Nov 14 (CT) Some MPs representing the Joint Opposition are preparing to demand explanations from the Attorney General why complaints submitted against several Ministers of the present govt are not been inquired into. These MPs claim that several ministers of the govt that existed before the 8th of January and the 100-day govt after the 8th of January, and those representing the present govt after the 17th of August, have had complaints filed against them at Bribery Commission, CID, more..

Nov 14 (DM) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka urged the President and the PM to remove Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe from his portfolio on the grounds that he was a disgrace to the principles of good governance. He said the minister was covering up those involved in fraud and corruption contradicting the govt’s pledges to take action against such offenders. “Minister Rajapakshe is a disgrace to the govt that was set up to more..

Nov 14 (DM) President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe, speaking at the State funeral service for the Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, made solemn pledges before the sacred remains of the widely respected prelate. Watched by millions at the parliamentary grounds and live on television, the National Unity Govt’s two leaders pledged they would sincerely do all they could to implement the policies and principles that revered Sobitha hamuduruwo lived and died for. more..

Nov 14 (DM) I have been associating with Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Nayaka Thera for over two decades in different fields of activity - education, youth leadership and temperance work, to name a few. What I noticed was that the Venerable Thera had a very clear perspective of what needed to be done and had no hankering to call a spade a spade. He never spited another but said what has to be said without fear or favour and also a smile on his face. Though not in temperance, I remember more..

Nov 14 (SL) Sri Lanka is indeed the Miracle of Asia. To show the world that there is development taking place, cranes and bulldozers must go to and fro along the roads. Since neither a backhoe nor a bulldozer nor a crane can be seen on the roads many believe that development is not taking place currently. Former rulers although branded as thieves and rogues accomplished much development, some still rant. more..

Nov 14 (DM) Buddhasasana and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe claimed Minister Rajitha Senaratne was accusing him falsely that he was protecting Avant Garde, as an act of revenge as the latter lost his parliamentary seat in 1994 as a result of a case filed by him in the Appeal Court. Minister Rajapakshe said he never appeared on behalf of Avant Garde but he only spoke of the appropriateness of the AG’s decisions. more..

Nov 14 (ST) An adjournment motion on the Avant Garde floating armoury case as well as the ongoing investigations into cases pertaining to fraud and corruption, was held in Parliament. The motion was moved by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and seconded by TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran. Following are excerpts of views expressed. JVP MP Anura Dissanayaka: It was the public outcry against growing corruption and more..

Nov 14 (ST) People concerned about the chunk of space debris expected to fall into the sea close by this Friday should be more worried about the tons of earthbound debris that enter the oceans, with Sri Lanka ranking fifth among countries releasing plastic waste into the sea. Marine litter affects all the world’s oceans and causes injury and death to millions of marine life such as fish, seabirds and turtles either because they become more..

Nov 14 (Island) Ministry of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs (MRRHRA), said it would construct 65,000 houses in the North and East for the conflict affected people within the next four years. Secretary to the MRRHRA V. Sivagnanasothy said the Cabinet had approved a paper submitted by Minister D.M. Swaminathan in that regard. He said govt decision had been taken on humanitarian grounds. more..

Nov 14 (Island) Although the Army had extended its support to the on-going investigation into the disappearance of media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda on the eve of the January 2010 presidential poll, it was yet to conduct an investigation into accusations directed at the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). Ekneligoda had been a freelancer for Lanka-e-news at the time of his disappearance. more..

Nov 14 (Island) Retired High Court judge Maxwell Paranagama said that the implementation of the recommendations made by Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons was the prerogative of the govt. Paranagama, who headed investigation, acknowledged that the govt would certainly have to take into consideration Sept 30 Geneva resolution that dealt with accountability more..

Nov 14 (PMD) “The true development of the humans is not the development achieved in technology, but become physically and mentally healthy humans”, says President Maithripala Sirisena. President made these remarks at the inauguration of the exhibition and series of lectures being held at the BMICH in line with the World Diabetes Day today. He participated in the walk to mark World Diabetes Day started more..

Nov 14 (CT) It is apparent how Minister of Communication and Digital Infrastructure Facilities Harin Fernando is taking the initiative to protect ministers who have been accused of dealing with the Avant Garde Company which has become an extremely controversial issue within the country. This intervention of Minister Harin Fernando was well displayed during the political debates held on Derana and Swarnavahini channels recently. more..

Nov 14 (DM) The JVP yesterday said it was in control in the country’s political sphere and the resignation of Minister Tilak Marapana and the President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to handover the responsibility of defending the seas outside Sri Lanka were ample proof of it. These sentiments came from Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and General Secretary Tilvin Silva at the Il Maha Samuruwa more..

Nov 14 (EAR) After the heat and dust of the recent parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, the accord between the country’s two main political parties for a national unity govt seems to offer the best chance in decades for politico-ethnic reconciliation among the various communities. But the challenge is to generate a sense of national purpose. Sri Lanka went to the polls on 17 August 2015 to elect 225 members to the Parliament for the next 5 years. The incumbent govt, the UNP-led more..

Nov 14 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made a solemn pledge before the people at the cremation of the Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera on Thursday. They made this pledge standing opposite the country's Parliament. Sobhitha Thera's dream was to abolish the Executive Presidency. Maithri promised to do that and both Ranil and Maithri assured that Good Governance would prevail if Maithri won the presidential poll. more..

Nov 14 (ST) Govt is considering changing the laws dealing with statutory rape to allow partners who are below the age of consent to engage in physical relations, if the age difference between them is around three years. The changes have been recommended by Law Commission of SL. Change is being proposed as more than 60 to 70% of cases of rape recorded involve those charged under the statutory rape laws and are children in their mid-teens who are below the age of consent of 16 more..

Nov 14 (Island) SLFP with its allies would be contesting the forthcoming local govt elections under the Betel symbol of the UPFA, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday. The SLFP together with its partners numbering about eight would contest under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena, who had pledged to steer the UPFA to victory, Minister Dissanayake told reporters after attending a meeting with the Kandy District Samurdhi beneficiaries who received loans. more..

Nov 14 (ST) Theft and burglary are on the rise with even places of religious worship not being spared. Recently, the Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya was robbed in broad daylight. The suspect had reportedly walked casually into the chief incumbent’s room and walked out with Rs. 860,000. The chief incumbent Rajamaha Viharaya Urulavathethe Dhammarakkitha Thera was on a visit to Thailand with President Sirisena. more..

Nov 14 (CG) Chennai on the North TN coast, along with entire Sri Lanka, may receive excess rainfall during the week ending Nov 18, says the US Climate Prediction Centre. This would be a phase when a weather system (likely depression/deep depression), now in the process of evolving over the South-East Bay of Bengal, makes its tryst with these coasts. An experimental storm tracker featured by the agency suggests that it would not be surprised to find a brewing low-pressure area evolving more..

Nov 14 (DN) Peliyagoda Central Fish Market traders have requested Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to ensure that the Rs. 80 million due to them from the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation for fish supplies is paid to them forthwith. They have also alleged that many malpractices and discrepancies had occurred in the settlement of bills due to them and requested the minister to investigate into the matter. Fish traders made this request when Minister more..

Nov 14 (Island) Sri Lankan entrepreneurs could have an unbelievable world-market for their products in at least fifty countries, mostly Muslim, if Halal certifications are obtained, a top official of the Halal Accreditation Council (HAC) disclosed. "Regardless of a businessman’s religion or ethnicity, the HAC does the certifications with only one objective in mind – let all Sri Lankans benefit," the HAC official said more..

Nov 14 (AD) Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in France Tilak Ranaviraja says that he is constantly in touch with French security officials and that so far there have been no reports of any Sri Lankans being affected by the series of terrorist attacks which were carried out across Paris and left more than 100 people dead on Friday. The Ambassador said that those who require more information regarding their relatives or loved one living in France can dial – 003789238926. more..

Nov 14 (CT) Today is the day of the Hartal. It was called for by the TNA and Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam’s outfit, the TNPF, says a news portal favorable to the TNA. It seems to have been a success insofar as most shops are closed. But I have a sense of foreboding over this. A bus taking patients from Point Pedro to Jaffna was stoned, bringing all bus services to a halt. Who are these violence-prone youth who stoned the bus? Are we going back to our violent past? more..

Nov 14 (ST) Police have slapped more than 39,000 stickers on motorbikes on which kids have been riding without helmets, warning parents to take greater care about motorcycle deaths the number one killer on the roads. Most of these deaths are related to traumatic head injuries that can be minimised or prevented by helmets, DIG Amarasiri Senaratne said. “A thing that sends shivers down my spine is to see whole more..

Nov 14 (AD) Suspect known as Bloemendhal Pethum, who is believed to be a notorious underworld figure, has been arrested for possession of heroin. The suspect was arrested by a Colombo District police unit. Pethum is suspected of being involved in the shooting incident which occurred in the Bloemendhal area on July 31, just days before the General Election. A 3.8 mm revolver, 15 live bullets and packets of 10 grams and 240 mg of heroin were also taken into custody. more..

Nov 14 (CT) Political sources reveal that there is a plan to appoint former Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P.B. Jayasundera as as a Senior Advisor to Minister of Samurdi and Social Empowerment S.B. Dissanayake. Dr. Jayasundera served as Secretary to the Ministry of Finance in the former Rajapaksa administration. With the advent of the new govt several state institutions were accused of misappropriating state monies and the administration of the Finance Ministry under more..

Nov 14 (ST) Three mothers and three children, a 12-year-old, a two-month-old and a six-day-old, from across the country, amongst numerous others……winners all the way! Although a beautiful plaque stands on a ledge in the doctors’ room amidst three huge teddy-bear soft toys, for want of a place to keep it, the true prizes are the thousands of children’s hearts that are beating without a murmur, a miss or a stoppage. more..

Nov 14 (CT) Maithri govt had again deceived Tamil political prisoners and this is the climax of communal politics of good governance, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethran, former TNA Batticaloa District MP said recently. Majority of the Tamil political prisoners now in prisons were arrested while returning from Middle East countries after completing their contract. They were arrested at the BIA in 2013, he added. Those Tamil political prisoners produced were not detained for several years. more..

Nov 14 (ST) The prevailing weather is causing concern among health authorities as the number of dengue cases has increased since last month. 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 bringing total case load to 23,080 more..

Nov 14 (CT) President Sirisena will take action, after an investigation, regarding the sudden transfer of Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris, who was presiding over sensitive cases like the Waseem Thajudeen murder and Rs 600 million sil redi case, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. "It is obvious that there is some unseen force behind this transfer. Govt has changed, but the State has not changed. But we are changing this. more..

Nov 14 (LT) Lanka C News, a website maintained with the direction of Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, had published a news item stating that the Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP Lal Kantha had resigned from the party. However, when Lankatruth inquired regarding this news item a spokesman for JVP said Wimal Weerawansa, who has become bankrupt politically, is suffering from delirium and is hallucinating as he has been rejected by the people and has nothing else to do. more..

Nov 14 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had flown to Singapore for a medical check up yesterday. Wickremesinghe who was accompanied by his wife Maithree was due back today, a Minister told The Island last night, adding "at this age its a normal thing to monitor your health regularly". Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was scheduled to arrive in Singapore yesterday, informed sources said. An official in his office said: "It’s just a routine medical check up". more..

Nov 14 (CG) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva today hit out at France following a deadly terrorist attack which claimed the lives of some 153 people. He said that France, Britain, the US and Sweden put pressure on Sri Lanka when the former Sri Lankan Govt was engaged in a war against the LTTE. “They came to teach us about good governance and democracy. They claimed that since there is no reconciliation in SL more..

Nov 14 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena says as a nation that has undergone much suffering due to terrorism, Sri Lanka unreservedly condemns terrorist attacks in Paris. Issuing a message of condolence, the President states the international community must unite to collectively combat the menace of terrorism and extremism. Following is the full text of the message issued by the President; HE François Hollande, President of the Republic of France, Excellency, I am deeply saddened by more..

Nov 14 (DN) A proposal to launch a boat service in the coastal areas to transport people and goods with the aim to ease vehicular traffic was discussed recently. Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi said the matter came up for discussion during a meeting presided by him but no decision on the matter had been taken. "Such a boat service may be popular among people in the coastal areas and fishing ports, but, it would not be practical during the off season when strong winds and rough seas are prevalent," more..

Nov 14 (AD) Around 150 foreign ships which had previously employed the services of Avant Garde Security Services have now informed the company that they would no longer seek protection from Sri Lanka as a result of the controversy surrounding establishment, an official said. Manager of Commercial Vessel Protection, Lt Col (retd) Nilantha Jayaweera, stated that the firearms which were in the possession of more..

Nov 15 (SO) The tinge of saffron is not very different from that of gold. But one symbolizes other-worldliness and, the other, the ultimate in worldliness. In a nation proud of a long civilisational heritage steeped in a strong element of asceticism that marks both the Theravada Buddhist and Shaiva Hindu traditions, the social fabric is, today, being torn asunder by the compulsions of poorly managed capitalism that has engendered a dominance of the robber barons and more..

Nov 15 (SL) National Govt was formed with the lofty objective of bringing the two main political parties together to resolve national problems which have defied resolution because of the fierce interparty rivalry for supremacy. The compulsion of putting together a majority to form a govt overcoming the seats won by the UPFA under Mahinda Rajapaksa was also a main factor. Maithripala Sirisena, the triumphant common candidate having retained his post of General Secretary of the SLFP, more..