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Sunday, 26 April 2015

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President to address ACD Summit today

[October 09 2016]

President Maithripala Sirisena is in Thailand making a three-day official visit and attending the second Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit. The Dialogue Summit that brings together 34 nations in the Asian region takes place from October 8 -10 in Bangkok under the theme "One Asia, Diverse Strength".

Sri Lanka, Iran revive trade agreements

[October 09 2016]

Official level discussions have commenced between Sri Lanka and Iran on reviving trade agreements that were signed between the two countries and will be put into operation soon after ironing out technicalities, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen said.

SAARC summit put off

[October 02 2016]

Pakistan on Friday (September 30) officially postponed the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 9 and 10. A new set of dates for holding the Summit will be announced soon through the Chair of SAARC (Nepal), reports said.

Reservoir water levels drop, authorities warn of drastic measures

[October 02 2016]

Due to the prevailing drought, water levels of the main reservoirs have dropped to half its capacity, with authorities warning that drastic measures may need to be taken if water is to be continuously released from the reservoirs for power generation.

Dengue Prevention Week

[September 25 2016]

To avert a possible dengue outbreak in the next three months, when the number of mosquito breeding sites are likely to surge with the monsoon rains, the Dengue Control Unit of the Health Ministry will launch an island-wide Dengue Control Week starting on Tuesday, September 27 to Monday, October 3.

Sir Richard Jolly to visit Sri Lanka

[September 25 2016]

Sir Richard Jolly, former Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, and Special Adviser to the Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (1996 to 2000), and Principal Coordinator of the widely-acclaimed Human Development Report will deliver a lecture on, “Development: Can Sri Lanka be a model for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs)?” on September 28 at 5 pm at the BMICH Committee Room D, on the invitation of the Gamani Corea Foundation.

Charith joins elite band

[September 25 2016]

Richmondite Charith Asalanka joined the elite band of school cricketers by winning the coveted Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year 2016 title for the second year in succession emulating the feats of former Sri Lankan greats Arjuna Ranatunga, 1980/82' ( Ananda) Roshan Mahanama, 1983/84'(Nalanda) Thilan Samaraweera 1994/95' ( Ananda) 'Lahiru Peiris 2004/2005 (St.Peter's) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2010'2011 (Royal) who had also won the award twice .

Mahela at Schoolboy Cricketer Awards

[September 18 2016]

Cricketing legend and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will grace the occasion at the 38th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards night scheduled to take place at the Galadari Hotel on September 20.

Errant sugar traders warned

[September 18 2016]

Stern action will be taken against traders who sell sugar above the controlled price of Rs. 95. Instructions have been given to the relevant authorities to launch island-wide search operations, a press communique from the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said.

No immediate power cuts

[September 18 2016]

Refuting speculations, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, no decision has been taken to impose power cuts on account of the current dry spell in the country.

SLEEPING ON IT: The whole nation, nay, the whole world may watch with bated breath to see whether the long awaited legislation to end Sri Lanka’s authoritarian presidential system will go through but, Leader of the Opposition and SLFP stalwart Nimal Siripala de Silva is clearly not losing any sleep over the 19th Amendment even if his hard working President and party leader Maithripala Sirisena does. Here, the President and de Silva on stage at the meeting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s executive bodies at Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo, last Thursday afternoon, along with other party bigwigs and allies. (Photo : Sudam Gunasinghe)

End of executive presidency?

The parliamentary debate on the country’s most- awaited piece of legislation in decades, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, begins tomorrow morning with the nation holding its breath as to the outcome. If the voting goes in favour, Sri Lanka’s now much-derided presidential form of government will be drastically transformed removing the currently all-powerful office of the executive president.

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718 killed in Nepal ’quake

KATHMANDU — A powerful earthquake struck Nepal Saturday, killing at least 718 people across a swath of four countries as the violently shaking earth collapsed houses, levelled centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest. It was the worst tremor to hit the poor South Asian nation in over 80 years.

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Demo near CIABOC:

Pro-Gota protesters claim unaware of ban

UPFA parliamentarians and Provincial Councillors who staged a demonstration near the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on April 23 said they were not informed against holding any demonstration opposite CIABOC on that day. Colombo District UPFA parliamentarian Gamini Lokuge told the Sunday Observer that they didn’t take part in any demonstration,

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FCID probes 26 complaints

The Sri Lanka Police Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) has prioritised investigating 26 complaints it had received, as of yesterday. Another four cases are now under court inquiry. Fifty-two cases have been listed for investigations, according to Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara. The FCID has recorded statements from the relevant officials in 13 cases.

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Under scrutiny:

Wimal’s multi-million rupee house transfers

Former Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa had allegedly transferred houses worth millions built by a government-owned company under the Housing Ministry, for his close relatives and aides. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division of the police, following complaints received have initiated a probe into the case that involves public funds exceeding Rs.60 million,

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