Oct 3 (DM) The existence of capital punishment in statutory books, though not implemented, remains a hindrance when seeking the extradition of SL organized criminals hiding in European countries, a top govt source said. Sources said that bringing suspects from overseas to SL can indeed pose legal and logistical challenges due to several reasons, including int'l legal principles and extradition laws. Meanwhile, Police sources said that SL must have an extradition treaty or agreement with the country more..

Oct 3 (FT) SL State Minister for SME Development Prasanna Ranaweera has said Sri Lanka will work with the SME Foundation for the development of small and medium entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. The plan would be to implement programs in joint ventures for the development of the SME sector, Prasanna Ranaweera said during a meeting with SME Foundation Chairperson Professor Dr Md Masudur Rahman at the foundation’s office in the capital on Sunday, according to a press release. more..

Oct 3 (FT) Watawala Plantations, SL’s leading diversified agribusiness company, marked a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural landscape with the opening of its state-of-the-art cinnamon processing centre in Udugama, Galle. Completed with an investment of Rs. 90 million, this facility is one of the largest cinnamon processing centres in SL, which operates under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards. The facility was opened by Watawala Plantations Director Vish Govindasamy. more..

Oct 3 (ST) The controversial tender to build the platform for SL’s digital national identity card project will be refloated after the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAPC) disqualified the two Indian companies that had submitted bids. Technology State Minister Kanaka Herath confirmed that the CAPC had notified both bidders that they had been disqualified. “We hope to refloat the tender at the earliest, given the urgency of the matter,” he said. more..

Oct 3 (Island) Indo-Lanka Accord signed on July 29, 1987 is not an accord voluntarily entered into between two independent States of their own free will, after mutual discussion and understanding. 13th Amendment and Provincial Councils Act of 1987 are also not documents drafted and enacted by the govt of SL of its own free will to give effect to the understanding and agreements reached between the Govt. of SL and Tamil political parties and militant groups following discussions that went on for years. more..

Oct 3 (Island) Elaborate preparations have been made to felicitate a veteran editor, today. Edmund Ranasinghe is his name. He needs no introduction and deserves to be honoured for his outstanding contribution to SL journalism. We extend our congratulations to him. Today’s felicitation ceremony is scheduled to be held under the patronage of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Prez Secretariat, of all places. The fact that the Prez’s late father, Esmond Wickremesinghe, more..

Oct 3 (GV) In 1985, the United Nations declared that the first Monday in October is celebrated as World Habitat Day. The purpose was to “…to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.” While adequate shelter is dependent on geographical location and largely determined by socio-economic factors of the host state, it must have sufficient space, more..

Oct 3 (CT) Headlines on the human-elephant conflict are no rare occurrence in news bulletins, but the recent news of a distressed elephant, with several wounds as a result of rubber bullet injuries, sure did catch our attention for the pure absurdity of the situation. A Civil Defence Guard, attached to the DWC, was arrested for shooting a tame elephant, one who was brought to participate in the Saman Devalaya perahera no less, after he mistook her for a wild one despite the mahout and those around, more..

Oct 3 (TM) United Nations (UN) adopted the Singapore Convention on Mediation (the Convention on Int'l Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation) in 2018, to which SL became a signatory in Aug 2019. Convention was drafted with the aim of strengthening international dispute resolution and allowing commercial disputes to move towards mediation. Now, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), UN - Commission on Int'l Trade Law (CITRAL), more..

Oct 3 (TM) The shooting of Sita the during the Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya's Randoli Perahera recently by an officer from the Civil Security Dept (CSD) who was seconded to the Mapakada Wewa Wildlife Regional Office, highlights the need for specialised personnel to be employed for duties which involve wild animals and of tamed elephants. Why majestic wild elephants are tamed, and continued to be used for religious procession in chains, in the day and age of electric vehicles, high tonnage trucks, more..

Oct 3 (ST) Rife is not the word to describe the state of corruption in Lanka. Like a fish stinks from head to tail, it has seeped into every nook and cranny, smelled from each and every human pore. Though once it was thought to have been marooned on Diyawanna’s isle, Corruption had survived isolation, become a law unto itself, and resurfaced, and crossed the waters to reach land where, in the saintly guise of those whose moral rectitude was held unquestionable and above suspicion, more..

Oct 3 (DM) In view of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, which falls on Sept 30, each year, Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh took questions on the selected topic and related matters relevant to SL. It is a day on which Canadians recognise the legacy of Residential Schools and the painful, ongoing impact they have had on generations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. It is a day to honour both the Survivors and the many children lost forever. more..

Oct 3 (CT) Apart from being poet and playwright William Shakespeare was an incisive political commentator. In Hamlet he has a lowly sentry Marcelus keeping watch on the battlements of the king’s castle noticing the reappearance of the ghost of the king delivering the famous line There is something rotten in the state of Denmark. The insignificant sentry has the insight to takes note of dark happenings as signs of a terrible infirmity that grips the kingdom. more..

Oct 3 (DM) It is not the ordinary people, especially the poor who are responsible for the current economic crunch, they are only the victims who are bearing the brunt of it. However, the Govt seems to believe that they have to bear the major part of the burden of the recovery plan as well. From the beginning, the bailout package offered by the IMF hinged on a process of restructuring the Government’s foreign debt. Despite the IMF not wanting the domestic debt to come under any restructuring plan, more..

Oct 2 (TM) Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an industry association representing prominent Internet and technology companies, has voiced its apprehensions regarding the Govt of SL’s (GoSL) recent move to gazette the Online Safety Bill (OSB). Jeff Paine, Managing Director of AIC, expressed concern over the lack of stakeholder consultation in the formulation of this legislation, which raises critical questions about the impact it may have on freedom of expression & innovation within the nation. more..

Oct 2 (DM) Plans are afoot to sell Milco, Highland and 31 dairy farms owned by National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) to India's Amul Diary Company, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. He said Cabinet approval has already been granted to sell Milco while another Cabinet Paper has been finalised to sell off Highland to India's Amul Diary Company. He said 21 dairy farms including Adigama, Ridiyagama, Narammala and Polonnaruwa dairy farms belonging to NLDB more..

Oct 2 (TM) The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) yesterday (1) charged that the relevant regulatory body, the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), does not intervene sufficiently to prevent the Ministry of Power & Energy and CEB from violating policies regarding electricity tariffs. The consumer group also accused the Govt of violating policies that govern the rights of the electricity consumer. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Judges and administrators who refuse to support or connive with the Sinhala-Buddhist agenda face intimidation and come under heavy political duress, the University of Teacher’s Association Uni of Jaffna has said in a media statement. Full text of the statement: Judge T. Saravanarajah, District Court Judge of Mullaitivu, has resigned from all his positions in the judicial system and fled the country amidst threats to his life and political pressure from the top. more..

Oct 2 (DM) Health Ministry has suspended the emergency purchases of medicines following various hiccups associated with the emergency purchase procedures, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella revealed. "There have been hiccups linked to emergency purchases which resulted in misconceptions about the procedure," he underscored. However, he said that although the emergency of purchases have been suspended, process will be re-implemented more..

Oct 2 (AD) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has revealed that the recent delays of eight flights have caused losses to the tune of USD 06 million to the national carrier SriLankan Airlines. A special discussion pertaining to the recent repeated SriLankan Airlines flight delays and cancellations was held this morning, chaired by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and with the participation of SriLankan Airlines management and all more..

Oct 2 (TM) State Ministry of Finance stated that it is planning to recruit a group of Assistant Customs Superintendents and Customs Inspectors with the aim of increasing the active contribution of young and talented officials to prevent tax evasion. State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that the Govt had increased its revenue by 50% thus far this year, compared to the same period last year, yet the progress was not sufficient. "There are several steps that should be taken in this situation. more..

Oct 2 (DM) The wife of the journalist of a private TV channel, who was arrested in connection with a shooting incident that took place at Talduwa in Avissawella on Sept 20, has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL). Police recently arrested four persons including a journalist of a private TV channel in connection with the shooting incident. Two men were killed and two others injured after an armed gunman opened fire at a group travelling in a three-wheeler more..

Oct 2 (AD) Department of Irrigation has further extended the Amber flood warnings issued for Nilwala, Aththanagalu Oya and Gin Ganga for another 24 hours until 9 a.m. on Tuesday (3). Accordingly, the residents in the relevant areas are requested to pay high attention in this regards, Department of Irrigation said. Motorists passing through and residents in these areas are advised to pay high attention to the prevailing adverse weather conditions. more..

Oct 2 (AD) A special discussion pertaining to the recent repeated flight delays of SriLankan Airlines is scheduled to be held today headed by Minister Nimal Siripala De silva. The discussion will reportedly commence at 9.30 a.m. in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Aviation. Management officials and all trade union representatives of the SriLankan Airlines are expected to attend the special meeting, where they will be questioned regarding the flight delays, according to sources. more..

Oct 2 (CT) In the early hours of Saturday an officer of the Civil Security Department (CSD), attached to the Mapakadawewa Wildlife Regional Office, was arrested for shooting and injuring the 47-year-old female elephant named Sita that had taken part in the annual Esala Perehara of Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya. The officer was later released on surety bail in Rs100,000. more..

Oct 2 (DN) I lost everything including my cricket gear bag during the Tsunami in 2004 but at that time I was determined to continue my cricket career but i will never forget my first school Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda said SL’s former skipper wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal at the College’s newly built Indoor Stadium opening ceremony held at Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda premises yesterday. I paid my gratitude to my school Dharmasoka with an Indoor Stadium and more..

Oct 2 (FT) Former CB Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy yesterday set the record straight over remarks concerning elections and the need to uphold fiscal discipline. “Certain remarks which I made during a recent webinar organised by Capital Alliance have been the subject of misinterpretation in press articles which are currently doing the rounds. The gist of this is that I advocate the postponement of elections in SL,” Dr. Coomaraswamy said. He issued the following clarification. more..

Oct 2 (TM) In a letter penned by Chairman of the the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) former Supreme Court Judge Lakshman Tikiri Bandara Dehideniya, the Government has been urged to exercise caution in its approach to the proposed Online Safety Bill (OSB). The letter, addressed to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, emphasises the importance of safeguarding fundamental rights while more..

Oct 2 (CI) World Cup pedigree: Champions in 1996, semi-finalists in 2003, finalists in 2007 and 2011 - Sri Lanka went through a fantastic stretch in World Cups for these 15 years, but are their best days past them? In 2015, they crashed out in the first knockout (quarter-final), and in 2019, they missed out on the semi-final. They are again expected to be a middling side in 2023. Recent form: Yes, there was that catastrophic collapse in the Asia Cup final, but they had, nevertheless, more..

Oct 2 (CT) SLPP is set to unveil the identity of the party’s candidate for Prez Election 2024, who has a name with 3 letters, at the Party Convention in November, MP Ranjith Bandara said. Bandara highlighted the strategic thinking among representatives from various political parties in the country. These representatives are contemplating the optimal chances of securing parliamentary seats in the forthcoming General Election and have been engaging in confidential discussions with more..

Oct 2 (Island) CWC leader and Minister Jeevan Thondaman has called upon South Asian trade unions to embrace innovation and inclusivity. Addressing the Int'l Labour Organisation’s (ILO) South Asia Trade Union Symposium, in New Delhi, Minister said that there were pressing challenges and opportunities facing trade unions in the ever-evolving landscape of work. A press release issued by Ministry said: Minister Thondaman acknowledged the historical significance of trade unions more..