Opp.Condidate showing the younger and giving the elder - Lakshman Yapa

The Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abewardana today (11) described the stance of the joint opposition to put forward a common candidate as an attempt to show the ‘younger sister’ and offer ‘elder sister’ to the bride broom.
Referring to a statement made by opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe who has sought the position of holding an election under a care taker Government, Minister Abewardena in a lighter vein cracked, ‘Ranil is trying to stage the famous "Suba saha Yasa" drama a second time.He said the people have seen that drama enough and do not want a repetition.The Minister made these statements at press conference held at the Ministry of Mass Media and Information.
News.lk

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Workers force military to retreat

Sailors of the Sri Lankan navy sent to take over work in the Colombo port have been forced to go back by workers on trade union action.
Spokesman for the Suhada Port Workers Union Lal Bangamuwage told BBC Sandeshaya that the navy was sent to the harbour in order to stop workers from working to rule.
"The navy came to the tug boat section and forced workers to work," he said.
Spokesman Bangamuwage said, when notified by the membership, trade union officials had to intervene to stop the navy disrupting the work to rule.
He added that the trade unions have made a complaint to the police against the western region naval commander for threatening those on trade union action.
Workers in the public sector launched a three day work to rule campaign for higher pay due to them.
State power, water, oil and port workers stopped working outside assigned duties and set working hours from Wednesday after negotiations broke down as the government refused to meet their demands.
BBC

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Jobs for 17,000 graduates

Taking public administration to grassroots:

The Government has decided to provide employment to over 17,000 unemployed graduates, Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday.
dailyNews

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Russia interested in 'Sri Lanka oil'

The Russian federation has expressed interest in oil exploration in Sri Lanka.

Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Servey V Lavrov expressed interest in oil exploration in the Mannar bay and the rehabilitation of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Mr. Lavrov, a former diplomat who has worked in Colombo and a Sinhala speaker, is the first Russian Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka since diplomatic relations were established in 1957.bbc

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Economists hail bank rate reduction

Economists hail bank rate reduction

The Government decision to lower the interests by State banks aims to channel the credit liquidity to the private sector enterprises and to stimulate the private sector, economists told the Daily News yesterday.

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Minister refutes UNP Leader’s claims........

Minister refutes UNP Leader’s claims:
Donor funds used properly

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the Government has ensured that the funds disbursed by the donor countries and lending agencies are properly utilised for the country’s development. He said the country has received over US$ 772 million up to September 15 and the Government is hopeful that this figure will rise to US$ 1,350 million by December. dailynews

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Country lost Rs. 16 billion........

Country lost Rs. 16 billion:
UNF sold CB gold for a song

Media Minister Lakshaman Yapa Abeywardena yesterday said Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should take the responsibility for selling over 200,000 troy ounces belonging to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to his friends at US$ 300 per ounce between 2002 - 2003 during the UNF regime. dailynews

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UN criticises Sri Lanka expulsion ........

UN criticises Sri Lanka expulsion


The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has criticised the Sri Lankan government's decision to expel a UN children's agency spokesman.
The government accused the spokesman of spreading Tamil Tiger propaganda.
Mr Ban's office said he strongly regretted the decision and would raise the issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the earliest opportunity.
The spokesman, James Elder, regularly updated the media on the plight of children caught up in the war.
The Tamil Tigers were defeated by the army earlier this year.
"The secretary-general strongly regrets the decision of the Sri Lankan government to expel Mr Elder," Ban's office said in a statement.
The UN chief "expresses his full confidence in the work of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, which includes making public statements when necessary in an effort to save lives and prevent grave humanitarian problems".
Mr Ban said that the UN was "working impartially to assist the people of Sri Lanka and the government should be supporting and co-operating with its efforts."
Mr Elder, communications chief for Unicef in Sri Lanka, was told on Sunday to leave the country within two weeks. He has worked in Sri Lanka since July 2008 and his -bbc-sinhala

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Channel 4 video: .........

Channel 4 video:
Local elements will be exposed soon

Transport Minister Dullas Allahapperuma yesterday said the local elements who were involved in the production of the video footage that was telecast on Channel 4 television will be divulged soon.dailynews

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