Nov 11 (HRW) The winner of SL’s prez election on Nov 16, will face enormous challenges to deliver justice for past crimes and prevent future abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. Since SL’s civil war ended in 2009, there has been progress on the right to free expression, but no accountability for war crimes and other abuses committed by both sides. SL’s next prez needs to make real progress on the 25 human rights more..

Nov 11 (NR) Prez candidate of the NDF Minister Sajith Premadasa says he will take stern legal action against rapists and other wrongdoers while ensuring law and order in the country. Speaking during a rally, Minister said he will ensure those responsible for the rape of a girl in Kegalle, during a political rally, will be brought to book. Minister Premadasa added he will destroy terrorists, drug racketeers, extortionists and murderers and impose severe punishments on rapists and child abusers. more..

Nov 11 (AD) Police have been able to uncover many details into the shooting-stabbing incident which killed one in Sella Kataragama. One person was killed and another was injured after being stabbed and shot at in the Sella Kataragama area in Bogaha Junction, Thanamalwila Road, last evening. Reportedly, the deceased is a 26-year-old male from Sella Kataragama. The body is kept at the Kataragama Hospital morgue. The injured 42-year-old, also from Sella Kataragama, more..

Nov 11 (NR) Transparency International SL (TISL) has drawn the attention of the Elections Commission to the use of helicopters owned by SL Air Force (SLAF), for the transport of politicians to and from campaign rallies. TISL is concerned that this could constitute a violation of the directions issued by the Elections Commission in its gazette notice 2141/52 and calls on Commission to take appropriate action. more..

Nov 11 (AD) The investigation into the fire at the vehicle yard of the Presidential Security Division (PSD) located at Mudalige Mawatha in Colombo Fort has been handed over to the CID. A total of forty-seven motorcycles and a three-wheeler were destroyed in the fire which erupted at around 10.00 p.m. last night while these included three personal motorcycles of police officers. The cause for the fire is yet to be ascertained while Colombo Fort Police had launched preliminary inquiries. more..

Nov 11 (NR) Prez candidate of NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayake says granting of a Prez pardon on a person who was sentenced to death after a judicial review, is a huge attack on the supremacy of the law. Issuing a statement, MP deemed the pardoning of the convict of the Royal Park murder by Prez Sirisena, as illegal unfair and unethical. He is of the view that revoking by means of a signature, the order issued following an extensive court hearing, is an attack on the supremacy of the law, more..

Nov 11 (DM) PAFFREL has written to the Chairman of the Election Commission today urging to take relevant actions to stop giving permanency to the services of the staff attached to ministers and the President’s personal staff. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said that usually, the tradition has been that the personnel staff to the President and ministers have been suspended after the dissolution of the govt or more..

Nov 11 (AD) Two inmates at the Welikada Prison, who have been sentenced to death, are engaged in a protest on top of the Prison roof. Reportedly, they demand that they, too, be granted the prez pardon. They say that if the murder convict of the Royal Park incident can be granted with a prez pardon, they too demand a presidential pardon for themselves. Jude Shramantha Anthony Jayamaha, who was sentenced to death over Royal Park murder case in 2005, has been released on prez Pardon, more..

Nov 11 (CT) SLPP Prez Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the blessings of the founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera. While attending a religious programme to bless Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which was held at Kaduwela on 10 Nov, the monk said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa should win the upcoming Presidential Election to protect the country, race and religion. The monk added that Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to seven requests made by more..

Nov 11 (AD) The draft of the Bill on Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports has been approved by the Parliament. The aforementioned draft bill was debated at the parliamentary session this morning. Accordingly, the draft of the Bill was approved unanimously by the parliament without any amendments. Prevention of Offences relating to The Sports Bill with the objective of investigating and preventing match-fixing, corruption, more..

Nov 11 (SLN) The Navy held 08 Sri Lankans attempting to illegally migrate to India by boat, at Sandbank 07 in Talaimannar this morning. Accordingly, the North Central Naval Command, during a patrol conducted at Sandbank 07 in Talaimannar, managed to apprehend these 08 Tamils who were on an attempt to illegally migrate to India by boat. Among the apprehended persons are 05 males, 01 female, 01 boy and a girl. Further investigation into the incident is underway. more..

Nov 11 (DM) A tense situation arose when participants asked former President Chandrika Kumaratunga at a meeting to declare her stance on the Aruwakkalu Garbage Recycling Plant. The people asked her about her stance on Saturday in Wanathawilluwa, Puttalam when she was addressing a meeting in support of presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. Former Prez and the present SLFP Patron Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga and MP Kumara Welgama participated with more..

Nov 11 (DN) The MoU signed between the SLFP and SLPP is an undemocratic and unlawful political manoeuvre for it was a political exercise executed against the aspirations of the majority of the party membership, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga charged. She made the above accusation against the SLFP Central Committee while addressing a large gathering of party members in Galle on Saturday. more..

Nov 11 (AD) Some UNP MPs are creating mudslinging propaganda in the face of defeat, according to Leader of Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa. He expressed these views to the media following a religious event. As opponents have nothing left to say, they will get liars to say many things, Rajapaksa points out. Stating that they might bring even Zahran’s wife to make statements, Mahinda Rajapaksa said that if possible, Rajitha [Senaratne] might bring Zahran himself back more..

Nov 11 (RN) A cabinet paper proposing confirmation of appointments made to various ministers’ and the president’s personal staff was withdrawn a short while ago. The proposal had reportedly been submitted by President Maithripala Sirisena and Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena, calling for the confirmation of staff appointments to a number of ministers, non cabinet ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers as well as the President’s personal staff. more..

Nov 11 (PMD) Many religious leaders, former SC Judges, lawyers, civil society leaders and youth leaders have made representations to Prez Sirisena, recommending granting a sympathetic consideration to the appeal for granting Presidential pardon to 34-year old Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha, who is serving a life imprisonment on the murder taken place at Royal Park, Rajagiriya. MP Ven Athraliye Rathana more..

Nov 11 (DN) Human Rights Commission of SL has written to the Election Commission requesting to ensure the voting rights of some 8000 female Buddhist monks who are not in a position to cast their votes at next Saturday’s prez election. In a letter to the Election Commission, the HRCSL informed that thousands of female Buddhist monks are unable to cast their votes, as the Department for Registration of Persons has not issued National Identity Cards identifying them as Bhikkhunis more..

Nov 11 (EN) State-run CEB is to purchase power from a small solar power plant at 14.24 rupees a unit, under own operate (BOO) basis. The cabinet of ministers had approved the purchase of power from a plant build by Gold Corporation Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, under Soorya Bala Sangramaya II or the operation to expand solar power. The plant will be connected to the Moneragala grid sub-station, the state information office said. The contract awarded by a cabinet appointed negotiations committee. more..

Nov 11 (DM) One of the young Muslim leaders, former Minister Faizer Musthapha spoke to Daily Mirror on the viewpoint of the Muslim community about next week’s Prez poll and other issues relating to Muslims. Q: The Muslim community in Sri Lanka distanced themselves from the Rajapaksa clan after the anti Muslim violence in June 2014 that led to the defeat of Prez Rajapaksa in 2015. The antipathy further escalated after anti-Muslim more..

Nov 11 (AD) Santani Spa and Resorts won the Gold Award for Best in the World for wellness and spa at a celebrity event held at London’s Brand new venue Magazine on 5th Nov. This award is a recognition to the entire wellness and spa sector in SL. Located in the misty mountains, Santani Resort and Spa is SL’s first purpose built luxury wellness resort. Since its opening in Sept 2016 Santani has been celebrated for its one-of-a-kind setting, architecture, cuisine, service and world-class Ayurveda-focussed more..

Nov 11 (DM) Gorgeously dressed in a greenish-blue sari and crawling majestically on the red carpet surrounded by her UNP loved ones last Tuesday at Sugathadasa indoor stadium, was the daughter of two former heads of state, and two times President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga who did not hesitate to make known her preferences, before she wound up her speech to a fairly well attended, including a few of disgruntled SLFP electoral organizers and their supporters plus more..

Nov 11 (CT) Although many members of the TELO have said that they will extend their support to him, Party leader Selvam Adaikalanathan is uncertain about it, Prez Candidate K. Sivajilingam said at a rally held in Vavuniya yesterday. "TELO's Jaffna District Executive Committee meeting was held yesterday and a vote was held regarding supporting a candidate at the upcoming Prez Election. Eleven members, including Adaikalanathan said that they will support Sajith Premadasa. more..

Nov 11 (DM) In Sri Lanka, the period just after election results are announced, is often chaotic, marked by trade union action, blockading of the roads by worker and student organisations, as well as a bending and breaking of the rules guiding elections as well as day-today activities. It is also a time when governments of the day ensure that essentials are available and prices remain stable to a greater extent. But in this aspect, the November 16 presidential election has been different. more..

Nov 11 (AD) After Cyclone Bulbul, the next tropical cyclone that would be formed in the Indian sub-continent would be named Pawan. According to the existing list, Pawan is the name given by Sri Lanka. The names of the cyclones that form in the Indian Ocean are sequentially listed in a table in alphabetical order of the names of the eight countries. The cyclonic storm Pawan, pronounced as Pavan, means wind. more..

Nov 11 (AD) Supreme Court has appointed a five-judge bench to consider the fundamental rights petitions filed seeking for an injunction order against the signing of the MCC Agreement with the US. The 5-judge bench appointed by the Chief Justice is to be chaired by the SC Judge Buwaneka Aluvihare. Accordingly, 5-judge bench is comprised of SC Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, L.T.B. Dehideniya, Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairajah, more..

Nov 11 (AD) 47 motorcycles and a three-wheeler parked within the Prez Security Division (PSD) building in Colombo Fort have been destroyed by a fire last night. Vehicles parked in the ground floor of the PSD building were destroyed in the fire. Fire had broke out at around 10 p.m. last night in PSD vehicle yard at Mudalige Mawatha, Col 1. Five fire trucks were dispatched to the location as firefighters had assisted to extinguish flames. more..

Nov 11 (DN) The Govt will begin investigations into the rest of the murders and abductions committed during the Rajapaksa era after its affirmation in power on Nov 17, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He stated this addressing a press conference in Colombo at which the flamboyant Minister presented to the news media two persons he claimed were a White van driver and a victim of an attempted abduction in such a white van. more..

Nov 11 (FT) A long time Colombo-based UNP women’s group, Kantha Saviya, led by Ferouza Muzammil pledged its fullest support to the prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at its convention held in the presence of SLPP, National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa at the Public Library auditorium in Colombo . Kantha Saviya is a group comprising members from all faiths, dedicated to work for women’s welfare in Colombo district. more..

Nov 11 (Island) NPP prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake says while the MCC agreement will not create a fairy tale country as the govt claims, it is not a bogeyman as the opposition wants the people to believe. He said Premadasa camp that includes Mangala Samaraweera says MCC agreement is an exceptionally good agreement, and it would make available Rs. 88,000 million to develop the road network. more..

Nov 11 (Island) Religious leaders in Mannar would thwart attempts being made in some quarters to stage a polls boycott on 16 Nov, Bishops of Mannar, Lionel Emmanuel Fernando told NDF prez candidate, Sajith Premadasa, last Friday. Bishop Fernando said so when Premadasa visited his office to seek blessings. Premadasa was in Mannar to address a series of rallies in support of his candidacy. more..

Nov 11 (AD) Non-Cabinet Minister Harsha de Silva says he condemns the act of distributing mudslinging leaflets against Prez Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa with absolute disgust. Two persons have been arrested, yesterday over distributing derogatory leaflets against SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. One of the arrestees was identified as a coordinating secretary employed under Minister Harsha de Silva. more..

Nov 11 (FT) NDF prez candidate Sajith Premadasa rejected accusations by Opp. Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa that he had agreed to a federal form of govt to win the support of the Tamil community, saying that what he pledged in his manifesto was maximum devolution under a unitary State. Premadasa also condemned Rajapaksa for his attempts to drag members of the Buddhist clergy into a political debate more..

Nov 11 (ST) The Meteorological (Met) Department has secured Japanese funding for two more Doppler radars, after its first Rs 400 million attempt to install one, with World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) collaboration, ended in a costly disaster. But the new Doppler radars, for which agreements were signed with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in June 2017, have not been set up either, more..

Nov 11 (FT) During my long attachment to the Central Bank, there was one banker with whom I had a close association. That was Rienzie T. Wijetilleke, known only as Rienzie in the banking circles, who rose to the pinnacle of the Hatton National Bank or HNB to take over its chairmanship but not before holding many other positions including the post of Managing Director. When he started a novel banking arm for the rural sector of the country, Gemi Pubuduwa, more..

Nov 11 (CT) Indian Supreme Court proved its credibility in a superior manner by maintaining the unity and integrity of India with its landmark judgment over the Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Mosque case in Ayodya on Saturday (9). A five-judge Constitutional Bench led by CJ of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi delivered the judgment over the Ram Janmabhoomi case, which is also known as the Babri Mosque dispute in Ayodya, safeguarding even the Hindu-Muslim unity in India. more..