Oct 19 (DM) Former Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer Professor Ananda Samarasekara who surrendered to the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court this afternoon has been released on bail. Former JMO is charged with concealing evidence in the murder case of former national rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. NewsRadio Court correspondent said Professor Samarasekara presented a bail application before Court more..

Oct 19 (DN) A fundamental Rights petition filed by Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) challenging the Central Bank's decision to suspend Perpetual Treasuries Limited from carrying out business and other activities as a Primary Dealer was today re-fixed for support on November 15 by Supreme Court. The Supreme Court bench comprised Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare and Justice Nalin Perera. In its petition PTL alleged that the Monetary Board of the Central Bank more..

Oct 19 (EN) Sri Lanka's businesses are developing an alarming tendency to curb economic freedoms of others, especially among the youth as labour markets tighten, Anushka Wijesinha an economist who works closely with businesses said. Sri Lanka's export manufacturing sector has unfilled vacancies. The policy-making elite in the current administration are keen to drive young people to the factory floor, due to an obsession with manufacturing rather than services, somewhat similar to more..

Oct 19 (DN) GMOA will make an official complaint to the ​FCID​ in connection with ​the govt ​pumping Rs. 900 million to Dr. Neville Fernando private hospital​, in addition to the Rs. 3,500​ million being pumping to the same hospital annually, GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Samantha Ananda said. He said that the GMOA will also make a complain ​to the Right To Information Commission ​in connection with not providing more..

Oct 19 (AD) A handbill distribution campaign themed, Let’s align with the final struggle to abolish SAITM organized by the Anti SAITM Union was held at the Fort Railway Station, today (19). Speaking at the occasion, Secretary to the GMOA Dr. Haritha Aluthge stated that the country has come to the final stage of defeating SAITM. Mahanayake Theras of three Nikayas have forwarded a letter to the President and the Prime Minister requesting a suitable solution for SAITM more..

Oct 19 (CT) Sri Lanka has two conventional forms of inquiring into high stake criminal allegations: one is to conduct a mainstream Police investigation, which more or less would result in a lackadaisical inspection that might or might not result in justice being served. The second form is the Inquisitorial Commission which encompasses all aspects of law and order in the country, into a nice and cute goodie bag but would ultimately have only one purpose: reporting to the Head of State more..

Oct 19 (DM) Railway Operations Supervisory Union (ROSU) and Ceylon Railway Guards Union (CRGU) yesterday threatened to launch an indefinite strike from Friday, if their demand for a salary increase was not met. ROSU Convener Lal Ariyaratne said the National Salaries and Cadre Commission had not followed the instructions given by Saman Ekanayaka, Secretary to the PM, on increasing their salaries. more..

Oct 19 (NR) Lanka Sathosa says it has begun issuing stocks of rice at concessionary rates to retail vendors. Chairman TMKB Thennakoon said a programme will be introduced to distribute rice stocks among retailers in rural areas. White kekulu rice will be priced at Rs.64 at Lanka Sathosa outlets and Rs.63 for bulk stocks, while nadu rice will be sold at Rs.73 and kekulu rice and samba rice will be sold at Rs.60 and Rs.83 respectively. Lanka Sathosa hopes to further reduce the price of more..

Oct 19 (Island) Association of Information Technology Professionals has vehemently condemned an irresponsible and unwise comment made by State Minister Eran Wickramaratne recently that "Sri Lanka would soon introduce legislation for the Immigration Controller to act as the sole authority to expedite bringing in foreigners to be employed in the ICT sector in Sri Lanka". A statement issued in this regard by the Secretary of Association of Information Technology more..

Oct 19 (AD) Prof. G.L. Peiris says that individuals who are revealing the truth regarding the massive Central Bank treasury bond scam cannot even continue to live in the country, under the good governance govt.  He was referring to the reports of Anika Wijesuriya fleeing the country due to receiving death threats after she had testified to the PCoI investigating the bond issuance. more..

Oct 19 (HRW) This submission relates to Articles 28 and 38 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and focuses on the protection of students, teachers, and schools during armed conflict. In its 2010 Concluding Observations under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, this Committee called upon Sri Lanka to: a) Immediately discontinue military occupation and use of the schools and strictly ensure compliance with humanitarian law and principle of distinction more..

Oct 19 (DN) Supreme Court today fixed for argument, a Fundamental Rights petition filed by seventeen-year-old schoolboy who had been arrested over the killing of Seya Sadevmini of Kotadeniyava. A SC 3-judge-bench bench headed by Chief Justice Priyasath Dep fixed the petition for argument on May 14. In his petition, Welegedara Suranjan Pradeep Senevirathne the 17-year-old school boy alleged that police officers had violated his fundamental rights following his arrest. more..

Oct 19 (PMD) “Journalists should always use their pens by choosing the right thing with respect for the truth”, says President Maithripala Sirisena. “It is very unfortunate if journalists are resort to praise politicians and protect them for their private benefits,” he added. He was speaking at a ceremony held today to issue a souvenir stamp in memory of the late senior journalist D.B. Danapala. Ceremony was held at more..

Oct 19 (NR) Five persons including two women, who were arrested in connection with the disappearance of three females in Kolonnawa, have been remanded until the 1st of November. The order was issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. Police Media Division said the court also instructed officers to hand the two underage girls to an Orphanage. The 19 year old female and two underage girls who were reported missing on the 14th of Oct, surrendered to Police yesterday. more..

Oct 19 (DN) A Fundamental Right petition filed by former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga seeking an Interim Order to recall the warrant issued for his arrest by Colombo Fort Magistrate was today re-fixed for support on Nov 15 by Supreme Court. 3-judge-bench comprised Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare and Justice Nalin Perera. On October 20 last year, the Colombo Fort Magistrate had issued a warrant written in English through the Interpol more..

Oct 19 (CI) Sri Lanka players who refuse to travel to Lahore will not be considered for the other two T20s in the series. The board is presently attempting to convince as many players as possible that a 24-hour trip to Pakistan would not be unsafe, but in the interim has indicated to the selectors that only those willing to travel should play in the two preceding matches in Abu Dhabi. "The understanding is that we choose same squad more..

Oct 19 (DN) The International Organization of Migrants (IOM), functioning under the assistance of the Canadian Govt, has donated medical equipment to local hospitals. The IOM had donated eight monitoring machines to state hospitals in the  Kalutara and Ratnapura districts. The total value of machines costs Rs. 2.5 million. Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, David McKinnon handed over the machines toMinister Rajitha Senaratne at the Health Ministry. more..

Oct 19 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today charged that there is a move to mislead the public with regard to the statement issued by the Joint Karaka Sabha of Asgiriya and Malwathu chapters as the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter is not even in the country. PM who made this remark just after accepting a report on a research carried out on the new constitution by the Sri Lanka College of Journalism and several other organizations at the Parliamentary complex last morning. more..

Oct 19 (AD) The family members of the LTTE detainees in Anuradhapura prison met President Sirisena today. The meeting was provided by The President on the request made by NPC member M.K. Shivajilingam. The family members of the LTTE detainees requested the President to release their family members. “If former President Rajapaksa can release LTTE prisoners after 12 times of rehabilitation, why cannot authorities release more..

Oct 20 (CT) Those supporters of the Yahapalana Regime whose apologies have diminished to the point they take refuge in what I call the At Least Thesis in the now tired game of comparison, have rightfully found some fuel in the recent assertiveness of the AG’s Department. The reference is of course to the uncompromising positions taken by Additional Solicitor General Dappula De Livera and Deputy Solicitor General Milinda Gunathilaka in questioning witnesses before the PCoI more..

Oct 20 (CT) Reforms in political parties are necessary in the process of democratisation of any country, however on the condition that those are progressive and democratic, and not regressive or authoritarian. In the history of political parties in SL there have been many splits, famously in the Left parties, and formation of new parties, but very few attempts at reforming parties within and in the democratic direction. The political party system is not something adequately more..

Oct 20 (CT) Helen Meegasmulla the recently appointed Commissioner of Excise Department of Sri Lanka has urged all those who have been victimized by officers of the Excise Department in the recent past to bring forth their cases to her in person. When Commissioner Meegasmulla was informed that several victims had contacted Colombo Telegraph after it published the story Excise Department Scam: Victimized Parents more..

Oct 20 (DN) Sir Francis Molamure of Panmure fame was born in 1888. He was elected to the Legislative Council-[LG] under Colebrook Constitution in 1924 to represent Kegalle District; Francis returned unopposed to the first State Council in 1931 under Donoughmore Constitution as the member for Dedigama seat. He not only set a world record by becoming its Speaker but again in 1947, winning Balangoda became the first Speaker to the first House of Representatives too under more..

Oct 20 (DN) She is someone who breaks stereotypes and defines stigma. Together with her colleague Janitha Rukmal, Krystle Reid formed Enabled Lanka, an organisation which works towards helping the needy by enabling them to become abled citizens. Her work gained recognition as she was named as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2017. She was picked from over 200 entries for the title. This was the first time a Sri Lankan has won overall prestigious award. more..

Oct 20 (CT) Tourism earnings on the eve of the country's main tourism season slumped last month, aided by dengue advisories, emanating from diplomatic missions in Colombo catering to the island's key tourism generating markets led by the UK and the Continent and also that of China. As a result, tourism earnings last month, slumped by 2.3% (US$ 5.87 million) to US$ 248.90 million year-on-year (YoY), more..

Oct 20 (Island) Who doesn't love the rain? Who doesn't want rain drops to fall on her/his head? Why are the rain gods crying? Are they tears of joy or tears of sorrow? How come the rain gods are unfair and don’t send rains to our farmers? Of course, they do expose shoddy jobs undertaken by government contractors. Thanks to the rain gods there are more cuddles and hugs. Real ones ( I am sorry for the ones who believe in social media hugs. Please get a life as fast as possible ). more..

Oct 20 (FT) Eyes Wide Shut was the title of a film by famed director Stanley Kubrick. Loaded with Freudian sub-currents, the film was about an occult society that eliminates any one who cross its path. A theme that would no doubt appeal to a buccaneer primary dealer in sovereign bonds!  The enigmatic title is a play on the familiar phrase eyes wide open. It conveys a subconscious urge to circumvent inconvenient truth. This writer was reminded of Kubrick’s movie title more..

Oct 20 (Island) The JVP has fired the opening salvo in what seems to be a well organised campaign to prevent President Maithripala Sirisena from seeking a second term. Its Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath, MP, has vowed to defeat Sirisena if he contests again. SLFPers loyal to Sirisena want him to seek another term as their political survival is dependent on him; they have been busy sending trial balloons for the past several months. President Sirisena declared, on several occasions, more..

Oct 20 (DN) The new Constitution has not yet seen the light of the day. Only an interim report of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly has been presented to Parliament. An interim report is obviously not a final document. It contains only draft proposals. They include ones that has consensus as well as independent individual proposals. All views are presented so that Parliament could choose what the majority desires. This is the democratic way. more..

Oct 20 (FT) Colombo International Shopping Festival, which will be one of the major events of the year, will get underway for the first time in Sri Lanka under the patronage of Minister John Amaratunga, from 20-22 October at the SLECC from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This event is organised by the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs in collaboration with Tourism Promotion Bureau & Retailer’s Association, more..

Oct 20 (DN) Dhruv Sheoran from India fought back in a startling fashion with a thin persistent drizzle in fading light and cold wet conditions to beat Sisira Kumara on the 36th Hole to become the Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Champion 2017 as the annual most prominent Amateur golf event concluded at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club yesterday. Sisira Kumara gave Sri Lanka much to be proud of when he built a comfortable lead of 4 up at the halfway mark after 18 holes in an epic 36 hole final. more..

Oct 20 (CI) For the third time in three years, Mohammad Hafeez finds his bowling action under scrutiny by the ICC. Soon after the third ODI against SL in Abu Dhabi, Hafeez's action was reported to be suspect by match officials. He now has 14 days to have his action tested though until the results of that test are known, he can continue bowling. But it leaves Pakistan to once again ponder the prospect of doing without a man who is, in some situations, central to balance of their ODI bowling attack. more..

Oct 20 (FT) Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, made a compelling case that things are happening and urged private sector to move forward, saying the Govt was putting the right environment in place. “We are open for business as a country. We want the private sector to engage and move ahead. Do your part. There will be no other time to do it right in this country. Don’t wait for Govt hand-outs and handholding. more..

Oct 20 (CT) Sri Lanka currently on a seven-match losing streak and extremely low in confidence, will face Pakistan in the fourth ODI in Sharjah today. It will be another uphill task for the tourists to turn the corner with the hosts having already taken a 3-0 unassailable lead in the five-match series. Sri Lanka will need to bolster their batting line up in today's fourth ODI, after their batsmen had misfired in the first 3 games of the ongoing series. Pakistan on the other hand are on a 7 game winning streak, more..

Oct 20 (Island) National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the National Enterprise Development Authority organized an awards ceremony to place emphasis on SMEs' role in the rural sector. A private rural hospital bagged a couple of prime awards at the event. President, National Chamber of Commerce of SL Sujeewa Samaraweera inaugurating the awards ceremony said the national awards in this instance were to recognize SME sector & their achievements. more..

Oct 20 (DN) Interim head coach Nic Pothas came down hard on the players and said the team lacked characters and fight after Sri Lanka lost the third ODI to Pakistan to concede the five-match series 3-0 on Wednesday. Sri Lanka put another pathetic batting performance to be dismissed for 208 and lose the match by seven wickets with more than seven overs to spare to suffer their 10th straight defeat in this format. more..

Oct 20 (FT) SL’s tea output jumped 27.6% due to good weather in September and a lower base last year. Production in the first nine months of the year rose 6.2% on the same period last year. “There is a jump on month on month because last year same month production was affected by the bad weather,” SL Tea Board Director-General S.A. Siriwardena said. “The good weather that helped to increase the production (means that) this year we will have a better production than last year.” more..

Oct 20 (CI) An ODI league structure beginning in 2019, approved by the ICC, came at a welcome time, especially considering the gulf in quality between teams currently. There would otherwise have been much soul-searching about relevance of ODI cricket these days, and whether series such as the ongoing one between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the UAE was the best exposition for the format. Anyone making that case would have a point. Three games played so far have not been of more..

Oct 20 (DN) Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Malwatte Chapter had not decided to oppose a new constitution or bringing amendments to the present Constitution of the country, Anunayaka of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thera said yesterday. Refuting media reports that Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of both Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters had decided to oppose a new constitution, more..