CAs appointed to manage 37 acquired enterprises

The government said yesterday the Competent Authorities (CA) appointed to manage the 37 enterprises whose lease agreements were abrogated under the controversial ‘Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilised Assets’ would prepare their corporate plan to convert the business ventures into profit-making entities

Road closed in Maharagama

The road between Wattegedara junction in Maharagama and the Wijerama junction, along High Level road will be closed from 11 pm today to 4 am tomorrow due to road construction

Remanded for forging ministerial letterheads

A man who had allegedly cheated several people of several millions of rupees after having promised them jobs in a state bank using forged documents written on Finance and Planning Ministry letterheads was remanded till December 7 by a Colombo Court today

Dodangoda PS Budget defeated

Next year’s budget of the Dodangoda Pradeshiya Sabha was defeated by one vote today for the second time

SL Tourism welcomes 750,000th tourist arrival

Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed the arrival of 750,000th tourist in year 2011 at the Bandaranaike International Airport today. This is the first time ever; the tourism industry has received number of arrivals exceeding 700,000 mark in any given year making it a ground breaking figure in tourism records UPDATE

Abducted fish trader returns home

The police are probing to track down the person who was behind the abduction of the prominent fish trader in Dematagoda and Peliyagoda, allegedly by two men in camouflage military uniforms

Man slaps ICC President

International Cricket Council (ICC) President and India’s Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was slapped by a man in New Delhi

2,079 servicemen have received allowances

Some 2,079 servicemen have received an allowance of Rs.100,000 this year at the birth of their third child in their respective families, Parliament was informed today. Accordingly, 1,250 soldiers, 329 seamen and 500 airmen have benefitted from this scheme announced in the 2011 budget.

Former police officer fined

A former police sergeant was found guilty of causing damage to an archaeological site in Walawahangunawewa in Mihintale for attempting to excavation some treasure. He was fined Rs.400,000 by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Darshika Wimalasiri and sentenced to a two year imprisonment if the fine was defaulted.

Census on deaths during conflict

The Government is preparing a census of persons who either died or went missing during the period of conflict, according to Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Secretary told the first “Conference on Reconciliation”, held earlier this morning, that the government saw the need to address the issues of accountability and this was a step towards that effort

Anuruddha Ratwatte passes away

Former Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte passed away a short while ago at the age of 73. Ratwatte was the Former Deputy Defence Minister and the Minister of Power and Energy.

Massive traffic jam at Horton place

There is a massive traffic jam at Horton place and roads running into the area due to a VIP movement. Motorists are advised to take alternative routes.

Four Sri Lankans with fake passports held

Four Sri Lankan nationals, including a woman, were arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Monday night for allegedly attempting to board a Paris-bound flight with fraudulently obtained Indian passports that were tampered with.

None of the soldier families got Rs.100,000:JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged yesterday that though the government pledged in its 2011 budget to give Rs.100,000 to soldiers at the birth of their third child, none of the soldiers had received this payment during the year

UNP complains to IPU, CPA on attack in House

Despite Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s assurance that he will probe the reasons that led to Monday’s violence in the House, United National Party (UNP) MP Jayalath Jayewardene said yesterday

Liquor sales had increased last year

Notwithstanding the government’s much hyped ‘mathata thitha or policy against alcoholism’, the local manufacture of hard liquor and beer had increased in large volumes last year, reports say

Most powerful Arab woman in Colombo

Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the most powerful Arab woman in the world according to Arab Business and Forbes magazines, who is also the Minister of Foreign Trade of United Arab Emirates, arrived in Sri Lanka today

IMF officials to visit Sri Lanka

Senior Minister Sarath Amunugama said the next instalment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) standby facility of US$2.6 billion is expected in the first quarter of next year and an IMF team will visit Sri Lanka for talks soon

Counterfeit millionaire nabbed

The CID today arrested the main suspect behind the printing of some three million counterfeit notes, which had been in operation since 2009. At the time of the raid at Kesbewa the suspect had with him 20 counterfeit 100 rupee notes and 49 seals

Lawyers express concern over PSC

A group of well-known lawyers have expressed concerns about the government’s move to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to probe the conduct of former Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva

Bike engine numbers used for Prado jeeps

Two suspects who had allegedly sold Prado jeeps that had been imported in parts and assembled in Sri Lanka and used engine numbers and chassis numbers of motor bikes, were remanded till November 30, by a Colombo Magistrate today

Lankan squad named for South African tour

Sri Lankan Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage has approved the following squad under the Captaincy of T.M. Dilshan for the Test Series against South Africa, scheduled to get underway on December 15.

Chinese firms bid for USD 500 mn project in Sri Lanka

Two Chinese firms and a British company are bidding for a contract to build the USD 500 million Colombo South Harbour Container Terminal in Sri Lanka, an official said here Wednesday.

JEDB makes 115.2mn loss in 2010

All 17 estates under the JEDB had suffered losses to the tune of Rs.115.2 million in 2010, Minister of State Resources and Enterprise Development Dayasritha Tissera informed Parliament today

SL rupee weakened to Rs.114.15

The Sri Lankan Rupee weakened to Rs.114.15 against the dollar in the currency market after closing at Rs.113.90 yesterday

Lanka's rupee devaluation is a right step: IMF

The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday that Sri Lanka's devaluation of its rupee currency was a good step and should support the island-nation's export competitiveness and safeguard its reserves over the medium-term.

Gas-find a damp squib?

Despite the government claiming that natural gas had been discovered while drilling for oil in two blocks in the Mannar Basin, the gas deposits found deep under the sea in one well has been proved to be inadequate in terms of volumes and thus non-economical, the Daily Mirror learns

Private medical college shouldn't award MBBS

The Malabe private medical college should never be allowed to award the Sri Lankan MBBS, Medical Faculty Students Action Committee representative Najith Indika said yesterday protesting opposite the University Grants Commission (UGC)

FUTA unhappy over Budget

University academics, who are unhappy over the government’s failure to honour the pledge to increase their salaries to a mutually agreed level in the 2012 Budget are once again mulling over the idea of resorting to trade union action to win their demands

No choice in defence budget increase:MR

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