Nov 4 (Reuters) Stocks edged up on Wednesday, reversing a four-session losing streak, led by blue chips but volume was thin as investors awaited a key govt policy statement. Main stock index ended 0.05% higher at 7,003.57, edging up from its lowest close since July 13 hit in the previous session. Day's turnover was 547.9 million rupees, around half of this year's daily average of 1.1 billion rupees. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to announce the country's medium-term economic policy more..

Nov 4 (AM) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake lashed out at the govt today in Parliament, claiming that the govt has fallen under the influence of dealers and is not taking legal steps against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Dissanayake claimed that the President and the PM were not aware of the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa in April. If they were aware of such an event, he would not have been arrested, more..

Nov 4 (Island) Security measures in and around Parliament were decided by defence experts on the basis of threat perception analysis, Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala said yesterday. Addressing a press conference, the Deputy Speaker said that the army had not been summoned to provide security to Parliament yesterday. "It was wrong for MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena to claim that the Speaker had summoned the army to prevent students from entering parliament. more..

Nov 4 (TA) It was in the early 2000s when a group of five young, ambitious high school graduates from Sri Lanka realized their burning desire to strike out on their own. They were enthusiastic about entrepreneurship and yearned to make it big – building a company synonymous with quality and excellence. Despite barely being out of their teens, the five friends proceeded to register and launch their company, Vesess. They called themselves The 5, and their company logo was more..

Nov 4 (CG) Australian Govt today reiterated a warning to Sri Lankan boat people saying anyone going to Australia illegally will never be settled there. Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie said that Since the introduction of Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders in 2013, every Sri Lankan people smuggling boat that has attempted to come to Australia has failed. “Australian Govt’s policy on maritime people smuggling remains more..

Nov 4 (Island) Central Provincial Council members and their ministers will not receive their quota of official diaries for the year 2016. The issue came up before the CPC meeting. When two of the ruling party members expressed their dismay and disapproval of the council’s decision to refrain from printing 2016 diaries for the provincial councillors, chief organiser of the Opposition Chanaka Ilapperuma (UNP) said that it had been stopped on a detective from the Finance Ministry. more..

Nov 4 (Island) Minister John Seneviratne has assured that tangible measures would be taken soon to do away with manpower companies. He said that the govt would absorb those who had been hired by state sector institutions through manpower companies. Seneviratne gave the assurance at an eye clinic held at St. Joachim Tamil school in Ratnapura on Nov 1. He admitted that the longstanding recruitment of workers through manpower companies was contrary to more..

Nov 4 (DM) The good-governance proponents, who condemned casinos in the country, should confirm whether they are planning to promote the casino industry by bringing the well-known erotic actress Sunny Leone to the country, NFF Leader and Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa said. Ms. Leone is said to be planning to visit Sri Lanka in December and during her visit, she is expected to present a musical concert at more..

Nov 4 (AD) Three more suspects arrested in connection with the recent murder of nightclub owner Wasantha de Zoysa a.k.a Karate Wasantha in Anuradhapura have been remanded till Nov 09. This brings the total number of suspects currently in remand custody over the incident to 34. The suspects, two from Kebithigollewa and one from Dewanampiyatissapura, were produced before Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Shanaka Kalansuriya today. Submitting a report to more..

Nov 4 (DN) Minister Mohan Lal Grero requested undergraduates to discuss with him before launching protests and organising parades. He told the Daily News that he is always ready to discuss with undergraduates and students of other institutes, which come under the Higher Education Ministry regarding their common issues. Grero requested the undergraduates to reserve a time for discussions by sending a short message to his personal mobile number 0773595100. more..

Nov 4 (EN) Law and Order minister Tilak Marapana launched a staunch defence of the controversial private maritime security company Avant Garde and in the process criticised the police under his control. Marapana, who had been retained earlier in the year by Avant Garde as its attorney, devoted his time in parliament Wednesday to dismiss all allegations against his client and even blamed the police for launching an investigation. more..

Nov 4 (CI) The ICC has made an allowance for Marlon Samuels to bowl in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, although the match is being played outside the 14-day grace period allowed for bowlers reported for a suspect action. The ICC said the exception was made because "the West Indies team was incorrectly advised that he was eligible to bowl in this match", and that West Indies had "selected the team based on this information." After this match "Samuels will not be allowed to bowl in more..

Nov 4 (EN) A business delegation from New Zealand is visiting Sri Lanka this week seeking to broaden trade relations between the two countries now dominated by commodities to specialised manufacturing, aviation and education. The delegation of 17 New Zealand companies from a range of industries is led by former New Zealand Deputy PM Don McKinnon and Grahame Morton, High Commissioner to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. more..

Nov 4 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena who is on a four day state visit to Thailand met the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand at the Sra Pathum Palace today. President Sirisena was warmly welcomed by the Princess at the Palace and said when she visited Sri Lanka she learnt the hospitality of its people and she further said that Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. President thanked for the invitation extended to him to visit Thailand more..

Nov 5 (CT) Recent police attacks on protesting students near the UGC shows several pertinent points about the state of affairs when it comes to resolving higher education issues.1) boiling issues in society quickly turns into law and order issues when they are not handled in a timely fashion, 2) the need for a culture of patient negotiation between those in authority and those affected by such issues, 3) the need for better higher education policy and policy development process with related more..

Nov 5 (CT) Police departments all over the world are a symbolic power of the state over its citizens. The morale argument of law and order has never been a reality as police departments work under political and intuitional power structures essentially are hegemonic. Unlike the military such oppressive state ideology are often mobilized by police and CID departments under clear political leadership. It is for this reason that police often mounts its brutality against the most marginalize and more..

Nov 5 (SO) Newly elected MPs are demanding pistols even when the masses continue to suffocate under the escalating cost of living. Why pistols for MPs? the voter may wonder at a time when terrorism has been wiped out and peace prevails in the country. Why should MPs be armed. It was reported in the media that 35 newly elected MPs participated in a two-day firearms training session conducted by Police STF at Katukurunda more..

Nov 5 (FT) My morning cup is having trouble. The tea industry is making headlines and all reads points to doom and gloom. The Government is expected to bail out the industry by purchasing tea leaves to keep prices up, which begs the question, why cannot we develop, nurture and sustain an industry? The tea industry is not one we can claim of having developed by ourselves; it is one we really inherited on a platter. We only have to nurture and sustain the industry as British really did the hard work. more..

Nov 5 (FT) Between August of 1942 and January of 1943 an epic battle was waged in the Soviet city of Stalingrad , which in the opinion of many commentators determined the course of the Second World War and thereby the path of history. Had the Germans taken the city early, many things now we take for granted may have evolved very differently. Having swept across the endless Russian plains with relative ease, the German armies did not anticipate great difficulties in taking the city. more..

Nov 5 (CT) MP Prasanna Ranatunga in an interview said the govt must make a public disclosure of the name of the son of a VVIP who has allegedly stashed money away in a Dubai bank. Ranatunga also speaks about the current state of the SLFP, the need to have the continuous leadership of former President Rajapaksa and the growing disillusionment among govt ministers. Q: You were one of the most vocal MPs supporting UPFA more..

Nov 5 (Island) We appear to be living at a time of great mysteries. One such is the intimation of the PM to the Speaker not to permit a Report purported to be by Sir Desmond de Silva on human rights or reconciliation to be tabled by any Member; that according to what Sir Desmond had told him, he had only submitted some remarks and comments to [according to the newspaper report] the Udalagama Commission which is undoubtedly a genuine error – presumably the reference more..

Nov 5 (Island) Last week’s piece, titled War Crimes probe: Relevance of leaked US cables and UK court case, with strap line, Foreign experts highlight previous government’s failure, in the Midweek section received a spate of responses. A retired Major General asserted the responsibility, on the part of the top military leadership, to examine all relevant factors, without being guided by domestic political issues. One UK based keen follower of events, during the war, more..

Nov 5 (ENS) The en-masse expulsion of Muslims from Sri Lanka’s Northern Province by the LTTE in Oct-Nov 1990, was not ethnic cleansing but a measure to protect them, argues P.Ariyanetthiran, a former TNA MP from Batticaloa. "It could not be described as ethnic cleansing because it was to be temporary. Muslims were told that they would be allowed to come back after the successful conclusion of the war for more..

Nov 5 (FT) Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake yesterday visited the Colombo Tea Auction, as the world’s largest single origin tea auction saw more activity with global tea prices starting to recover after the recent slump experienced. Minister Dissanayake, who was accompanied by Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda and Tea Commissioner E.A.J.K. Edirisinghe, witnessed the activities of the auction for a brief period. more..

Nov 5 (Island) Tony Blair would have been immensely pleased to receive the invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera under these circumstances, and to receive pop-star treatment in our supposedly enlightened country. No doubt, many Sri Lankans with an ounce of knowledge about the recent geopolitical events and personalities would have been disgusted with the embarrassing position they have been pushed to by their own new, utopian govt. more..

Nov 5 (FT) Widely criticised by the private sector but justified by the Yahapalana Govt, the one-off Super Gains Tax (SGT) is expected to bring in much higher revenue, Minister Ravi Karunanayake revealed. “We originally estimated Rs. 50 billion from the one-time Super Gains Tax but we are likely to get around Rs. 65 billion,” Karunanayake told a group of editors yesterday at his Ministry. He said 22 companies had paid more..

Nov 5 (CI) Sri Lanka might have studied Sunil Narine's knuckle ball, arm ball and offbreak, but Dilshan and Narine himself seemed unprepared for a fourth variation. Brought into the attack in the fifth over, Narine delivered a seam-up ball that was perhaps meant to just go on with the arm, but ended up taking substantial late swing. Dilshan was too late to make the adjustment, and having shaped to flay it on the off side, found the ball traveling between bat and pad to take his off stump. more..

Nov 5 (DN) Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) will celebrating its momentous 100th anniversary with the hosting of the prestigious Asian Tennis Federation's AGM later this month. A truly landmark event for the SLTA - which is the second-oldest tennis association in Asia - the AGM marks the first time the Asian Tennis Federation has held such a distinguished event in Sri Lanka and is anticipated to signal a reinvigorated engagement between the SL tennis community and its Asian neighbours. more..

Nov 5 (CI) Kusal Perera struck a 99 lit up by flashes of aggression, but tempered by maturity, while Lahiru Thirimanne stroked a serene 81 not out, as the second-wicket pair's 156-run stand made light work of a revised target of 225 in the second ODI against West Indies. The match had been shortened to 38 overs a side, after rain forced an interruption of more than three hours 26.4 overs into West Indies' innings. more..

Nov 5 (Island) Only two ministers, Sajith Premadasa and Rajitha Senaratne, have had the courage to oppose the practice of arming MPs. Some of their ministerial colleagues have no qualms about obtaining firearms while pontificating on the virtues of nonviolence and claiming that dhammo haave rakkathi dhammachari (one who lives according to dhamma is protected by dhamma). Some MPs have recently been given weapons training at the Katukurunda STF base, we are told. more..

Nov 5 (CT) People who voted the new government to power on 8 January, 2015, voted for change, change which they want implemented fast, International Fiscal Association (Sri Lanka Branch) Chairman N.R. Gajendran speaking at a tax seminar yesterday said. He said that those changes included the reestablishment of law and order; wiping out bribery, nepotism and corruption, alleviation of the cost of living, punishing wrongdoers and the restitution of good governance. more..

Nov 5 (DN) SriLankan Airlines will negotiate with an Asian based air service company to begin a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre at Mattala airport in Hambatota. SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajith Dias said this will be a joint venture. “The proposal for an MRO at the Mattala international airport was in the pipeline for several years but it never got off. We are now in talks with an Asian counterpart to get this more..

Nov 5 (Island) MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena said in Parliament yesterday that leader of the Frontline Socialist Party Kumar Gunaratnam was a Sri Lankan citizen and had a right to do politics in Sri Lanka. Raising a point of order during the debate on Avant Garde floating armoury at the time of adjournment of the House, MP Gunawardena said police had taken Gunaratnam into custody without a warrant and he was being detained at the Kegalle police station. more..

Nov 5 (DN) Chamuditha Samarawickrama, a veteran Rupavahini Journalist has been recently appointed as the Presidential Media Director to President Sirisena. He started his career as a journalist at TNL Rupavahini and was a popular announcer during his tenure spanning over 14 years. He also served MAX TV as its General Manager. He served as the Media Adviser to the President (then Minister of Agriculture) and later as Media Secretary to President when he was more..

Nov 5 (TI) Former Bengal governor and national security adviser M.K. Narayanan was attacked with chappals as he was being escorted out of a meeting on Sri Lankan Tamil refugees this evening. Chappals, thrown by a slogan-shouting protester, hit Narayanan on his shoulder and the back of his head before his police guards whisked him away from the meeting hall. The attacker, who blamed Narayanan for plight of SL Tamils, more..

Nov 5 (TOI) National Fishworkers Federation (NFF) has urged the Union govt to take initiatives in rescuing 650 Indian fishermen lodged in the jails of four neighbouring countries - Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar — on charges of entering their maritime boundaries. The federation chairperson M Ilango in a memorandum submitted to the PM Narendra Modi also insisted the govt to initiate efforts for releasing boats of the Indian fishermen confiscated by more..

Nov 5 (Island) The Sri Lanka Air Force Cyber Security Operation Centre received the Gold and Bronze awards for the Best Hackers at the Hacking challenge 2015 organised by the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) at a ceremony held at the BMICH on Tuesday. A contest for IT professionals to test their information security skills in finding out vulnerabilities in the systems, exploiting them and hence taking precautions for securing them, this event more..

Nov 5 (DM) FSP Politburo member Duminda Nagamuwa said today FSP Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam, who was engaged in active politics for the last couple of months was arrested due to the influence on the Govt after the recent attack at the protest launched by the HNDA students. Mr. Nagamuwa said the Govt attacked the protest campaigns launched by university students and people more..

Nov 5 (CT) Minister Rauff Hakeem at an event held in Sainthamaruthu, said, 10,000 youth are to be recruited to the Youth Front of the SLMC, before the end of this year; to work to realize the dream of the late founder leader M.H.M. Ashraff to make the Muslim community self-sufficient in all spheres. Minister Hakeem, current leader of the SLMC further said, the newly recruited 10,000 youth will not only be trained in party political activities but also in the spheres of social service, more..

Nov 5 (CT) No batons were issued to the 2,000 police officers who were assigned to regulate the protest march organized by the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF), on Tuesday said the Police Media Unit (PMU). PMU stressed that neither water tanks nor tear gas has been issued to officers on duty. It was also emphasized that Anti Riot Police units were not assigned to regulate the protest. According to an estimation done by the police, about 5,000 students took part in the protest march more..