Arrack and beer prices go up

Excise duty on a liter of arrack is to be increased by Rs.60 and the price of a bottle of beer by Rs.5 with effect from midnight.  An official of the Excise Department said that the price revisions were discussed during the last few weeks.

Couple of days ago the Ceylon Tobacco Corporation has raised the prices of its cigarettes.

A Gold Leaf, Benson and Hedges and Pall Mall cigarette each costs Rs. 2.00 more now.

The price of a Dunhill has been increased by Rs. 3.00, said the Excise Department.

Duminda Silva is not a drug trafficker - Gotabhaya Rajapaksha

MP Duminda Silva, an elected representative of the people, is not a drug trafficker and he has no connections with the underworld, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said.

In an interview with a national newspaper, the defence secretary has noted that Duminda Silva polled a large number of preferential votes and got elected to parliament.

The MP is close to the people and has tens of thousands of supporters among them, which made him to seek his assistance to develop Colombo, he has stressed.

The defence secretary has said that if he cannot work closely with such an elected representative, there is something wrong in democracy.

He has added that persons with petty political objectives and weak personalities were involved in a mudslinging campaign over this political connection.

source : srilankamirror

Arrest warrant on actress Anushka Sonali

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today issued a warrant for the arrest of teledrama actress Anushka Sonali Sayakkara for not appearing in court in a case involving an alleged attempt to extort a sum of Rs.100,000 from her father, after threatening him.

When the case came up before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Ms. Lanka Jayaratne, the suspect was not present in court. The Slave Island Police filed charge sheets against the suspect under sections 490 and 374 of the penal code. At a previous magisterial inquiry, the suspect was released on bail.

Lodging a complaint with the Slave Island police, the father of the teledrama actress alleged that his daughter had extorted a sum of Rs.100,000 and further alleged that she had attempted to extort a further amount of Rs.100,000 putting him in a fear psychosis. The complainant further told police that he had given her more that Rs.400,000 on several occasions. He told police he was a patient suffering from depression owing to her continuous threats of demanding money. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

source : dailymirror

Lankan goverment to introduce Tough new laws against porn

The Justice Ministry will introduce tough legislation to strictly control the import, distribution, production, exhibiting, telecasting, printing or broadcasting of pornographic material in Sri Lanka, a senior official said today.  

Justice Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamlath said the new Act would be titled, ‘Obscene Publications Act of 2011’.

“There is a sharp increase in the use of pornographic material since the advent of the internet and new technology superhighways. Children are the most affected and child pornography has a huge global market and Sri Lanka is no exception. The new legislation is meant to arrest this alarming trend and protect our children and also to control the unrestricted access by the print and electronic media to be in conformity with our cultural, moral and religious values” Mr. Gamlath said.

He said the production or making available or offers in any manner or the distribution, transmission or procuring child pornography using a computer system or possesses or retains child pornography in a computer or on a computer data storage medium, or exposes a child to sexually explicit material by means of a computer; shall be guilty of an offense and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand rupees and to imprisonment of either description for a term not less than ten years.

Mr. Gamalath said the draft Act still under review was expected to effectively prohibit the publication, exhibition, print, telecast, broadcast or lets on hire or knowingly sells or distributes or in any manner introduces into circulation through any medium of communication – print or electronic – object or thing which is obscene or imports, exports, makes, produces, prints or knowingly transmits, transports or possesses or does any other act whatsoever with regard to any matter object or material which is obscene, for any purpose.

The new Act also prohibits advertising or authoring or permitting the introduction into any medium of communication any advertisement which could be considered obscene. It will also be an offence to employ or obtain the services of a person for an act of obscene or pornographic purpose, he said.

Those who violate the provisions under the new Act shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall, on conviction by the High Court be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years and a fine not less than twenty five thousand rupees or both.

In the event of second or subsequent conviction to imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years or to a fine not less than one hundred thousand rupees or to both such imprisonment and fine.

An offender who uses children for pornographic acts, imports or exports such, produces or distributes such material shall be on conviction by the High Court be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than two years and not exceeding ten years or to a fine not less than Rs.200,000 or both.

In the event of a second or subsequent conviction to imprisonment, the convict is liable for a prison term of 20 years and a fine not less than five hundred thousand rupees.

In the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for a term not less than two years and not exceeding twenty years and to a fine not less than Rs.500,000.

In case of an offence under Child pornography, the convict is liable to imprisonment of either description for a term not less than three years and not exceeding twenty years or to a fine not less than three hundred thousand rupees or to both such fine and imprisonment and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment for a term not less than three years and not exceeding twenty years and to a fine not less than five hundred thousand rupees.

Any person who contravenes the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand rupees and to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding five years.

The existing Obscene Publications Ordinance will be repealed with the enactment of this Act.

(Sandun A. Jayasekera)


source : dailymirror

Avirate open a new store at Kandy City Centre

Avirate, a brand which prides itself on being 100% Sri Lankan, expanded its local presence with the opening of its 3rd store at Kandy City Centre on the 15th of October 2011.

The exclusive fashion store which caters to the modern woman with its tag line of ‘high street sensuality,’ was launched by  two faces of the brand.

The grand opening of the store, was graced by the Chairman of Avirate Ashraf Sattar and Managing Director of Avirate, Arshad Sattar.

Chief Executive Officer Asim Younoos, Communications Manager Sarinda de Silva, and Kandy City Centre Chairman’s Daughter Chamithrie Vijayasena. The Avirate experience offers a range of day and evening wear, lingerie, accessories and shoes at its new store at a convenient location in Kandy.

“One year after the opening of our Flagship Store, we are proud to open our 3rd store at Kandy City Centre which has been rated the best mall in Sri Lanka, says Manager Communications, Sarinda de Silva.

“This year has been a landmark one for Avirate, The opening of the flagship store, Cinnamon Lakeside and Kandy City Centre stores as outlets are the vanguard of an ambitious local and international expansion plan that will take Avirate to a much wider market, offering high street fashion while retaining the exclusivity associated with the brand” De Silva added.

Asim Younoos Chief Executive Officer of Avirate opined “it is a pleasure to open our new store at  Kandy City Centre, as this enables the ladies of Kandy to dress up in our  unique and exclusive range” Younoos went on to add. “Our strength is our ability to forecast fashion trends and when our range is unveiled the ‘wow!’ of the buyers is amazing.”

Avirate will introduce new styles weekly in all its stores.

source : dailymirror

If justice is not meted out I have a plan B - Hirunika Premchandra

Our country lost a good hearted person and a great leader by the hands of  people who are of no importance, mentally abnormal and who are a disgrace to even be called human beings Hirunika Premachandra said.


The daughter of slain former Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra (Oct. 21) attended court hearings on the murder of her father during an Election Day shootout.

Speaking to reporters outside the Aluth Kade Court Complex, Hirunika stated that she is prepared to come to court for each and every hearing and fight on behalf of her family.

“I want to tell all the people who loved my father; I’m going to fight for this. I’m going to fight till my last breath.” she also said.

“I will not allow this case to be pushed aside.  We came to know that a high rank officer was transferred. It is very sad. "


" But I believe there is a law in this country and that the law will do justice towards my father.
If that does not happen, we have a ‘Plan B’ and we are prepared to put it into action.”

she told pressmen.

Baratha Lakshman Premachandra, a former MP and adviser to the President on Trade Unions was amongst four persons killed in a shooting incident which occurred in Kollonnawa on October 8 also involving MP Duminda Silva.
Today was the second day of hearing witness testimonies on the murder trial at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

The full speech of Hirunika Premachandra

Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of slain presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachndra  pledged she would lead the struggle against the injustice that had been done to her father and would continue the services he had rendered during his political career.

Speaking at Mr. Premachndra’s funeral at Umagiriya Park she requested the people of Kolonnawa to join her in her struggle of seeking justice to her father. “Join me in this struggle for the sake of your loving Lucky Aiya,” she told the crowds, filled with emotion.

She questioned as to whether her father who was a fearless and honest person should face such a cruel end.
Ms. Premachandra also paid tribute to the others who were killed in the Election Day incident.

She thanked the large crowds who flocked in to pay their last respects to her father. “I salute you loving people of Kolonnawa for coming in numbers to show gratitude to my father,” she finally said.

This is the full version of the speech of Mr. Bharatha Lakshaman Premachandra's daughter and the son on the funeral day.