A Sri Lankan housemaid in Kuwait filed a case against her male compatriot who also works as a driver in her sponsor’s house and accused him of rape.

In her complaint to officers at Dahiyat Abdullah Al-Salem police station, the woman said the house driver had sex with her by force.

The suspect was arrested and referred for further investigation.(Arab times)

The US State Department notes that the United States’ stance on human rights in Sri Lanka has not changed nor has it softened.

The statement was made by  US State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki.

Question: There is a report that I have seen from a Sri Lankan newspaper suggesting that when Secretary Kerry met with the Sri Lankan President, I think it was during UNGA, that he had – that Secretary Kerry had, indicated or suggested a softening in the U.S. position on Sri Lanka. The piece I saw didn’t specify what, but I think the inference was that it was a softening on human rights concerns in Sri Lanka. Is there any truth to that? Did he signal that he would take human rights less seriously there?

MS. Psaki: Absolutely not. I saw the same story. The only thing that was right was that the Secretary did speak with the Sri Lankan President on the margins of the UN General Assembly. He did so with the express purpose of conveying that U.S. policy with regard to Sri Lanka has not changed and it certainly has not softened. We would, of course, like our relationship with Sri Lanka to achieve its full potential, but that will only happen if Sri Lanka builds enduring peace and prosperity for all of its diverse ethnic and religious communities. And that’s why the Secretary, in no uncertain terms, made clear to the President that Sri Lanka needed to take meaningful steps to act like a country that is no longer at war and instead is now building a future that includes all of its citizens. So, certainly, it had the opposite purpose.

The fire that broke out at the Mattegoda army camp following an explosion in the armoury on Thursday morning has been contained.

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake said that investigations have been launched to ascertain the cause of the explosion. Residents in the area said that loud explosion were heard from the army camp on Thursday morning.

Quick measures were taken by the army to douse the fire after security was tightened around the camp. According to our correspondent fire brigades were also dispatched to assist in dousing the fire. The army said that no casualties were reported in the incident.

The Government Medical Officers Association convened a press conference in Colombo on Monday. Speaking at the press conference Assistant Secretary of the GMOA, Dr.Nalinda Herath expressed the following views:

Assistant Secretary of GMOA, Dr. Nalinda Herath:

“As you are aware, the Office of the Government Medical Officers Association was closed down in July. A group of doctors were behind this. On the 21st of July a case was filed in court by a group of private medical students, seeking that they too be given permission to train at government hospitals. In one hand, this is an attempt to destabilise the GMOA. ”

He added: “On the other hand it appears to be the process to leagalise private medical colleges. That is why we alleged that multi-national companies and other institutions are attempting to destabilise the Government Medical Officers Association. Our stance on private medical colleges has not changed. Private medical colleges cannot exists without the permission of the Medical Council. We believe that the Medical Council too will take the correct stance.”

A Police Officer had beaten a woman while she was rolling on the road in front of the bus halt in Ratnapura town in front of the bus halt in front of a  large crowd.This had been shown in a video in the internet.

The video below shows proof of the incident how the Police Officer had assaulted a woman when many people were watching.

Video: Click Here

The National Transport Commission states that steps have been taken to issue 28 transport permits for the Kottawa- Matara Southern Expressway.

Chairman of the Commision, Renuka Perera noted that the permits will be issued following interviews to be held on September 29.

Chairman of National Transport Commission said: “Further to a Cabinet circular, applications were accepted to issue transport permits along the Kottawa – Matara Southern Expressway.We will be holding interviews at the National Transport Commision premises on the 29th of this month.”

He added; “We thereafter hope to issue these permits by the 6th of  next month. Based on the circular issued by the cabinet we will be issuing 28 road permits.”

President Mahinda Rajapakse has addressed the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Addressing the assembly President Rajapaksa said that certain factions have come forward to levy challenges against Sri Lanka under the guise of human rights.

The 69th session of the United nations General Assembly commenced at the UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

The United Nations General Assembly commenced, with the participation of 193 UN member nations.

President Rajapaksa also addressed the World Climate Summit 2014 on September 23 on the sidelines of the UNGA. The President also met with several state leaders following the event.

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is set to sign a deal on Friday to resettle refugees in Cambodia.

The Cambodian Government revealed on Wednesday that the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Cambodia Sar Keng and Morrison will sign a memorandum of understanding in Phnom Penh on Friday

It is learnt that the resettlement deal will be for up to 1000 asylum seekers who are found to be refugees.

Cambodian officials say the refugees, including Sri Lankans, will be encouraged to work despite the country being among the world’s poorest.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, Sanath Jayasuriya has resigned with immediate effect from the committee appointed by SLC to select a permanent coach for the national team.

When contacted Sanath Jayasuriya said that he has sent his resignation letter to SLC stating the reasons for his decision.

Sri Lanka Cricket ExCo had appointed a committee to evaluate and short list the applicants and to nominate the appropriate candidate for the vacant position.

The committee comprised of Asanga Seneviratne, Mohan De Silva, Nishantha Ranatunga, Hirantha Perera, Nuski Mohamed, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jayananda Warnaweera, Shammi Silva, Dushan Soyza, Ranjit Fernando, and Head of Coaching Jerome Jayaratne.

The Elections Secretariat says that the first results from the Uva Provincial Council election will be released by midnight on Saturday. The counting of votes is   underway at 110 counting centres.

Following the conclusion of polling at the 516 polling stations in the Badulla District, the ballot boxes were transported to the counting centres. Counting is taking place in 71 centres in the district.

Amarasri Bandara at the News 1st Uva Election Bureau, met with the District Returning Officer following the end of voting. Ballot boxes were transported from the 318 polling stations in the Moneragala District to the counting centres, following the end of the poll on Saturday.

Votes will be counted at 39 polling stations.

World famous American singer, song writer, musician, record producer and actor Lionel Richie is to arrive in Colombo in October for a gigantic performance.

This musical extravaganza at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre on 11 October is to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s prominent construction company Access Group.

Managing Director of Access Engineering, Christopher Joshua while speaking to us said, “This is the first time Lionel Richie is coming to Sri Lanka. This is to appear in a musical show presented to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of our company.”

The prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene will be reduced with effect from midnight today.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa made this announcement on Tuesday, during the official bi-lateral discussions held with the visiting Chinese President  in the evening.

The President added that as a result of the construction of the Norochcholai thermal power plant, electricity fares can be reduced by 25%.

Kerosene prices will be reduced by Rs.20  per litre, petrol by Rs. 5  and diesel by Rs.3.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the country on Tuesday morning in a show of strength to the prevailing China-Sri Lanka Relations.

Incidentally, it is after a period of twenty eight years that a head of state from China arrived in Sri Lanka.

President Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed to the country at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday morning.

A number of high-level officials were present at the airport to welcome the Chinese President and his delegation. The visiting Chinese President called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa  at the Presidential Secretariat. Both leaders were engaged in an extensive discussion.

The final phase of the Norochcholai Thermal Power Plant that was constructed with Chinese aid of 1.34 Billion US Dollars was declared open by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The presentation took place at the Presidential Secretariat.

The two leaders joined their delegations to sign more than 20 bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

On Wednesday, President Rajapaksa and President Xi Jinping will visit the Colombo International Container Terminal to launch the construction of the Colombo Port City.

Hundreds of Tamils staged a protest outside the UN office in Geneva yesterday (Monday) where the UN Human Rights Council is currently meeting, the Tamil Guardian website reported.

The website said that Tamils came from across Europe to take part in the mass demonstration and rally demanding justice for the alleged genocide in Sri Lanka and a referendum on independence.

Carrying banners and placards decrying the ongoing military occupation of the North-East and stating “Our Homeland Tamil Eelam” and “Tamil sovereignty cannot be compromised!”, diaspora Tamils marched through the city, past the Palais des Nations where the UN Human Rights Council’s 27th session is currently taking place.

The First Lady of the Republic of China Peng Liyuan is also accompanying President Xi Jinping on his visit to Sri Lanka. Here is a look at the illustrious career of the First Lady of China Peng Liyuan.

Scroll down for photos.

The new First Lady of China was almost unknown until she emerged on Xi Jinping’s first presidential tour. In her homeland – she has been a superstar for three decades – Mrs Peng’s emergence on the world stage has been greeted with delight in China.

Well before she met the President, Mrs. Peng was arguably the most famous singer in China.

Her place at the top table of the Chinese establishment was cemented in 1985 when she spent 20 days on the front line entertaining troops as they fought a border conflict with Vietnam.

She gained popularity as a soprano singer from her regular appearances on the annual CCTV New Year’s Gala, a widely viewed mainland Chinese television programme that airs during the Chinese New Year.

She has won many honours in singing competitions in China.

She was the first in China to obtain a Master’s Degree in traditional ethnic music when the degree was established in the 1980s.

Born in Peng village in 1962, in the Eastern Province of Shandong, Mrs. Peng comes from a poor family and the very opposite end of the Communist Party to her princeling husband, whose father was a vice-premier of China.

Mrs. Peng is actively involved in politics herself, and is a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

She is also a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS since 2011.[12]

As of 2014, she is listed as the 57th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.

For a complaint made by a woman in Gankottukachchiya ,Le Kulamalakandayaya area , the police has arrested a man residing close by for abducting her cow and raping the cow.

This accused person (40) is a father of two.

In the complaint it is said that due to the incident, the cow is in  a serious condition.

It is reported that Nugegoda magistrate courts has released Sakvithi Ranasinghe and 11 other who were in remand for a money fraud more than billion.

Further, it has been ordered to release the pass ports of the suspects and to cancel the prohibition order for foreign trips.