Dec 31 (DN) The signing of the Record of Discussion on the project for Designing the Aquaculture Development Plan in Northern and Northwestern Provinces in Sri Lanka between KOICA Resident Representative Cho Sango-Woo and Fisheries Ministry Secretary Damitha de Zoysa was held at the ministry in the presence of Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne on December 22. Encompassed by the vast coast and adjacent Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka possesses a great potential for more..

Dec 31 (Island) The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has continuously expressed its concerns over Prof. Carlo Fonseka’s appointment as the next Chief of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). Addressing a Press briefing on Wednesday (27), Assistant Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Upul Gunasekera said they were hoping for a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the end of next week to discuss the issue. more..

Dec 31 (TN) The employees at Mullaiththeevu District Secretariat on Thursday staged a token strike protesting against the attack by UPFA goons on the accountant of the District Secretariat of Mullaiththeevu on Wednesday. A five-member group of Colombo's ruling UPFA Wednesday entered the office of the accountant, S. Jeyakumar and attacked him. Mr. Jeyakumar has been voicing against the political interference and against the misappropriation of the funds taking place in the district, more..

Dec 31 (DN) 'As the New Year dawns, we look towards to the future with much hope and enthusiasm brought about by firm resolution, commitment and good expectations for the country. Thus the joy of the New Year would be equally shared by all,' states President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a New Year message. The message adds: 'In the past several years we achieved great victories for the country,' building the nation with dignity and strength. These victories were made possible by more..

Dec 31 (BBC) A group of school children in a tourist resort in Sri Lanka have been arrested over an alleged attempted rape of a Swedish tourist. The five teenagers who attended the same school were produced before court on Friday. The tourist, who is a school teacher, has requested the court to warn the school children, who were badly drunk as they harassed the tourist in Negombo, and release them. The authorities near the resort where the incident happened refused to reveal more..

Dec 31 (Island) Twelve persons were arrested after an angry crowd pelted stones and other objects at a music group after they stopped performing at the stipulated hour during a musical show held in Hakmana on Thursday evening. The show was organised in aid of a cancer patient by a voluntary organisation, the police said. Several persons who came to witness the event and two policemen were injured in the clash after the crowd went berserk. more..

Dec 31 (Reuters) A delighted Rangana Herath praised the efforts of his team mates after bowling Sri Lanka to their first test win in South Africa at Kingsmead. The left-arm spinner took five for 79 as South Africa capitulated in their second innings to lose the second test by 208 runs after winning the first at Centurion by an innings. "It was a whole team effort, that's why we won. We're very happy because we bowled them out for less than 170 and more..

Dec 31 (DM) Amidst speculation that former Army Commander will be released on January 1, UNP reformists led by MP Karu Jayasuriya and Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa urged the govt to release him with his civic rights in tact. They made this request after visiting former Amy Commander at Welikada prison today. Mr. Premadasa told journalists that the UNP reformists are fully backing DNA MP Tiran Allas in his ongoing negotiations with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to get Mr. Fonseka released. more..

Dec 31 (Island) Forty disabled soldiers – 37 soldiers, a policeman, a Navy officer and Air Force official – were given financial assistance to purchase artificial limbs at a simple ceremony held at Army headquarters under the patronage of Army Commander Lieutenant General Jaliya Jayasuriya, Presidential Advisor, Gamini Gunaratne and Army Rehabilitation Unit, Director, Major General R. V. Samaratunga. Lt. Col. P. U. D. Perera said that each limb would cost Rs. 19,500. more..

Dec 31 (AT) The Governor of the Western Province Mr. Alavi Moulana has indicated to President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he wanted to lead a delegation to Riyadh to secure the release of Housemaid Rizana Nafeek who is presently languishing in the death row since 16 July 2007 in the Dawdami prisons. Suddenly the plight of Rizana Nafeek has been forgotten conveniently, after the failed attempt by the delegation which comprised of more..

Dec 31 (CI) Dean Elgar, the uncapped left-handed batsman, and seamer Rory Kleinveldt have been included in South Africa's 14-man squad for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka. The series will also be the first chance for AB de Villiers as captain after injury meant he missed the matches against Australia. Elgar, the Knights opening batsman, is the only rookie in the squad. Kleinveldt has already represented South Africa in two Twenty20 internationals, more..

Dec 31 (Island) Tomorrow’s JVP convention at Debarawewa, in Thissamaharama, will see changes in the party’s decision making body, JVP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday. He added that if the members participating in the convention demanded it, then the party’s leadership too would be changed. A new Central Committee will be appointed at tomorrow’s convention Herath said adding that if the members demand that the party leader and general secretary be changed, more..

Dec 31 (DN) The LLRC report sets the framework for practical reconciliation in Sri Lanka, said Australian Member of Parliament Telmo Languiller who is on a brief visit to look into the ground situation in post war Sri Lanka. Addressing a media conference in Colombo yesterday he welcomed both the LLRC report and the government’s response to it, stating that these provide a very good opportunity for Sri Lanka to build a peaceful country. more..

Dec 31 (DN) The Colombo District Court yesterday issued an interim injunction preventing the UNP from expelling MP Mohan Lal Grero from the party. Colombo District Judge Ranjith N. Wathupola issued this order after considering a plaint filed by Parliamentarian Grero against UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and General Secretary Tissa Attanayake. Attorney Faizer Mustapha who appeared for Grero submitted that Mohan Lal Grero's action in voting in favour of the 2012 budget in more..

Dec 31 (AP) Maldives ordered hundreds of its luxury resorts to close their spas nearly a week after a protest led by opposition parties demanding a halt to "anti-Islamic" activities, the govt said Friday. A statement from the president's office said "the govt has decided to close massage parlors and spas in the Maldives, following an opposition-led religious protest last week calling for their closure." An official from the president's office said the tourism ministry notified the resorts Thursday but hasn't confirmed if the spas have been closed. more..

Dec 31 (Island) The UNP dissociated itself from its Deputy Secretary General Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena’s view, expressed in an interview with this newspaper yesterday, that the govt should either devolve police and land powers to the provinces in accordance with the constitutional provisions or scrap the 13th Amendment. UNP Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, when asked whether the UNP subscribed to Jayawardena’s views, said that was not more..

Dec 31 (DN) The first meteor shower next year can be seen on January 3 and 4 in the Eastern horizon, the Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technology (ACCIMT) said yesterday. This meteor shower named Quadrantids can be seen from anywhere in the island. The shower can be seen in a collective flock of stars named Bootes. The public can see the Quadrantids at 4 am. They will also be able to witness around 20 to 30 meteorites for about an hour, ACCIMI said in a release. more..

Dec 31 (CT) MP Namal Rajapaksa is involved in the ongoing discussions over the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, highly placed political sources said. MP Rajapaksa had taken part in a special discussion, which took place between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Tiran Alles last week. Alles represented Fonseka’s political party DNA. Many issues pertaining to the release of Fonseka were discussed during the discussions, political sources said. more..

Dec 31 (DN) Certain discarded political parties and few anti social elements are spreading false rumours that large scale abductions and human rights violations are taking place in the North, said Minister Douglas Devananda. He said these anti-govt elements are spreading falsehoods in the country and in the international arena, to damage the good image of the country. “These people are indulging in such unpatriotic actions with a hidden agenda to help the more..

Dec 31 (Island) All trade unions at the Electricity and Water Supply Boards and Petroleum Corporation, will launch a countrywide strike if they are not granted a 45 percent salary increase from January 2012, President of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, Jayalath Jayawardena says. He said that discussions were continuing with the authorities, but if there was no favourable response, the workers would have no option but more..

Dec 31 (Island) The Chairman of British-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce in London Jayampathy Perera told "The Traveller" that his association would do the utmost to assist Sri Lanka Tourism and the govt to overcome the negative impact created in the UK about Sri Lanka following the killing of a British national and seriously injuring another in a hotel in Medilla, Tangallle by a politician and his henchmen. more..

Dec 31 (DM) The nine JVP central committee members who defected from the party are likely to lose their positions when the party appoints its new central committee at a special convention tomorrow at Debarawewa in Tisshamarama. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference the party membership would get a chance to appoint members to the 23-member central committee at this special convention. more..

Dec 31 (DM) The Police Headquarters said today that it will deploy its full strength today to arrest individuals for speeding and drunk driving during New Year celebrations. Police media spokesman Ajith Rohana said that the more road and foot patrols will be carried out extensively in Colombo and its suburbs. The police have advertised in public places urging the public not to drink and drive. “No relief will be given to any traffic offender,” he said. more..

Dec 31 (Island) Polls Chief Mahinda Deshapriya will meet senior representatives of the political parties in the fray for the Puthukudirippu Pradeshiya Sabha and Muhudubadapattu Pradeshiya Sabha on Tuesday to explore the possibility of conducting the election on March 10, 2012. They would discuss ways and means of ensuring that all the displaced voters in the Vanni would receive an opportunity to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming polls. more..

Dec 31 (NYT) The Sri Lankan government’s defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers in 2009 ended a three-decade war that took tens of thousands of lives. But only now is the government beginning to acknowledge its huge human cost. Two weeks ago, a government-appointed reconciliation commission released a long-awaited report, giving voice to the war’s civilian victims for the first time. more..

Dec 31 (NF) Commissioner General of Prisons P.W. Kodippilli says that there is no truth to the statements claiming that prisoners would be released on January 1. Kodippilli said that a common amnesty would be given only on Independence Day. However, the Commissioner General of Prisons pointed out that prisoners who fall under twenty eight categories of crimes would not be pardoned. more..

Dec 31 (DN) The govt has strengthened and streamlined the state services to obtain the maximum benefit for the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. ‘The state service therefore has to come forward with the true aim of serving the nation, fulfilling the aspirations of people, shedding its lethargic attitudes and work patterns which have hitherto drawn the ire of the public, the President said. more..

Dec 31 (DM) In the midst of controversy over Prof. Carlo Fonseka’s appointment as Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) Chief in the coming month which certain groups in the medical profession had protests against in fear of an impending crisis in the medical sector, Fonseka said today that he was not interested in the SLMC Chief. Some 40 medical organisations including the Govt Medical Officers Association which comprised a majority of doctors in the public sector had more..

Dec 31 (DM) On this last day of 2011, New Year's Eve, often associated with balls and bust-ups, we need instead to reflect deeply on what we have done or failed to do in rebuilding a just and fair society. Mega development projects were launched during the year with much publicity and boasts of Sri Lanka becoming the miracle or the economic hub of Asia. But we need to look deep and honestly examine our conscience to make sure whether we are building on solid rock or sand. more..

Dec 31 (LT) Measures are being taken to remove the ban imposed on 6 students’ councils of Peradeniya University including its General Students’ Union reveals a very reliable source. University students had organized a protest ‘walk’ on the 21st and it was to commence from Peradeniya University. The ‘walk’ was organized to demand the government to withdraw the private universities bill that is to be presented to Parliament and against the repression carried out by more..

Dec 31 (CT) “While the Hi-Corp case and Fonseka’s medical care are of paramount importance to the Fonseka family, the govt may be using these issues to distract attention from matters of larger national consequence in the run-up to the April general elections. The govt’s focus on the Fonseka family may prove a double-edged sword, keeping the Fonseka family occupied but creating a sympathetic picture of Mrs. Fonseka more..

Dec 31 (SM) Protests are continuing in many areas against the GCE A/L examination results, with the latest allegation being that results have not been issued for the Russian language subject. Some of these protests took place in Kurunegala and Matara. Twenty seven students of Alawwa National School say they have not received their results for the Russian language subject. The students and their parents, together with principal Pushpa Rohini, went to Isurupaya more..

Dec 31 (ANI) Tillakaratne Dilshan has praised debutant wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal for scoring a half-century in both innings, taking three catches and a stumping in the second Test against South Africa. "It was not just his batting and his keeping, but Chandimal was encouraging the bowlers and fielders and giving ideas throughout the test," Sport 24 quoted Dilshan, as saying. "He handles himself really well in the middle and is one of the greatest youngsters for more..

Dec 31 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne said Sri Lanka appreciates China's long-standing support and his government will further developing its relations with China. Sri Lanka sees China as a close friend and will work with China to strengthen the bilateral ties in all areas, Jayaratne made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. Jayaratne recalled the long relations between Sri Lanka and China that more..

Dec 31 (NF) The Ministry of Health has decided to inspect kitchens of all hospitals in the country. The Ministry stated that a special team of officers have been appointed in this regard. The raids are planned to be carried out based on information received that certain contractors supply food which does not conform to required standards. The Govt spends in excess of a billion rupees on food for patients. The Health Ministry stated that even though a set of standards more..

Dec 31 (SM) The body of murdered British tourist Kurram Shaikh is presently being kept at Barney Raymond Funeral Parlour. Deputy minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the next of kin has been notified about the arrangements. If no relative comes forward to accept the body, the funeral will be conducted at the expense of Sri Lanka Tourism, he said. According to Mr. Abeywardena, the British high commission in Colombo is satisfied with the legal and more..

Dec 31 (MoD) Sri Lanka Army, a household name that remains indelibly etched on the memory of every patriot, resident here or elsewhere, is in fact comprised of a dazzling array of talent and an unequalled string of successes, be they in warfare, national disasters and emergencies, rescue operations, constructions, sports, humanitarian assistance, foreign missions, development or anything else that is generally, entrusted to them. more..

Dec 31 (DM) The Leader of the TNA R. Sambandan expressed gratitude to the army for constructing houses for the displaced people. During his visit to the Sampur Special Economic Zone, which had been a high security zone during the military conflict, he inspected the houses in the Sidanaveli area now being constructed by the military personnel for the displaced people. The soldiers of the 22 brigade were attending to the construction work of the housing complex more..

Dec 31 (SM) DPF leader Mano Ganeshan has asked parties in the opposition to declare their stance on devolving police and land powers to the provinces. The TNA has already submitted its proposals regarding the matter, to the govt, he told the 34th anniversary celebration event of Nawa Samasamaja Party yesterday. His challenge was directed at UNP’s Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya, JVP’s Somawansa Amarasinghe and DNA’s Sarath Fonseka. more..