Nov 10 (GDI) Hindus of Sri Lanka, India and many other countries will celebrate Deepavali (literally a row of lamps), also known as Deevali in many parts of India other than in Tamil Nadu, Today. Perhaps it is the most important and ancient of the Hindu festivals. It’s an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji. more..

Nov 10 (GDI) Pope Francis has appointed Sri Lanka's Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith as his special envoy to represent him at India's National Eucharistic Congress to be held this week. "In a letter published today, written in Latin and dated 12 October, Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjit Patabendige Don, archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, as his special envoy to the National Eucharistic Congress of India, to be held in Mumbai from 12 to 15 November 2015," more..

Nov 10 (FT) A team of urban planners from Surbana International has arrived in Colombo. The Singaporean experts will work with the Megapolis planning committee to draft a plan for the Government’s ambitious Western Region Megapolis Project. The project will turn a large section of the island’s Western Province into a modern metropolis with strong transport corridors and planned spaces for industry, commerce, housing, education and recreation. more..

Nov 10 (DM) BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera called for a Sanghadikaranaya - a special court to hear cases of Buddhist monks. He expressed these views outside the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court where a case was filed against him on defaming the Quran. “We haven’t committed any crime. It’s not like we have killed someone, raped anyone or robbed anyone. These charges had been levelled for more..

Nov 10 (Island) Under the instructions of PM Ranil Wickremasinghe the govt has taken measures to grant an additional Deepavalie allowance of Rs. 3,500 to the estate workers. This is in addition to the previous allowance of Rs. 6,500. This additional allowance will be granted to the workers as a credit allowance. Minister Navin Dissanayake has instructed the relevant authorities to issue required monetary assistance to the estate industries to pay the said  allowance. more..

Nov 10 (FT) An agreement was signed by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Phoenix Ogilvy to launch a global communications campaign to promote Ceylon Tea as the most exotic tea in the world and thereby command a better premium price. The Global Campaign was proposed to focus within seven identified regions, namely Rusia/CIS Region, Middle-East/ Gulf Region, African Region, Far East Oceania Region, European Region, American Region and South Asian Region. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Resignation of Minister Tilak Marapana will not solve the matters with regard to Avant Garde case, the JVP said today. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakse is also an offender in the case. Mr. Dissanayake therefore questioned as how Minister Rajapakse got to know about the details pertaining to the revenue earned by Avant Garde. “Why couldn’t the Navy handle more..

Nov 10 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena wishing Lankan Hindus a joyful Deepavali has expressed the hope that it will open up the hearts of all individuals with collective yearning for reconciliation as the festival symbolises victory of righteousness over evil. Following is the full text of the President’s Deepavali message: "Deepavali is celebrated in a grand manner by the Hindus throughout the world and it also has significance to the other communities as more..

Nov 10 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Deepavali message said: "Deepavali, Festival of Lights, signifies a moment of light overcoming darkness, the good triumphing over evil, for the Hindu faithful throughout the world and Sri Lanka. "It is a joyous occasion for the Hindus who celebrate it as one of the most important holy days in their calendar. "Deepavali renews hope in our hearts towards the engagement of the human spirit in overcoming evil with the goodness that exist more..

Nov 10 (Island) Opposition politicians and trade unionists expressed their strong opposition to a govt move to set up a common fund by merging EPF and ETF under the cover of introducing a pension scheme for the private sector employees. JVP NCPC member and Chairman of Inter Company Employees Union Wasantha Samarasinghe said that the workers would take to the streets if the Sirisena-Ranil govt more..

Nov 10 (TOI) MahaOrange, a farmers' cooperative federal society from Nagpur, created history by exporting the first ever consignment of 26 tons of oranges to Sri Lanka from Karanja Ghadge, about 75 km Nagpur. This is the first time that orange farmers from Vidarbha have actually sent orange to another country. Till now, oranges used to be sent to Bangladesh but that was an illegal trade as the fruits were first transported by truck to Kolkata and from there were sent illegally more..

Nov 10 (GDI) Govt has declared 12th Thursday, the day of the funeral of the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, a day of mourning. All liquor shops will be kept closed on this day. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that it is also barred from selling beef and also the slaughtering of animals on this day. The Cabinet has taken a unanimous decision to hold the funeral will full state honours, respecting the national and religious services the prelate had discharged. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Tug-of-war for post of National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) Chairman is continuing without a proper solution with newly appointed Chairman former DIG Sirisena Herath being unable to assume duties because incumbent Chairman Nilanga Samarasinghe is refusing to vacate his post. Dr. Samarasinghe said he had not received any instructions either in writing or orally regarding the appointment of a new more..

Nov 10 (DN) Father who was locked in a dog cage by his daughter and later rescued by the police last month has passed away while receiving treatment at the Kandy Hospital. The father was earlier put in care of an elder’s home by the Kandy Magistrate after the police rescued him from the dog cage. It was reported that the daughter, a 42 year old locked her own father in a dog cage while her three dogs and their pups slept in beds. The police arrested the daughter and presented her in Court. more..

Nov 10 (Island) Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana, being an honest politician, had told the truth about the Avant Garde issue in Parliament, ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Rajapaksa said that many thought that Marapana had been forced to resign for speaking the truth. "If the Minister of Law and Order, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General are speaking the truth what others are talking about Avant Garde is nonsense, the former President Rajapaksa said. more..

Nov 10 (DN) Sri Lanka will not send any of its contracted cricketers to play in the third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) scheduled to commence on Nov 24. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has invited 25 of Sri Lanka's top cricketers for the BPL, but Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee has taken a decision not to grant them permission to participate as they want the players to be focussed on the upcoming more..

Nov 10 (FT) Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) President Dr. Surath Wickramasinghe has welcomed Prime Minister’s Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic policy Statement of last week but has called for greater role for locals in the upcoming Megapolis project. Following is the full text of the CCI statement. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Economic Policy Statement is a refreshing concept giving a new dimension to Sri Lanka’s future development perspective. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Four directors from Lanka Hospitals Corporation, formerly Apollo Hospitals, have resigned from the Company Board. They are Tissa Nanayakkara, Asita de Silva, Professor Mandika Wijeyaratne and Dr. Harsha Gunasekara, a stock market filing made yesterday said. Their resignations had been effective from Friday. On Sunday this newspaper ran a story which said that state-owned SL Insurance Corporation soon will divest its controlling stake of Lanka Hospitals. more..

Nov 10 (DN) President Maithripala Sirisena assured yesterday that he would brief the Cabinet in one week over the govt’s course of action on the Avant Garde private security firm. The President addressing a special meeting held on the Avant Garde controversy last morning, said he would arrive at a final decision on the matter after discussions with the PM. As the meeting started, President informed Cabinet members that more..

Nov 10 (FT) The Centre for Policy Alternatives warned the Govt that it could confront a major shift in the balance of power, fatally compromising the gains made in January and August 2015 for good governance and democracy. Condemning statements made by Govt Ministers on the ongoing Avant-Garde probes and the recent violence unleashed against a student demonstration, CPA said the two events were adversely impacting governance in the country. more..

Nov 10 (Island) District Judge of Colombo T.D. Gunesekera will declare on Dec. 8, 2015 whether Subinay Nandy, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, has legal immunity to keep away from the District Court of Colombo. Subinay Nandy is the defendant in a plaint filed by Dr. Gunadasa Amerasekera, requesting that an order be made that the investigation against Sri Lanka in resolution A/HRC/25/L.I/ Rev. is illegal and that the defendant should apologise for the dishonour caused to more..

Nov 10 (FT) In a historic twist being hailed as a great tribute to good governance crusader late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero who passed away on Sunday, Law and Order Minister Tilak J. Marapana submitted his resignation to President Sirisena, shortly before his Cabinet colleagues looked set to demand his sacking at a special ministerial meeting yesterday. Marapana’s resignation marks first time a cabinet minister more..

Nov 10 (DM) The nation is paying a glorious and unprecedented tribute to the prelate the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Hamuduruwo who in his vision and mission was like a model proactive judge holding the scales evenly and getting closely involved in the battle for social justice for all people whether they be rich or poor, the powerful or the powerless. This would be an appropriate time to reflect on the Noble Eight-fold Path and Sri Lanka’s judicial process which during past 15 years more..

Nov 10 (DM) Hindus throughout the world celebrate Deepavali festival to get their spiritual needs fulfilled and also to enjoy happiness in their secular lives. Although Deepavali is a Hindu religious festival it provides opportunities for jubilation and a sense of togetherness. Deepavali is celebrated regardless of ethnical, social, religious and class differences to ward off darkness of evil and to welcome the light of fortune and prosperity. In Sri Lanka many persons belonging to the Sinhalese community more..

Nov 10 (SL) It is being alleged now that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had generously gifted floodlights to the value of over Rs. 200 million to the Carlton Motor Sports Club for the use of the controversial night motor races. Despite the Rajapaksa family’s claim that they have never misused public property during their time in office, The Sunday Leader exposed how Rajapaksa regime had constructed a palatial bunker more..

Nov 10 (DM) The floating armoury and Avant Garde issue was debated in Parliament last week. Ministers who drew the attention of the House, Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms, Thilak Marapana, Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Cabinet Co-Spokesperson, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake, Deputy Minister of Power, Ajith Perera spoke to the DailyMirror. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Sri Lanka has moved up a notch and ranked at eighth place in the 2015 World Giving Index (WGI), the UK based Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) reports. The index which looks at charitable behaviours of 145 countries including the tendency of helping strangers, donating money and volunteering was compiled by the CAF. Sri Lanka was ranked ninth last year. Myanmar has been ranked first in the index followed by the US, more..

Nov 10 (DM) The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has requested a feasibility study to determine the effects of the Port City on the Colombo Port. Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga said they had requested the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development for the report as the project came under their purview. Sand used during the initial stages of construction to reclaim the sea had washed into the port jetty after more..

Nov 10 (Island) Avant Garde had issued 3,400 weapons in violation of international maritime laws, but those who controlled the company had gone scot free, says Minister Rajitha Senaratne. When lesser people were caught with a few firearms they were hauled up before courts and remanded, but a company controlled by the VVIP’s boys in the Rajapaksa regime which had issued 3,400 weapons were moving about freely aided by more..

Nov 10 (DM) Parking meters would be fixed along the Duplication and Galle Roads and all by-roads connecting the two main roads, the Colombo Municipality said yesterday. Tender for the pilot project had been awarded to a private company, which would conduct the project for the first time in Sri Lanka. The project, which was to install 125 parking meters along both roads was scheduled to begin in January. more..

Nov 10 (Island) Leaders of four constituent parties of TNA will have a top-level meeting in Vavuniya shortly to discuss and sort out some long-standing issues within the alliance, PLOTE leader Dharmalingam Siddharthan said. "Registration of the TNA as a political party, how its composition should be, the leadership of the TNA, formation of new district committees, powers and authorities to be devolved to each of these more..

Nov 10 (Island) A group of govt backbenchers disturbed by the alleged moves by some top MPs to hush up Avant Garde issue, mulling over some counter measures including a mass demonstration to voice their protest against what they called Yaha nethipaalanaya, a UNP politician from the Kalutara district says "We banged our desks in Parliament demanding that the names of the alleged culprits be named." more..

Nov 10 (CT) Disillusionment with the current political scene and the govt, aggravated the health condition of Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, during the last few days before his death, said the Spokesperson of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri. He said, "There is certainly a medical reason behind his death. Politically speaking he was quite disillusioned and he was quite disappointed with the way more..

Nov 10 (CG) The first batch of Tamil detainees will be set free tomorrow, Prisons Department said today after being informed of the decision by the relevant authorities. AG has informed the Department that 30 Tamil detainees will be given bail and can be freed tomorrow. Prisons Dept said that more Tamil detainees arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) are expected to be given bail over the next few days. more..

Nov 10 (CT) On Sunday I received a telephone call inquiring whether I have heard a bad news regarding Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha. I immediately thought Oh no. Not at this point of time. I told my friend We need him most now. Venerable Sobitha and I did not share the same political views for quite sometime. May be even in the present context we might have had strategic differences. We belong to different religions and social ethos and came to share the yahapalanaya political dream more..

Nov 10 (CT) Walpola Rahula’s Bhiksuvage Urumaya (The Heritage of the Bhikkhu), published in 1946 envisaged a new kind of monk, cultured in both Buddhism and modernity, and socially and politically activist. The public discussion and the social effect that ensued had the positive result of empowering the monk, but unfortunately that empowered monk had also imbibed a narrow conception of society and polity, that of Sinhala Buddhist hegemony, a conception that eventually placed the country more..

Nov 10 (CT) Ministry of Local Govt and Provincial Councils will launch a campaign to encourage greater female representation at upcoming local govt elections as well as include gender based budgeting. Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana addressing a media briefing held yesterday said this campaign would be in preparation to the govt's decision to amend the Local Authorities Election Act to include 25% female representation at the local govt level. more..

Nov 10 (DN) Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake is tipped to be appointed Minister of Law and Order following the resignation of Minister Tilak Marapana from the latter's portfolio, reliable govt sources said. Ratnayake who first entered Parliament in 2000, was Power and Energy Deputy Minister. He was re elected to Parliament at the 2015 Parliamentary election. Meanwhile, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan more..

Nov 10 (Island) The GMOA accused the Health Ministry of failing to provide internship appointments for new medical graduates for the next 12 months. GMOA Secretary Dr. Nalinda Herath said that Intern appointments had been given for a period of one year. The last batch commenced their internship training in Nov 2014, and was due to complete it this month. He said the ministry had not even thought of making the arrangements for more..