matter by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, more..

Sep 20 (Island) The Elections Commission (EC) has announced the presidential election. The moment the government effected a substantial gas price reduction, on Wednesday, the public knew an election was about to be announced. Santa has arrived here two months earlier, wearing green, for a change. Now that the polls ghost has visited the yahapalana Scrooges, the people will have a fun-filled time. Nobody should unduly worry about the 20-rupee increase in milk food prices. more..

Sep 20 (Island) The Lotus Tower was inaugurated/opened by HE the President at the very beginning of the week under review and glows gaudily during the day and exaggeratedly at night. To Cass� jaundiced eye this is another vanity construction along with H�tota harbour, airport and cricket field. She was told it was not a mere tower like the Kadugannawa one she marveled at as a kid in Kandy. It was to be a great asset to the telecommunication system of the island. more..

Sep 20 (FT) As the restaurant, food and beverage sector demonstrates significant growth, Colombo�s restaurant owners, realising the importance of a shared voice, launched the Colombo City Restaurant Collective (CCRC) yesterday at The Stables at the Parks Street Mews complex. The principal objectives of the association is to act as the apex body representing the food and beverage industry, to serve as a repository for more..

Sep 20 (ST) With the price of gold on the rise, gold chain snatchers are on the prowl, to make an easy buck, by targeting women, sometimes causing injuries to them, police have warned. The latest incident occurred at Gangadara Mawatha in Mount Lavinia. CCTV footage showed two men snatching a gold chain from a woman as she opens the gate to a house. Chain was valued at Rs. 100,000. more..

Sep 20 (FT) Visa, the global payments technology company, yesterday launched a new roadmap that sets the direction for payments security in Sri Lanka for 2020 and beyond, in association with the Payment Card Industry Association of Sri Lanka (PCIASL). Visa said that as millions of devices are reshaping how payments are made and accepted, bringing Sri Lanka to the forefront of online payments in the region, more..

Sep 20 (EN) A 480 million US dollar grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation was to be signed by Sri Lanka before defence related agreements with the US and there is no link between them, an official said. MCC grant was to be signed in Dec 2018 and did not coincide with the renewal dates for two longstanding defence agreements, Jenner Edelman, Country Director for MCC in Sri Lanka said. �That is not true. more..

Sep 20 (Island) Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought information from Director General, Customs, P.S.M. Charles regarding the circumstances under which her officers exempted US military cargo from mandatory checks. Kodituwakku, who has declared his candidature at Nov 16, 2019 presidential poll told The Island that he requested information in terms of Article 14A (1) of the Constitution and more..

Sep 20 (RN) Amnesty International is expressing concern that the govt of Sri Lanka has failed to end impunity for Security Forces personnel accused of crimes under international law. AI said it is �concerned that Sri Lankan authorities are failing to effectively investigate and, where there is sufficient evidence, prosecute those suspected of perpetrating enforced disappearances, as recommended by the Working Group. more..