Nov 8 (EN) A just concluded audit of weapons at the defence ministry's private sector arm known as Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited (RALL) has led to a shocking discovery of an organised trade in weapons that are illegal any where in the world. The most alarming discovery is the haul of 320 automatic assault rifles which had their serial numbers defaced in order to prevent the tracing of the original owner of the firearm in addition to more..

Nov 8 (Island) Two lorry loads of around 50 metric tons of imported rice procured by the state-owned CWE from Lanka Sathosa were seized at the Pettah market, but the police dropped charges and withdrew the case on the advice of senior Industry and Commerce Ministry officials. Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) police sleuths, who tailed the two vehicles, discovered that a consignment of approximately 500,000 kilos more..

Nov 8 (ST) Procedural issues are likely to delay the conduct of local council elections scheduled for March next year. Firstly, an official committee now reviewing appeals will need at least two more months to complete its report. Report is likely to be ready in February next year, according to Deputy Minister Karunaratne Paranavithana. He said that in addition to this, Parliament would also have to approve amendments to local govt more..

Nov 8 (Island) SriLankan Airlines Chairman, Ajith Dias said the national carrier is reviewing the performance on its European sector such as Frankfurt, Paris and Rome as they are not profitable. However, a decision on whether these routes should be terminated will be made in April 2016. Asked whether the national carrier would fly to Melbourne soon as it had been talked about during the past two to three years, more..

Nov 8 (SO) Sri Lanka is expected to impose a fishing ban in the Southern waters and a no-fly zone over the southern sky in preparation for the fall of mysterious space object WT 1190F near its Southern coast on Friday (13). The object, astronomers speculate is a hollow discarded piece from an early moon mission. It is expected to make landfall on sea 65 km to 100 km off Sri Lanka's Southern tip at around 11.48 a.m. local time. more..

Nov 8 (SL) The former govt had allegedly spent Rs. 200,000 per minute for the opening ceremony of the Bellanwila walkway. Land Reclamation and Development Corporation had allegedly been instructed to assign the contract to manage the event to Showtown Entertainment, owned by Bathiya Jayakody of Bathiya-Santhush fame without calling for quotations. Hence, the SLLR&DC had paid Rs. 27.614 million to more..

Nov 8 (SL) The loss incurred by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) for providing free air rides to the former First Family in SLAF commercial flights, which amounts to several millions of tax-payers’ money, is yet to be probed. Although it is learnt that the former govt owes over Rs. 31 million to the SLAF, neither the Ministry of Defence nor any law enforcement authorities have taken steps to recover this money over the past 10 months more..

Nov 8 (SL) FCID has questioned former Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank, Jagath Wellawatte and three former directors about the alleged transfer of a sum of Rs.1.5 million from the State Mortgage Bank to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation without a Cabinet approval. Mortgage Bank sources who wished to remain anonymous said that three more bank officers had been question by FCID over the alleged illegal money transfer and added that it was the former Board of Directors under more..

Nov 8 (ST) The prevailing weather is causing concern among health authorities as the number of dengue cases has increased since last month (October). Till then there was a downward trend in the number of cases. In spite of the increase the Epidemiology Unit says in comparison to the past fouryears, this year has recorded the lowest number of dengue patients. For the past week alone however 421 cases were reported with 1,904 dengue patients being reported for October more..

No v 8 (Island) I was asked to speak about the Constitution – or more specifically, "what ails the Constitution; is it the Constitution or the manner it is followed?" However, a few days ago, a lawyer member of the govt parliamentary group announced that the govt will shortly begin drafting a new constitution. He also spoke about Parliament being transformed into a constituent assembly for that purpose. He spoke of a referendum. Therefore, it may be more productive if I do not look back more..

No v 8 (Island) Tomorrow, Nov 9, marks the 21st death anniversary of Ossie Abeyagoonasekera who was assassinated by the LTTE. He was not alone. The weeks preceding this day also mark the death anniversary of United National Party Presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake, Dr.Gamini Wijesekera, Weerasinghe Mallimarachi, Christy Perera, Mawathagama Premachandra and many unnamed party supporters. Oct 24, 1994 was a dark day in narrative of Sri Lankan political history. more..

Nov 8 (CT) Kavindu is a porn addict. At least that's how he describes himself to be. He started watching porn at the age of 14, in drunken stupor, with his friends following an inter-school football match. He was hooked. Accessing the pornography sites was easy; boys his age know how to manipulate the internet. Gradually it became an addiction. He was watching porn almost every night. His parents never knew. Kavindu is now 28 more..

Nov 8 (CT) Ven. Maduluwave Sobitha Thera is like a lighthouse to the nation who shows the path to people without giving up the struggle for a better world following the footsteps of the Buddha. He was critically ill recently and underwent a heart surgery. Now he is recovering in a hospital in Singapore. This is the best time to trace the place of Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera in the history of politics and religion in this country. The Bhikkhus such as Ven. Udakendawala Saranankara Thera, more..

Nov 8 (SO) Summoning of individuals before Parliament to explain the legitimacy of their acts could seriously undermine the independence and integrity required of such public functionaries, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka stated in a recent communiqué. “Whilst the legislative supremacy of Parliament is respected, summoning persons before Parliament to explain the legitimacy of their work undermine independence and integrity and could result in public ridicule”, they conferred. more..

Nov 8 (CI) Angelo Mathews has credited Sri Lanka's resurgence against West Indies partly to the work of interim coach Jerome Jayaratne. The hosts have whitewashed West Indies in both Tests and ODIs, to earn their first trophies in any format this year. During the Test series Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne had both spoken of the positive influence Jayaratne had had on their batting, but it's Jayaratne's more..

Nov 8 (SL) Working Director of Sri Lanka Cement Corporation (SLCC) and Lanka Cement, Reyyaz Salley says that nobody will be allowed to interfere into the matters related to the SLCC other than the subject minister, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. Sally alleged that under the instructions of the Ministry of Rehabilitation, land at KKS that belongs to the SLCC was being cleared without the consent of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for resettlement. more..

Nov 8 (SL) The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) used video evidence in the investigations over the recent clash between the police and Higher National Diploma of Accountancy (HNDA) students. Director Investigation and Inquiry of the HRCSL Sithara Thambiliyagoda said that the HRCSL summoned the HNDA students and the Jathika Balaya, the petitioners of the two cases filed on the same incident, and all the respondents from the police last Thursday. more..

Nov 8 (SO) Parliament is to summon the Attorney General Yuwanjana Wanasundera over 32 files containing criminal charges against individuals on which his Department is yet to take action, a senior Cabinet Minister said. AG is to be summoned before the Judicial Oversight Committee, which will be set up in Parliament in January, under the provisions of the 19th Amendment. more..

Nov 8 (ST) The Government is to establish a land bank in the Western Province where local and foreign investors will be able select lands for investment purposes in the Western Province, a senior ministry official said. Secretary to the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Province Development, Nihal Rupasinghe said identification of the lands to be demarcated for projects is currently underway with the assistance of a Singaporean National company. more..

Nov 8 (SO) President Maithripala Sirisena's private secretary Palitha Pelpola has been removed with immediate effect due to an administrative lapse, sources from the Presidential Secretariat said. A.N.R. Amarathunga has been appointed to the post. Amarathunga, a former Civil Servant, functioned as President Sirisena's Private Secretary when the latter was the Minister of Health. Pelpola was appointed immediately after President Sirisena took oaths in January. more..

Nov 8 (DM) The members of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) which was founded by late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera today said the Venerable Thera had informed them that the expectations he had for the nation were being shattered one by one. NMSJ member and Trade unionist Joseph Stalin told a media briefing at Naga Vihara Kotte last afternoon that the Thera spoke about the lost expectations when more..

Nov 8 (CT) Commotion continued in Parliament as opposition MPs protested shouting slogans and hoisting placards inside the Chamber against the govt's unleashing police to crush an agitation by Higher National Diploma of Accountancy (HNDA) students last week. All hell broke loose when the MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena got up and demanded to know as to why the govt prevented students coming to visit Parliament. "Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa did away with more..

Nov 8 (AM) Democratic Party leader Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that he would sue Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe demanding Rs 5000 million as damages for defamatory statements made against him. Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse recently said that he was mulling legal action against Sarath Fonseka, demanding Rs 500 million as damages for the allegedly defamatory statement made against him regarding the Avant Garde issue. more..

Nov 8 (Island) Deputy Tourism Minister Arundika Fernando said that he discussed with World Travel Market (WTM) organizers in London to give preference to the country next year when Sri Lanka’s tourism industry celebrates its 50th anniversary. "I also held talks with various travel organizers from different countries who gathered at the WTM to put an action plan in place to promote Sri Lanka", he emphasized in an interview more..

Nov 8 (ST) Incessant rains prevalent in the country will continue islandwide through November, as the low pressure areas remain above the country, the Meteorology Dept. warns. “The intensity of rain will increase significantly from today, over western Sri Lanka, and most probably, within the next two days several areas of the country will experience heavy showers and thundershowers (of more than 100 mm),” said Duty Meteorologist Dharshana Premathileka. more..

Nov 8 (ST) Want to adopt a naughty chimp, an adorable baby orangutan or a majestic lion with a flowing golden mane? Then call the National Zoo on a special hotline to add a new member to your family or your firm. Although you won’t be able to take your adopted pet home, you will have a greater say in their welfare and enjoy several benefits and concessions the Zoo is offering. National Zoo coordinator S.R. Dullewe said even companies can adopt an animal under the adopt-an-animal more..

Nov 8 (SO) Govt Medical Officers Association (GMOA) expressed concerns over the govt's ambitious plans to formulate a mechanism to regulate and maintain standards of teaching hospitals, claiming flexing the norms and criteria could pave the way to accredit South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine in Malabe. Accepting Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne's media statement about govt's plans with reservations, more..

Nov 8 (Haveeru) A team from the Maldives police is in Sri Lanka after a Maldivian man was found with stab injuries in the neighbouring country, police announced Saturday. A police spokesperson, however, said no suspect has been arrested in the investigation. Haveeru has been able to confirm that the victim was Hussain 'Rabarey' Razeen who is a notorious former gangster. Razeen had been a prime suspect in the high profile murder case of Ali Ishaaru. Razeen had turned himself in after more..

Nov 8 (SO) Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to end the existing monopoly in the maritime security service by inviting others interested to send in their bids to create a healthy competititon in the field. Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said the Ministry will welcome bids from qualified maritime security service providers and floating armouries for this purpose. “There are other organisations who want to bid in as maritime security providers and as floating armouries. more..

Nov 8 (EN) A Sri Lankan man arrested in the Maldives in connection with an alleged attempt to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen has checked out to be a dry fish seller from the Colombo suburb of Malabe. The arrest of the 27-year-old announced by the Maldivian Foreign ministry yesterday has raised a diplomatic stink and the Maldivian High Commissioner Zahiya Zareer is to be given a dressing down tomorrow. more..

Nov 8 (SL) Members of the Northern Provincial Council Ananthy Sasitharan and Kanagalingam Sivajilingam are in a visit to South Africa reportedly to attend a special conference with the Tamil Diaspora groups. When inquired the NPC, Chairman of the NPC Kandiya Sivagnanam said that the NCP is not fully aware of the purpose of the visit. “It is a private visit. I think they have gone on a visit to South Africa. I think they are supposed to attend a seminar or a workshop. more..

Nov 8 (TOI) All the 126 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody will be released by courts in the island nation on Monday. The Sri Lankan govt has already issued release orders to the fisheries department. Sri Lanka has decided to release all Indian fishermen before Diwali as a goodwill gesture. The fishermen are lodged in various prisons in the country. Seventy eight of them have been lodged in a Jaffna jail while 37 others are in Anuradhapura jail. more..

Nov 8 (AD) Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero has passed away this morning at a hospital in Singapore - SL Mission in Singapore confirms. SL mission in Singapore also says that steps have already been taken to send back remains of Sobitha Thero as soon as possible to Sri Lanka. The govt has also decided to conduct the funeral with full state honours. Remains of Thero will be brought to the country at 9.15 pm today more..

Nov 9 (CT) My name is Thamil Venthan Ananthavinayagan. I was born in the midst of the Black July, the ignis fatalis for the civil war starting in 1983. My father, named by his comrades by his nom de guerre Vannai Ananthan, was one of the most prolific and charismatic speakers of the Tamil Youth movement. The post-colonial history, the ethnic conflict, decades of hate and ignorance, shortly: the tragedy of this country -despite its beauty- became my invincible sibling. more..

Nov 9 (CT) It appears that northern Muslims evicted from their homes and lands within 24 hours to suffer in extreme misery in refugee camps seems to be receiving some rays of hope after 25 years. This is what one could gather from numerous calls by leading Tamil and Sinhalese politicians, ministers, academics, human rights organizations, journalists and many others including former LTTE leader to undo the damage done to Northern Muslims and improve Muslim Tamil relations. more..

Nov 9 (CT) Pol Athu Bath Kade owner's son Jayantha Namarathna says that they were so close to the Bandaranaike family that they purchased lands from them. Q: What is your name? A: My name is Jayantha Namarathna. People call me Chooti. Q: Can you describe your family? A: My father is Somapala Namarathna. He died four years ago. Mother is still living. I have one brother and two sisters. My elder brother is Shirantha. more..

Nov 9 (SO) What’s bigger than grammar mistakes? Milk-Ella, the man who is milking the Higher Education sector ran into fresh trouble last week. And of all things it was over a politically correct, but grammatically incorrect press communiqué on the HNDA issue. The communiqué sent out to media immediately after the Police attack on HNDA students had several glaring grammatical and spelling mistakes that served to spice up the whole controversy surrounding the HNDA matter. more..

Nov 9 (SO) Oh what a fracas this last week! This feline goes against the popular sentiment of sympathy for the students and blaming outright the police – for brutality, too strong tactics, attacking helpless, innocent students to curb them. Menika strongly contends that the students were not innocent and innocuous, not merely protesting, not set upon unfairly and sadistically. True, there was a mite too much of beating with batons by the police, but consider what the students were up to. more..

Nov 9 (ST) Life was an adventure for Ena de Silva. Even if you had never met her or stepped into her legendary home, you would know something of this pioneering and incredibly charming woman who passed away last weekend, peacefully at home in her beloved Aluwihare at the grand old age of 93. Ena was of a generation who stamped their mark on Sri Lanka’s history by making bold strides in art, architecture and design. more..