Aug 28 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will travel to Colombo to participate in the two-day Indian Ocean Conference to be held from Aug 31 in which Sri Lankan prime minister and president are among key speakers. Foundation, a Delhi-based think tank, will host the IOC 2017 in collaboration with RSIS, Singapore, and NIFS, Colombo–both research and study centres–and the theme of the conference is peace, progress and prosperity, the foundation said in a statement. more..

Aug 28 (Island) The Sri Lankan economy has suffered a severe blow from the Qatar-Gulf crisis and low oil prices following a drastic drop in remittances from Lankan migrant workers in West Asia. Experts pointed out that there had been a significant slowdown in workers’ remittances in June 2017 with a 13.5% reduction on a year-on-year basis amounting to USD 557.6 million during the month. more..

Aug 28 (ITN) Arch Bishop His Eminence Malcom Cardinal Ranjith opened the dengue intensive care unit of the Negombo Hospital. It was opened to provide special treatment for patients infected with dengue. A large number of Dengue patients were reported from Negombo and its surrounding areas recently. Negombo hospital was filled with patients who came seeking treatment for dengue. President Maithripala Sirisena recently visited Negombo hospital to look into dengue treatments. more..

Aug 28 (ST) Two doctors attached to the Kegalle Hospital were arrested on Friday (25) night for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a woman.According to police, the incident had occurred at about 8.30 pm near a hotel in Kegalle town. In her complaint, the victim had stated that she lives near the hotel and had come to pick up her child from a tuition class. The two suspects, under the influence of liquor, had attempted to grab her by the arm and drag her away. more..

Aug 28 (DN) Seven reports compiled by PRECIFAC relating to misuse of State funds and Assets running into millions of rupees during the Rajapaksa regime have been handed over to Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya by President Sirisena last week for necessary legal action. AG said indictments will be filed against the accused after completing a legal study on the seven reports. He said this study had already commenced more..

Aug 28 (DM) The sun is expected to be directly over Sri Lanka starting from yesterday till Sept 6, as a result of its apparent Southward motion. The sun therefore will be over the towns of Navaladi, Chalai and Peryaparanthan today. However, rains were predicted as a result of a slight enhancement of showery conditions over the South West part of the country. The Met Dept said that showers were expected in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces and in Galle & Matara Districts. more..

Aug 28 (ITN) The constructions of Kadawatha – Kerawalapitiya Expressway are taking place rapidly at present. It is a frontline project of the Govt’s sustainable development programme. The constructions were launched on the first of January last year under the supervision of the RDA under the direction of President Sirisena. The Kerawalapitiya Expressway is 9.6 kilometers long and has four lanes. Five overhead bridges are being built along the Expressway. more..

Aug 28 (Island) Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that pharmaceutical mafia and tobacco companies were behind the moves to oust him. He said: The incumbent govt took measures to improve the health sector. Among those measures were reducing the prices of medicine and medical services. We reduced the prices of 48 essential drugs. We also brought down the prices of medical equipment. more..

Aug 28 (DM) On Wednesday the 30th August the world over observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The aim is to raise awareness that enforced disappearance is a crime and a criminal act, which cannot be used as a tool to deal with situations of conflict.   Unfortunately even today enforced disappearance is used as a strategy to spread terror within the society. Unfortunately the phenomenon continues to grow. In its 16 September 2016 in its report to the UN, more..

Aug 28 (DM) The new Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah’s commencement of duties merits special attention on account of some observations he made besides the pleasantries associated with assuming office. One of the statements at his first press conference was regarding the future role of the Sri Lanka Navy which he reportedly said would be to protect commercial trade between the Gulf of Aden and the Straits of Malacca. more..

Aug 28 (Roar) You may or may not have heard about it, but Dialog is introducing 5G in Sri Lanka. A recent round of testing was completed with Dialog’s partners in the project—Ericsson and Huawei—followed by a demonstration to a select group of invitees. During Dialog’s demonstration, invitees were guided through 5G technology solutions showcasing how 5G can be applied to futuristic technology more..

Aug 28 (CT) It is a matter of fact that the two bean-shaped organs in our body called kidneys are part and parcel of our life as they clean and filter blood to remove wastes and nitrogen; the process keeps the human body healthy. Your life will surely be in a dicey situation in case of kidney failure. From 1990s, a chronic renal failure called Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown aetiology (CKDu) has widely been reported in SL more..

Aug 28 (DM) The amount of narcotic drugs seized by the Police had increased, according to a latest report. According to annual performance report of Sri Lanka Police, a total of 388,722 Kgs of narcotic drugs had been seized in 2016 compared to 13,548 Kgs in 2015. As per the report 36,817 Kg of ganja, 15 Kg of opium, 27 Kg of hashish, 205 Kg of heroin, 1,302 Kg of cocaine had been seized by the Police in 2016. more..

Aug 28 (Island) JVP said that it would vote for the no-faith motion moved by the JO against Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne. Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said: "Our understanding is that Rajitha Senaratne does not perform his duties well. He should have kept his mouth shut with regard to SAITM issue. He has a personal interest in SAITM. His daughter-in-law studies there. So there is a conflict of interest. more..

Aug 28 (Hindu) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Mookambika temple in Kollur, Udupi district, which was scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled on account of inclement weather. Mr. Wickremesinghe was to have landed at the helipad in Areshiroor here. He was expected to catch a chopper from Bengaluru and land at the helipad before proceeding to Kollur, about 25 km from here. more..

Aug 28 (CT) Authorities in the State of Doha-Qatar have relaxed the working hours for domestics along with an incentive payment at the end of the individual job contract. With the new legislation that has come into immediate effect house workers that include nannies, cooks, maids, drivers and cleaners will not work beyond 10 hours per day and on a six-day week. In addition the employer will have to provide a three week more..

Aug 28 (Island) A group of people staged opposite the Basnayake Nilame’s office in the Kataragama Devale premises on Saturday, demanding that the incumbent Basnayake nilame should be removed. Protesters shouted slogans and carried placards which read that the incumbent Nilame had forcefully taken the keys to the Kataragama Maha Devale and kept them at his residence without permitting the Devale more..

Aug 28 (ST) The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has concluded — or is in the process of finalising — 54 major appeals since the RTI Act came into force in February this year, with the first appeal heard in late April. Information on state recruitments & alleged irregularities or malpractices in govt and provincial councils, overseas travel details of politicians, unauthorised constructions, audits of school development societies, more..

Aug 28 (CT) The Joint Opposition (JO) will reveal allegations against Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne one by one to the general public within next two weeks, PHU General Secretary MP Udaya Gammanpila said. Speaking to Ceylon Today on the JO's No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the Health Minister, Gammanpila said that they will educate the people on all the allegations mentioned in the NCM through press conferences. more..

Aug 28 (PMD) The inauguration ceremony of the Colombo Defence Seminar 2017 which is held under the theme, Countering Violent Extremism: Global Trends was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH today. Defence Seminar commenced in 2010 by the SL Army with the aim of initiating a dialogue regarding the regional and global security issues. Conference will be attended by 800 more..

Aug 28 (CT) An article published in Ceylon Medical Journal (CMJ) in its December issue says that abortion in the country is permitted to save the mother's life. However, it is estimated that a large number of induced abortions take place in SL, it said. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists defines induced abortions as when a procedure is done or medication is taken to end a pregnancy. UN, vis-ŕ-vis SL's abortion laws puts it succinctly. more..

Aug 28 (FT) Vice Chancellor of Uni of Sri J'pura Professor Sampath Amaratunga addressing a section of the students, delivered an important message to them. That was not to play with the image of a university for its cost will have to be borne by all students, presently at universities and those to enter universities in the future.  The event was the launching of the magazine of the Association of Public Administration or APA titled Classic 2017 more..

Aug 28 (DN) The great service rendered by the govt led by President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe towards creating a Buddhist revival by developing Buddhist temples in the country, came in for special praise by Asgiriya Chief Prelate Most Ven Warakapola Gnanaratana Mahanayake Thera. The occasion was the laying of foundation stones for a new Dharmasala and Daham Pasala building at the Bodhimalkada Purana Viharaya, Udagunnepana on August 25. more..

Aug 28 (Island) Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya says that if the govt wants to hold the local govt polls this year they must be held on Dec 09. If the govt fails to meet that deadline then the election will have to be postponed for Saturday of the first week of next January, he says. Though parliament has passed the Local Govt Elections (Amendment) bill last week the Commission has not received it, he said, adding that when the commission received more..

Aug 28 (DN) Colombo High Court issued summons on Avant-Garde Maritime Services, Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando ordering them to appear in court on Sept 19 for allegedly offering and accepting a bribe of Rs. 35.5 million following the Avant-Garde floating armoury transaction. Director General of Bribery Commission filed indictments against the two accused on 47 counts under more..

Aug 28 (LBO) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) said they conducted the third Investor Forum in Jaffna last week at the Tilko Jaffna City Hotel. “Forum generated an overwhelming response with the participation of over 250 existing/potential investors, professionals and the business community,” a statement said. The forum featured presentations by M Ganeshamoorthy, Senior Lecturer Department of Economics, Uni of Colombo and R Raguram, more..

Aug 28 (CT) Due to Govt's lack of revenue, Central Bank, on Friday, printed Rs 11,336 million to help the former meet its monetary commitments, interpretation of CB's open market operations (OMO) showed. As a result CB's money printing stock, increased by 9.06% to Rs 136,509.43 million, which doesn't help GoSL's battle against curbing demand side inflation. Nonetheless, money market (MM) enjoyed net foreign inflows (NFIs) of Rs 3,651 million (US$ 23.87 m) by the weekend. more..

Aug 28 (NR) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga says the SLFP has not been harmed in any way through the concept of the coalition govt. Speaking at an event held in Mawanella today, Former President said the govt is moving forward with a clear policy of not stealing from the people. The former President said the fault does not lie with the SLFP but with the corrupt Rajapaksa regime which was leading more..

Aug 28 (DM) At least five students drowned in the seas off Mandative in Jaffna when the boat they were travelling in capsized this afternoon, police said. They said the bodies of five students were recovered and taken to hospital while the navy and police are searching for another student who went missing. Police said the seven A/L students are reported to have gone in a fishing boat to Mandative islet to celebrate the completion of the A/L exam. The remains of the five deceased students more..

Aug 28 (AD) Information has been received through political sources that the SLFP membership of 7 MPs may be revoked on the grounds that they violated the party constitution. The 7 MPs in question are Gampaha District’s MPs Prasanna Ranatunga and Prasanna Ranaweera, Puttalam District’s MP Sanath Nishantha, Ratnapura District’s MP Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Kandy District’s MPs Lohan Ratwatte and Dilum Amunugama, and MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena. more..

Aug 28 (SCMP) What a pretty baby, exclaims the elderly woman, dressed in a sari, her fragile hands squeezing the cheeks of our one-year-old daughter. My wife Esther and I have taken our little one, Zaya, on a last-minute adventure to Sri Lanka, and she’s attracting unexpected attention at the Sri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of the island nation’s North Central Province. Temple encompasses the sacred more..

Aug 28 (DN) A Fundamental Right petition filed by former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga seeking an Interim Order to recall the warrant issued to arrest him by the Colombo Fort Magistrate was re-fixed for support on October 19 by the Supreme Court today. At a previous occasion, the Attorney General was given further time to seek a possibility of releasing funds from several frozen bank accounts belonging to Udayanga Weeratunga following his request to do so. more..

Aug 28 (NR) Joint Opposition says it will contest the upcoming Local Govt Election under a new alliance. Leader of the PHU MP Udaya Gammanpila said the members of the SLFP are welcome to join the new alliance. MP Gammanpila said when the dates for the election are announced the new alliance will be revealed adding that for now a number of factions have combined to form the JO and these parties will unite to form a new alliance to which any party has the opportunity to join. more..

Aug 28 (CB) As Sri Lanka's drubbing in the bilateral series against India continued on Sunday, the fans reacted angrily by hurling objects onto the ground. The game was interrupted for over half an hour, the first time in the history that this had happened in Sri Lanka. Eventually a section of the fans had to be driven out before the game resumed. The only consolation for the hosts, after the series was lost with two games to more..

Aug 28 (DN) Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee Convener Ryan Jayalath was further remanded till Aug 30 by the Maligakanda Magistrate. Ryan Jayalath was arrested for forcibly entering into the Health Ministry premises on June 21 and damaging its property amounting to Rs.1.5 million. Court issued a warrant against the suspect for evading courts. On Aug 18, Jayalath surrendered to Court through a lawyer and was remanded over offences under Public Property Act. more..

Aug 28 (NR) Minister Lakshman Kiriella says the No-Confidence Motion tabled by the JO against Minister Rajitha Senarathne is legally flawed. Minister Kiriella said the JO will not receive the opportunity to debate the No-Confidence Motion in Parliament. He said when one examines the No-Confidence Motion tabled against Minister Senarathne one can gather that it wasn’t prepared by a legal team adding it was prepared by someone who isn’t attuned to legal aspects and more..

Aug 28 (AD) Tuition master, who was wanted in connection with the alleged distribution of leaflets containing questions from the A/L chemistry paper, has been remanded till Aug 30.  Suspect in question had surrendered to Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today.  On Aug 20, it was reported that the leaflets distributed by a certain private tutor had allegedly contained questions from the 2017 GCE A/L Chemistry part II paper more..

Aug 28 (DM) Proceedings of the Western Provincial Council were suspended as a result of a tense situation which prevailed when the 20th Amendment was taken up for discussions. A special session was convened to discuss the 20A today after the governor requested the council to convey its decision on it by tomorrow. However, Chief Minister had told the council after a party leaders meeting that the draft Bill would be taken up for debate at the next session on Sept 4. more..

Aug 28 (DN) IGP Pujith Jayasundera says the Clearance Rate of crimes have risen from 60% to 70% within the last two years. He also said that the Police expect to enhance the Clearance Rate to over 75%. “All officers in charge of Police stations have been instructed to work harder to increase the crime solving rate. We are calling for daily reports on the progress of solving reported cases and efforts on crime prevention” IGP added. He was speaking at a ceremony to celebrate 150th Anniversary more..