Oct 21 (DM) The man who claimed to be the ex-lover of the 28-year-old abducted female schoolteacher surrendered to Urubokka Police along with the said teacher. Suspect surrendered to police through an attorney and he was immediately taken into custody whilst the teacher had been referred to a medical exam. The teacher a resident of Puwakgahahena in Mawarala, had been abducted by an unknown gang more..

Oct 21 (TOI) Virender Sehwag had a simple philosophy of batting - see-ball, hit-ball. The man, who at his peak, was a menace to bowlers, has said that the only bowler who he dreaded facing was legendary Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. "I was scared of facing only one bowler, that was Muttiah Muralitharan," Sehwag was quoted as saying by ANI in an interview after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday. Sehwag made his international debut in 1999 more..

Oct 21 (CT) Govt in the 13 month period to last month end has suffered a massive net foreign outflow (NFO) of US$ 2,910.49 million ($ 2.91 billion) from its foreign reserves. The period covered is end Sept 2014 to end Sept 2015. In contrast, in the preceding 13 months to end August 2014 it had witnessed a net foreign inflow (NFI) of $ 1,035.42 million ($ 1.035 billion). The reason behind the reversal in Sri Lanka's fortunes is several. Foremost being the political uncertainty more..

Oct 21 (Island) Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that a ceiling on campaign finances was a necessity. In case, those political parties represented in parliament were reluctant to introduce such a drastic measure, there was a need for a mechanism to monitor and audit campaign finances, he said. He was responding to EU Election Mission’s criticism of SL’s failure to regulate campaign finance. more..

Oct 21 (CG) UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jenča, will be visiting Sri Lanka from 21 to 25 Oct. The visit follows recent discussions between Secretary-General and President Sirisena on the margins of the General Assembly high-level meetings in New York. UN says Jenča’s visit will provide an opportunity for continued dialogue with SL authorities and stakeholders, and will inform the longer term peacebuilding programme of the UN in support of Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 21 (C4) After years of Sri Lankan govt denials, Channel 4's evidence of war crimes and extra-judicial killings in Sri Lanka's civil war is vindicated by a leaked govt report, writes Callum Macrae. A long-delayed investigation ordered by Sri Lankan govt will conclude that video evidence of war crimes and extra-judicial killings presented by Channel 4 in a series of news reports and documentaries is unlikely to be faked according to a leaked draft obtained by Channel 4 News. more..

Oct 21 (DM) Former Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris had written to the religious leaders including the Mahanayaka Theras informing them on the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka and requesting them to intervene to reject the resolution from being implemented. He said the UNHRC can only stress on violations of human rights but it cannot make a country to create political reforms or intervene into other internal matters. more..

Oct 21 (Island) The new govt came in with numerous concessions to encourage new companies to go for Initial Public Offerings (IPO) but most companies have not been attracted to them due to conditions, such as, low value expectations. Govt came up with new economic reforms/polices to avert the current volatile situation in the capital market, deriving from the last budget. But several financial, manufacturing and exporting companies are waiting till conditions become stable more..

Oct 21 (CG) Justice Titus Budhipala Weerasuriya has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABC). Weerasuriya replaces justice Jagath Balapatabendi who was accused by members of the current Government of being corrupt. Justice Lal Rajith Silva and Chandranath Neville Guruge have been appointed as Commissioners to the CIABC. more..

Oct 21 (Island) Commission of Inquiry that probed Abductions and Disappearances (Maxwell Paranagama Commission) has found that it was the LTTE which killed majority of Tamil civilians during the last 12 hours of the final stage of the war, according to the commission report tabled in Parliament. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe tabled the Maxwell Paranagama Commission report and Udalagama Commission report along more..

Oct 21 (DM) In what could turn out to be a repeat of the Henry Steel Olcott era for the revival of Buddhist values and virtues, another American is now in Sri Lanka for the launching of the Colombo and Kandy Chapters of the worldwide movement known as the Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA). Bob Isaacson, founder–leader of the Santiago–based DVA, says they act on Gautama the Buddha’s fundamental teaching that every living being is born free and has a fundamental right to life and liberty. more..

Oct 21 (DM) D.S. Senanayake was the most outstanding political leader of post-independent Sri Lanka. This great leader and the father of the nation was born 131 years ago on October 20, 1884 at the Botale Walawwa in Mirigama. His Father -- Mudliyar Don Spater Senanayake married Catherine Senanayake from Kehelella. They were blessed with four children -- daughter Maria Frances, sons Don Charles (D.C), Fredric Richard (F.R) and Don Stephen (D.S). more..

Oct 21 (DM) Crimes have become just headlines in newspapers today. For one to commit a crime it may take a couple of seconds or a few months. But for a suspect to go behind bars, it would take many years. How easy or difficult is it to identify suspects? Are punishments necessary after all? In a candid interview with Udayakumara Amarasinghe, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sri J'pura spoke about these issues in detail. more..

Oct 21 (DN) The Govt MPs Group yesterday raised a question as to why the Udalagama and Paranagama Commission reports were not tabled in Parliament before the adoption of the UNHRC resolution over Sri Lanka. They had raised questions over the timelines of the release of the documents when the group met at the Parliamentary premises yesterday. Responding to their questions, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe more..

Oct 21 (ST) A day after police claimed a one-way traffic plan implemented between Welikada junction and Horton Place roundabout was a success, complaints from motorists and the public—not to mention clogged roads—forced its suspension. DIG of Police (Traffic Control and Road Safety) Amarasiri Senaratne insisted the uniflow system introduced this week had gone off well, despite chaos on Monday more..

Oct 21 (SL) The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) is the latest state owned institution that is reported to have fallen into the category of cash strapped establishments under the Rajapaksa regime. Similar to other state media organizations, the SLRC has also incurred huge losses during the last presidential election campaign thanks to the suba anagathayak policy of the former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa. more..

Oct 21 (CG) A Sri Lankan born 27-year-old is to become the new deputy mayor of Oslo as Norway’s Labour Party and its Green and Socialist allies retake the city after eight years of Conservative rule. Khamshajiny Gunaratnam — who styles herself Kamzy — was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Norway when she was three years old. She will be formally elected at a meeting of the city’s new council today. more..

Oct 21 (DN) Govt is planning to probe former Colombo University Vice Chancellor Kumara Hirimburegama for handing over campus land to a private company, Parliament was told. A property donated by late Dr. Shiva Chinnathambi to set up a girls hostel was given on contract by the former VC of the Colombo University Kumara Hirimburegama to a private company to run a mall for 2 years, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. more..

Oct 21 (Island) Japanese PM Shinzo Abe had said that Sri Lanka would immensely benefit from the expertise of Moto Noguchi, a former international judge of the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia, as regards its post-war reconciliation process, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament. Making a special statement, PM said Japan had pledged its fullest support for a local mechanism for truth finding. more..

Oct 21 (CT) Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi says it is high time for bureaucrats to give serious thought to the advisability of registering voters at birth. Hettiarachchi said Sri Lanka could easily complete this process (includes systematic procedures) of registering a citizen as it is mandatory to register someone at his/her birth. By making slight changes in the legal framework and in the administrative sector, more..

Oct 21 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s new administration is facing a lot of internal and external challenges with the economy received from the former regime and it will take a longer period to adjust policy and economic reforms, deputy minister Eran Wickramaratne said. “As you know the new govt faces a lot of challenges in the economy and we have taken the office in a period that the global economy and regional economies in China more..

Oct 21 (CG) China hopes ties with Sri Lanka can result in deeper economic cooperation and trade on the basis of equal treatment. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the practical cooperation between the two sides is based on equality and mutual benefit. “China and Sri Lanka are close neighbors enjoying traditional friendship. The practical cooperation between the two sides more..

Oct 21 (CT) It was reported that the President Sirisena will convene an all party meeting tomorrow to discuss the war crimes inquiry mechanism, which was approved at the UNHRC. Invitations for the all party meeting have already been sent out to all political parties, irrespective of their presence in Parliament. The opportunity has been given to all major and minor parties to express their views at the all party meeting, on forming a war crimes inquiry mechanism with the participation of more..

Oct 21 (E24|7) Former Sri Lanka badminton champion Sriyani Deepika is now showing her mastery on the courts of Dubai albeit as a professional coach. Deepika had merely hoped to resume her banking career when she moved to the UAE three years ago to join her husband. However her arrival coincided with the World Badminton Federation (BWF) choosing the UAE as a destination for the World Super series Finals. Being unsuccessful in her quest to find employment more..

Oct 21 (CT) Minister Arjuna Ranatunga who has come under severe criticism for proposing the appointment of his brother Dhammika Ranatunga as Chairman of the Ports Authority has deleted all comments critical of his conduct on his official Facebook page. Arjuna Ranatunga a former SLFPer and a self styled activist against nepotism and corruption appointed his brother Dhammika who has no experience in the field of Ports & Shipping more..

Oct 21 (Island) Assistant parish priest of St. Mary’s Church, Puttalam, Rev. Fr. Marlon Wijendra, (30), who was injured when his motorcycle collided head-on with a mini truck yesterday morning near the Kakkapalliya Junction on the Puttalam-Colombo main road, succumbed to his injuries at the National Hospital, Colombo a few hours later. Fr. Esanka Fernando said that Fr. Marlon had been on his way to the Parish having visited his parents’ home at Wennappuwa, when the accident more..

Oct 21 (CT) At home and abroad, we are experiencing a historically unprecedented pace of climate change that is resulting in severe weather distortions including rising sea-levels, melting glaciers and irregular monsoons. In response, Sri Lanka must start adapting. There are two ways of adapting to climate change: we could either reduce our sensitivity to climate change by investing in technology and infrastructure; or we could reduce our exposure to climate change by more..

Oct 21 (CI) Little more than a week after moving Lahiru Thirimanne to no. 3 in the hope he will end his lean trot, Sri Lanka seem set to replace him in the side with 20-year-old Kusal Mendis. Thirimanne's contribution to Sri Lanka's 484 in Galle was 16 from 62 balls, and captain Angelo Mathews suggested that both Thirimanne and the team could benefit from his exclusion from the XI for the second Test. Thirimanne has been a consistent more..

Oct 21 (CI) Three-fors from Jehan Daniel and Charith Asalanka, and an unbeaten 75 from Shammu Ashan were highlights of Sri Lanka's six-wicket win over Pakistan in the third Under-19 ODI at the SSC. The win gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Ashan continued his good form and struck nine fours, adding 87 and 47 with Avishka Fernando and Sachitha Jayathilake, as the hosts chased 174 inside 41 overs. Openers Thanuka Dabare and Kaveen Bandara put on more..

Oct 21 (Reuters) Shares ended at more than one-week high on Wednesday, led by blue chips as retail and high-net-worth investors returned to the market, but foreign investors turned cautious ahead of the govt's key policy statement. Main stock index ended 0.2%, or 14.41 points, firmer at 7,055.67, its highest close since Oct. 13. "We see the market slowly strengthening, with retail and high-net-worth investors buying into the market," said Dimantha Mathew, research manager at First Capital more..

Oct 21 (DM) Former JVP leader and present leader of the JSP, Somawansa Amarasinghe today said he would join with any political party or any politician including Wimal Weerawansa if they have a definite agenda to defeat national challenge of the resolution adopted by UNHRC. He said he intends to have discussions with any politician before teaming up to defeat the investigative mechanism proposed by UNHRC resolution. more..

Oct 21 (Island) World Food Day, which fell on Oct 16, was a unique day for Sri Lanka and countries all over the world to create awareness to strengthen the message of zero hunger and the importance of food for all. This year, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) of the of the UN under the auspices of Minister of Agriculture, Duminda Dissanayaka celebrated the significant day at Institute of Post-Harvest Technology, Anuradhapura. more..

Oct 21 (AD) Three persons including the sister of notorious drug lord Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda have been arrested for the possession of more than 100g of heroin in Borella. Police said that the suspects were arrested at three different locations in Borella last evening with different quantities of heroin. In total 111g and 540mg of heroin was seized from the three suspects while it is estimated to be worth around Rs 1.7 million. Last Wednesday, Colombo High Court sentenced more..

Oct 21 (CG) Motoo Noguchi of Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office of Japan called on former President Rajapaksa at his residence this morning. Former Minister G.L Peiris was also present at the meeting. Former President cordially welcomed Noguchi and referred to the warm and mutually supportive relationship between Sri Lanka and Japan and in particular the strong support which govt of Japan had extended to his govt, more..

Oct 21 (CG) An Australian man arrested and charged for allegedly facilitating a people smuggling operation had links with Sri Lankan people smugglers. Australian Federal Police (AFP) will allege that the Elizabeth South man, 35, has attempted to assist a non-citizen to enter Australia on an illegal maritime venture while living in Indonesia. It is also alleged that the man has been in contact with well-known people smugglers in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India. more..

Oct 21 (PSL) A group of representatives of the World Alliance of Religions‘ Peace Summit met President Maithripala Sirisena today at his Official Residence. The representatives commended the program carried out by the new govt led by President Sirisena to build peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka and extended their best wishes for the success of the program. President emphasized that there must not be any room for a war again in Sri Lanka, a nation suffered from 3-decade war. more..

Oct 21 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena said that the responsibility of building national reconciliation in the country, will be fulfilled as a govt with a great commitment while ensuring mutual understanding and trust among all communities. He made these remarks , speaking at the convocation ceremony of the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University held at the BMICH, today (20). Govt has taken steps to establish more..

Oct 21 (CG) Finance Minister and UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake today demanded the resignation of UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena from Parliament. Speaking in Parliament today, Karunanayake said that Gunawardena made attempted to mislead the public by making a false statement during Parliament proceedings yesterday. Gunawardena had yesterday made a statement with regards to Karunanayake’s full name and offered to resign if his claims were proved wrong. more..

Oct 21 (Island) Three men aged 33, 30 and 21 travelling in a lorry transporting from Tangalle to Polonnaruwa were killed when their speeding vehicle crashed on to a wayside tree yesterday morning at the ‘L’ bend junction in Dimbulagala on the Aralaganwila-Mahiyanganaya main road. The mishap had occurred after their vehicle skidded off the road around 5 a.m. and the three men including the driver who were in the front seat had succumbed to their injuries. more..

Oct 21 (CT) Transgender individual Sakuni Mayadunne has appealed to President Maithripala Sirisena to take steps to issue National Identity Cards (NIC) to transgender community who identifies them as male or female according to their personal choice. "As a result of the NICs we currently possess we cannot go anywhere and get anything done, including something as simple as withdrawing money from the bank," she explained. more..