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Stern laws will be introduced to prevent sports personnel using banned substances, Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage said. Accordingly, they will be imposed with a life ban for sports if found guilty of using them, he told the parliament today(14).
(JNW)

Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera says an electronic digit card will be issued for Sri Lankan migrant workers through the state banks from December 18. It will be able to use as a debt card as well as an identity card that could be produced abroad. 
“Since this card will carry a photo and  information about its holder, he or she will [...]

Army is ready to transport, distribute and sell vegetables if needed, Army Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said.
(JNW)

Results of the recent G.C.E. Advanced Level examination could be released in two days, if a method to issue z-scores is decided at the meeting which is scheduled to be held with the officials of the Higher Education Ministry tomorrow(14), Commissioner General of Examination Anura Edirisinghe said.
(JNW)

His highness Emir of Qatar Sheikha Moza bint Nasser is to arrive in the island next month, Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris said. He will be visiting the country to supervise how the initiatives of trade and investment agreements reached during Qatari Premier’s 2 day visit to Sri Lanka which concluded today, are implemented, the Minister [...]

Five islands off Kalpitiya amounting to 500 acres are to be allocated to Qatar for tourism promotion activities, Senior Minister Sarath Amunugama said. Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo today(13), he said the islands will be allocated under the initiative of developing Kalpitiya as a tourist zone. Parallel to this, the Expressway from Katunayaka to [...]

Parliament select committee which has been appointed to form a national education act will present its report to the parliament in January, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. He disclosed more than 700 evidences were received by the committee in this regard. “The committee will present its recommendations after considering them as well”, the Minister added.
(JNW)

Sri Lanka and India is to hold talks in diplomatic level to prevent Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Susantha Punchinilame said. They will be held on January 13 & 14, he told the parliament today(12). Ministries of External Affairs and Fisheries of both countries will coordinate the talks.
(JNW)

Import duties for potatoes have been reduced to Rs.15/- with immediate effect, the Ministry of Finance said. Earlier Rs.35/- were charged as import duties for potatoes, it said.
(JNW)

Kumar Sangakkara is a doubt for the opening Test against South Africa after splitting the webbing on his right hand during the warm-up match against an Invitational XI in Benoni. His concerns added to Sri Lanka’s problems as they ended the rain-hit three-day match in a more wounded state than when they began having also [...]

Kumar Sangakkara is a doubt for the opening Test against South Africa after splitting the webbing on his right hand during the warm-up match against an Invitational XI in Benoni. His concerns added to Sri Lanka’s problems as they ended the rain-hit three-day match in a more wounded state than when they began having also [...]

Sri Lanka’s top three were able to spend much-needed time in the middle on the third day of their tour match against the South African Invitational XI. Tharanga Paranavitana was dropped twice on his way to a century before retiring, Tillakaratne Dilshan scored an aggressive, almost run-a-ball 74 while Mahela Jayawardene battled for his 26.
Kumar [...]

Sri Lanka’s top three were able to spend much-needed time in the middle on the third day of their tour match against the South African Invitational XI. Tharanga Paranavitana was dropped twice on his way to a century before retiring, Tillakaratne Dilshan scored an aggressive, almost run-a-ball 74 while Mahela Jayawardene battled for his 26.
Kumar [...]

Heroin worth more than Rs.100 million and a suspect has been arrested by the Navy at Thalpadu area in Mannar, its spokesman Commander Kosala Warnasuriya said. It has been revealed that the suspect who is 30-years of age  is involved in drug trafficking, he disclosed.  
Indian currency worth Rs.2370/-, a mobile phone, a Sri Lankan credit card  and 9 [...]

Heroin worth more than Rs.100 million and a suspect has been arrested by the Navy at Thalpadu area in Mannar, its spokesman Commander Kosala Warnasuriya said. It has been revealed that the suspect who is 30-years of age  is involved in drug trafficking, he disclosed.  
Indian currency worth Rs.2370/-, a mobile phone, a Sri Lankan credit card  and 9 [...]

Department of Examination expresses belief the G.C.E. Advanced Level results could be released by next week. Issuing a common z-score level for the results of the students who face the examination under old and new syllabuses have delayed issuing of results, a spokesman of the department told JNW.
Discussions with regard to the matter have already being [...]

The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled through their first opportunity to play on South African pitches and conceded heavily on the second day of their warm-up match. No play was possible on the first day due to persistent rain and a wet outfield. On the second, South Africa’s Invitation XI opted to bat first, denying the [...]

Sri Lanka Army has emerged victorious at the “Tour De Sri Lanka Youth”, inaugural National Cycling Competition, by grabbing the top three spots of the event.  The tournament, which was organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development together with National Youth Services Council reached to an end at the Matara, Sanath Jayasuriya grounds today(10).
Lakshman Wijeratne, Dileepa Prabath [...]

Final total lunar eclipse of this year will occur today(10), the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies said. It will begin at 5.03 p.m. and will end at 11.00 p.m. Sri Lankan public will also be able to witness the eclipse in  total, partial and penumbral forms.  The total eclipse will occur at 8.02 pm. It can be viewed by the naked eye [...]

Two teenage girls from same family and a 28 year old male have committed suicide by hanging themselves at Kadigama in Eppawala, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said. Police has launched investigations in to the incident, he added.
(JNW)

Third and final term of all the government schools and government approved private schools will end today(09), the Ministry of Education has announced.   All schools, except the 88 schools that will be used as evaluation centers for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, for the year 2012 will commence on January 02.  They will reopen on [...]

Iranian TV has shown the first video footage of an advanced US drone aircraft that Tehran says it downed 140 miles (225km) from the Afghan border.
Images show Iranian military officials inspecting the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft which appears to be undamaged.
US officials have acknowledged the loss of the unmanned plane, saying it had [...]

It took nearly four decades for a batsman to score the first double-century in one-day international cricket but less than two years for the second. Virender Sehwag, the batsman most touted to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the highest individual ODI score, didn’t merely break it – he shattered it and [...]

Transporting vegetables in plastic containers has been made mandatory with effect from midnight of December 11, Minister of Internal Trade Johnston Fernando said. Raids will be carried out to take legal action against those who violate the law.
The Ministry has already distributed 350,000 plastic containers throughout the country, he disclosed. “400,000 more to be distributed [...]

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani will arrive in Sri Lanka for a two day official visit on December 12, the Government Information Department said. A joint committee to promote economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries will be appointed during the visit, it added.
(JNW)

A person has shot dead three members of a same family & injured another before killing himself at an incident occured at Hambegamuwa area, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said.  The shooting has taken place at around 8.15 last night, he added.
It has been revealed that the suspect who carried out the shooting had a relationship with the 19- year old female [...]

Sri Lanka Cricket is to receive $2 million from the International Cricket Council in the next few days, Minister of Sports Mahindananda  Aluthgamage told the parliament today(6). Therefore, 65% of the salaries of the Sri Lankan cricketers will be paid by next week, he said. Rest of the amount would be paid in January, the Minister added.
(JNW)

Final total lunar eclipse of this year is to occur on December 10, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies said. It will begin at 5.03 p.m. and will end at 11.00 p.m. Sri Lankan public will also be able to witness the eclipse in  total, partial and penumbral forms.  The total eclipse will occur at 8.02 pm. It can be [...]

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet in the “habitable zone” around a star not unlike our own. The planet, Kepler 22-b, lies about 600 light-years away and is about 2.4 times the size of Earth, and has a temperature of about 22C.
It is the closest confirmed planet yet to one like ours [...]

Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka batsman, has said his side will enjoy bearing the underdog tag on their tour of South Africa because they have exceeded expectations before. Jayawardene pointed to the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, saying Sri Lanka were not favourites in those tournaments but managed to reach the finals in both editions.  
“When [...]

Former Brazil captain Socrates has died at the age of 57. He had been in a critical condition with an intestinal infection since being admitted to intensive care on Friday at a hospital in Sao Paulo.
Socrates, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest ever midfielders, was moved onto a life support machine on [...]

Dev Anand, the ‘Evergreen Romantic Superstar’ of Indian cinema, has passed away in London on Saturday night following cardiac arrest. He was 88.
Dev Anand, who had come to London for medical check up, was not keeping well for the last few days, family sources told PTI. His son Sunil was with him when he breathed last.
Dev Anand made his [...]

South Africa’s cricketers have lent their support to the Sri Lanka players, who have not been paid their salaries for eight months, saying it was a credit to the Sri Lanka team that they had kept going but the issue needed to be resolved soon. South Africa are set to host Sri Lanka for three [...]

The National Performing Arts Theatre constructed at the Nomands Ground in Colombo 07, is to be declared open by the President on December 15, 2011, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has stated.
Construction of the Theatre began in May 2008 and the total cost of the project was Rs. 3,080 million. Forty percent of the total cost of the project was provided by the [...]

4088 members of the Civil Staff of the Army have been awarded with  ’North-East Humanitarian Operation Medal’ for their contribution in the operation, the Media Unit of the Army said.  The medals were symbolically awarded to a group of 100 members of the Civil Staff of the Army at a special ceremony held at Army Headquarters today(2).  Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya graced the [...]

The Sri Lankan Cricketers’ Association (SLCA) has contacted the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) seeking assistance over the delay in the cricketers’ salaries for series following the World Cup this year.  
Sri Lanka have played three series since the end of the World Cup in April and the players are still awaiting payment, including match [...]

Chairperson of Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday said she had tendered resignation “to uphold her principles.”
“I have decided to resign, upholding my principles,” Indrani Sugathadasa told Reuters without elaborating further.
Sugathadasa’s resignation follows the transfer of her deputy to the finance ministry after brokers and politically connected investors complained to President Mahinda [...]

The ITC limited of India, a franchise of renowned SHERATON Group of USA is to invest $300 million in a luxury hotel and mixed development project in Colombo, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella disclosed.
Accordingly, as per the proposal made by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapakse, the cabinet has decided to provide a block of land in [...]

A bond worth $ 500 million is to be issued through state banks in January 2012, to settle the 46 billion Yen loan obtained for port development projects, during 1985-1996, Chairman of Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said. It will be carried out in order to avoid the disadvantages that could occur when repaying the loan, due to depreciation [...]

Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi says national approach is more suitable to achieve reconciliation in Sri Lanka.  The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the President has completed its work and its final report has been handed over to the President. He said Japan believes that the report will be made a public document in [...]

UNP MP Mohan Lal Grero has stated in the parliament that he will support the budget 2012. He said the decision was taken with the objective of serving for the next generation of the country, whom he loves very much. However, the MP emphasized it was not taken due to an invitation made by certain person [...]

Jacqueline Fernandez, who is currently in Sri Lanka shooting for an ad campaign, is all set to sign her first Sri Lankan film.  A source close to the actress says, “She is in Colombo shooting an ad for an international food brand. While there, she got offered a Sinhalese film.”
Budgets for Sri Lankan movies are [...]

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited has announced the BIA Christmas Shopping Festival 2011, in partnership with the Arrival Duty Free shops and Departure/Transit shops with the strategic objective of promoting the Bandaranaike International Airport.
The promotion will be launched on December 01, 2011 and will be of a duration period of two months, running till [...]

A memorial silver coin was issued to mark the 125th anniversary of Ananda College, Colombo today(29) at the ceremony held at the Kularatne hall of the College to mark the occassion. The coin valued at Rs.2000/- is the first ever memorial coin issued on behalf of a school.
(JNW)

The Navy has ended its operation carried out in the Southern sea in search of the missing fishermen, the Disaster Management Center said. 23 out of 42 fishermen have returned to the island, it added.
(JNW)

Electricity supply in the Southern Province that was disrupted from the gale occurred recently will be restored by Saturday, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said. He made this disclosure while addressing a press briefing held at Southern Province office of Ceylon Electricity Board. There are 660 thousand electricity consumers in the Southern Province. Out of them power [...]

The ship ‘Sagara’ and 2 Dowra boats have been deployed in the southern sea by the Navy in search for the missing fishermen, the Southern Naval Commander Lakshman Ilangakoon said. It is reported that about 30 fishermen have gone missing due to the strong winds that were experienced in the southern part of the island [...]

Remaining 500 vacancies in the administrative service are to be filled within the next 3 years, Minister of Public Administration W.D.J. Seneviratne said. The examinations for this purpose will be held as scheduled, he added.
(JNW)

There was no respite for Sri Lanka. In one of the more closely-fought encounters on this tour, it was Pakistan who prevailed by five wickets after their opponents promised to deliver better, only to falter and give it away. First, with their batting, when they began aggressively and scored at around nine an over in [...]

Army detachments are ready to assist the people in an emergengency, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said.
(JNW)

Matara District Secretariat H. G. S. Jayasekara says four persons have died, while 200 houses have been damaged due to the strong winds. Furthermore, 15 boats have also been stranded in sea. The Navy has launched an operation to rescue the fishermen in the stranded boats, its spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuria said. However, approaching them have become [...]

Disturbance in the lower atmosphere has caused the strong winds that is reported from Galle, the Met Department said. Rough winds are expected at times with the showers that can occur in North, East, North Central, Uva and Southern provinces throughout the day it added.
(JNW)

Strong winds have been reported from Galle, Media Spokesman of the Disaster Management Center Pradeep Kodippili said. However, no damages have been reported yet, he added.
(JNW)

Sri Lanka does not need external guidance on reconciliation, Defence Secretary Gotabhya Rajapakse has said. “It will only act on its own accord”, he told the inaugural National Reconciliation Forum which began in Colombo today(24).
“It is only the people of Sri Lanka, but nobody else who understand the ground situation of the country very well. It is them who [...]

Former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratawatte has passed away at the Kandy hospital today(24), family sources said. He was 73.  Mr. Ratwatte provided the political leadership when the Security Forces liberated Jaffna Peninsula from the Tiger terrorists in 1995 from the ‘Riviresa’ operation. He also held the portfolio of Power and Irrigation in the Peoples’ [...]

President hopes to table the final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, during the current session of the parliament, Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris said.   ”The objective of is to make it a public document’, the Minister pointed out.
President is currently studying the complex document and the recommendations the Commission has made. The relevant [...]

Admissions of the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination are to be posted from tomorrow(25), Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe said. Around 550,000 candidates will sit for the examination which begins on December 12, he added.
(JNW)

A four-wicket haul from Sohail Tanvir and a fluent stand between captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal were the stand-out features of Pakistan’s convincing win – they took the series 4-1 – in the dead rubber played on a slow pitch. The pair didn’t get bogged down at the fall of two wickets off successive deliveries [...]

The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday(23) 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.
“We think that the exchange rate adjustment was a step in the right direction and should help support Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and [...]

It has been revealed that fake Rs.1000/- notes worth Rs.3 million from P100, P103, P130 and P133 categories are in circulation, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana stated.
Details in this regard were revealed from a person that were taken into custody in Kesbewa recently with a bundle of fake currency notes. These confiscated fake currency notes even [...]