Jan 17 (CT) It was in fact a sad day for the whole of Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans even living abroad. Some may rejoice with short-sightedness or blindness because of some political affiliation or past loyalty on the order to remove the Chief Justice. The propaganda was so vicious and so venomous that some people must have believed that the Chief Justice was a villain or a conspirator. On the contrary her resistance and defiance were admirable in the midst of all the odds more..

Jan 17 (AD) A group of Kelaniya PS members are demanding the arrest of Minister Mervyn Silva in connection with the murder of former Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala. The group of PS members along with residents of the area are currently engaged in a peaceful demonstration outside the Mahara Magistrate Court displaying placards demanding the arrest of the Minister. more..

Jan 17 (LBO) Lanka Ashok Leyland, unit of Ashok Leyland has won a 700 million rupee contract to supply 200 buses to Sri Lanka's state transport utility. Sri Lanka's transport ministry will buy 200 buses from Lanka Ashok Leyland Plc, minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. The cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal by transport minister Kumara Welgama to buy 33-seater buses for 3.52 million rupees each, he said. It would value the contract at 704 million rupees. more..

Jan 17 (Island) Ajantha Liyanage has been appointed the UPFA Group Leader in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), following the sudden death of Mohamed Maharoof in early December last year. Liyanage received his letter of appointment from UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha on January 11. He was first elected to the CMC in 2002 with 3,625 votes and was re-elected in 2006 with 6,575 votes and in 2011 with 8,780 votes. Contesting the Western Provincial Council more..

Jan 17 (GDI) The Ministries of External Affairs and Foreign Employment are having discussions to strengthen and promote the human rights of Sri Lankan migrant workers through comprehensive bilateral action plans and improved immigration procedures, said External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama. He also said that measures are being taken to streamline the recruitment process of more..

Jan 17 (Island) Several food samples were taken for analysis from eateries on the Galle Face promenade during a night raid carried out by the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (PHD CMC). Food Inspector for Colombo Central MOH, Lal Kumara said yesterday that samples of several packed and wrapped food items such as such as pakoda, murukku and popcorn had been taken for testing. Kumara said the PHD had decided to carry out raids following complaints more..

Jan 17 (OU) The confession of guilt statement made by a person who was arrested under terrorism prevention act in year 2009 was rejected by the Jaffna high court. He was identified as not guilty hence was released yesterday. This case was taken for verdict yesterday Wednesday in the presence of Jaffna high court Commissioner J.Viswanathan. The youth named Appathurai Agilan from Puthur east, was charged that he was the member of the Liberation tiger movement, in year 1990, more..

Jan 17 (CI) Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has said his side is undaunted by the return of Australia's captain and several of their other key players for the third ODI in Brisbane, and is confident Sri Lanka can maintain the momentum earned with their eight-wicket victory in Adelaide on Sunday. Michael Clarke sat out the first two games as he recovered from a hamstring strain, while David Warner was also rested for the more..

Jan 17 (Island) The IGP’s relief desk helped bust an extortion racket carried out by a ten-member gang led by the son of a serving policeman attached to the police garage. The gang, posing off as Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officers, was arrested by the Mirihana Special Crime Operation Unit on Monday. Among the arrested were three men attached to the Panagoda army camp. The gang is reported to have extorted money and valuables from drug dealers and businessmen, in various parts of the more..

Jan 17 (AFP) Skipper Mahela Jayawardene called Thursday for an end to experimental fielding restrictions in one-day cricket, saying they discourage risk-taking. On the eve of the third ODI against Australia, the veteran batsman said the new laws allowing a maximum of four fielders outside the circle from the 11th over to the 40th encouraged negative play. “The spinners are being taken away from the game, to be honest,” he said. “Most of the spinners are being very negative now. more..

Jan 17 (CT) Two students of the Engineering Faculty of the Moratuwa University, who were injured during a clash between the faculty students and the National Diploma and Technology Unit (NDT), have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, Member of the Engineering Faculty Student Union, Rajitha Jayasinghe, said. He stated that 25 students who were injured in the clash were admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital, while more..

Jan 17 (IL) The Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) recently, celebrated the 42nd anniversary of the organization, with more than 400 participants in attendance from Korean company representatives, foreign ambassadors, the diplomatic community and Korean govt officials. In recognition of the outstanding contribution to developing friendly relations between the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka through the promotion of trade, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, more..

Jan 17 (Island) Apart from the magnitude of their contribution to Sri Lanka’s economy, the chief characteristic of COYLE (the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs) is their commitment to economic strategies, taking fully into account the cultural values and traditions of the country, Minister Professor G.L. Peiris said on Tuesday. He was speaking as Chief Guest at the social interaction with the diplomatic community which COYLE had organised at Hotel Hilton. more..

Jan 17 (Xinhua) France said Thursday that there are signs of communal tensions in northern Sri Lanka, particularly in the town of Mannar. French Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Christine Robichon, in a statement said that she had toured the areas where both the Tamil and Muslim communities displaced by the war, are being resettled including recently reopened part of the former high security zone in Jaffna. more..

Jan 17 (PTI) An Army major, who is set to tie the knot with his Sri Lankan girlfriend, is likely to lose Rs16 lakh as the army has asked him to reimburse the entire training cost for issuing the relieving orders. Major Vikas Kumar of Corps of Signals here was relieved by the army in November last year to marry his 29-year-old girlfriend, on condition that he refunds the entire cost of his training to the Indian Military Academy and furnishes his marriage certificate. According to the Army, he has to more..

Jan 17 (DM) Judges and lawyers including prominent lawyer J.C. Weliamuna who opposed the impeachment of Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake are facing imminent life threatening attacks, the UNP alleged today. UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said that an underworld figure known as Dolphin Chandana alias Watte Chandana who was serving a jail term had been released to carry out the attack on Mr. Weliamuna. He said this attack is to be carried out in the form of a road accident. more..

Jan 17 (Xinhua) Fending off criticism of the Chief Justice's impeachment, the Sri Lankan govt on Thursday dismissed warnings by the United States that foreign investment or aid could be affected by the move and even suggested that a Constitutional amendment was in the pipeline. Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha and Keheliya Rambukwella reiterated that the impeachment of CJ more..

Jan 17 (OU) “Do not think that India has not done anything because it is maintaining silence. Silence is a diplomatic technique. Even though India is upholding silence, what should be done, is operated by India “was said by Indian Consulate officer V.Mahalingam. He made this statement at the media conference held yesterday afternoon at the Indian vice Counselors office. University students in Jaffna were arrested continuously. Other than this, more arrests were carried out. more..

Jan 17 (IS) Singapore will work with Sri Lanka to help it develop technical and vocational education expertise in hospitality, infocomm and construction. This will be driven by Singapore's Temasek Foundation and Republic Polytechnic, along with the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka. They will develop training capabilities in the three key sectors, which have been identified as national priorities for development. One key initiative is two-year programme for 60 vocational lead trainers. more..

Jan 17 (Reuters) An Iranian-flagged cargo ship has fled from waters around Sri Lanka after weeks of detention by the island nation's navy acting on a court order obtained by Germany's DVB Bank SE, officials and a lawyer acting for the bank said on Thursday. The Sri Lankan navy last week fired warning shots to prevent the MV Amina from leaving, but said that late on Wednesday the vessel made its way in rough sea out of the more..

Jan 17 (CG) Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona has questioned the value of the Commonwealth when he was asked to comment on the criticism of the impeachment of CJ Shirani Bandaranayake by the Commonwealth. When ICP asked about the criticism of the impeachment by the Commonwealth, Kohona answered rhetorically, “What is the value of the Commonwealth?” Meanwhile speaking at the UN Security Council, Kohona has said that more..

Jan 17 (BBC) There are not many places on Earth where travellers can surf world-class waves in the morning, have a close encounter with an elephant at lunchtime and be back in the water by mid afternoon. Arugam Bay, on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, is one such place, and since the country’s civil war ended three years ago, the small town has been busier than ever – despite how hard it is to get to. Other than a highway from Colombo, the capital, to Galle, a city in the south, most of more..

Jan 17 (GDI) The Govt has decided to develop 3 farms belonging by the NLDB at Bopaththalawa, Nikaweratiya and Siringapatha with 4500 upgraded dairy animals at a total cost of US$ 28.5 million. The stage one of the project will involve the supply of 2000 cattle under an agreement already signed. The lst batch of 500 cows has already arrived and they are housed at the Bopaththalawa farm. The balance of 1500 more..

Jan 18 (NS) Walking is known as one of the best physical exercises. In life we first crawl and then progress to walking. One can find bliss, peace and harmony walking and at times is the best remedy for relaxation. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche has said, “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking”. How true are these lines? Today there are many walks, and walking on the city pavements avoiding vehicular traffic is one such walk. Shopping and walking are more..

Jan 18 (GV) I read with interest the article by Amal de Chickera titled “Racing Tanks with Bicycles: A Parable of ‘Reconciliation’ in Sri Lanka” and response to this by Sri Lanka Unites (SLU). I had often struggled with issues raised by Amal and SLU in my interactions with friends, colleagues and people in the North and East in the last six years, especially in the Vanni after the end of the war. I have a particularly strong attachment to the people of Keppapulavu referred to more..

Jan 18 (SO) External Affairs Ministry Additional Secretary P.M. Amza who served as the Head of Mission at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh from September 2001 to February 2005 explained the unfair trial Rizana was put through before her tragic beheading. On May 22, 2005 she was arrested and charged by the police for murder. She was sentenced to death in 2007, only then the Sri Lankan embassy came to know more..

Jan 18 (NS) Those who fled the Wanni in 2009, not only left their homes and belongings but also their identity. They fled, taking nothing else, but themselves. They did not care about the money they had, the houses they owned and the wealth they had earned. They left them where they were and ran for their lives. Among them were legal documents that they needed to prove their ownership over assets, and their existence. “I did not care about anything. I just wanted to get to safety along more..

Jan 18 (GV) One of the first things I had to do in the new year was to firmly remind my (Lankan) Facebook friends to avoid posting or tagging me to any anti-Muslim rhetoric that is growing in an organized manner. A systemic and sequential anti-Muslim campaign is taking place in many parts of the island (as we observe now) largely mobilized by a Saṅgha led lay organization called Bodu Bala Senâ – BBS (or Forces of Buddhist Power). While we are unaware of the legal status, more..

Jan 18 (DBS) The end was preordained. The quintessentially Rajapaksa-impeachment produced a quintessentially Rajapaksa Chief In-justice. Mohan Peiris, the trusted acolyte of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the man who lied to the world on behalf of his political masters, is the ideal choice to head the Rajapaksa judiciary, given the critical absence of a Rajapaksa Sibling, Son or Nephew capable of holding that fort. The elevation of more..

Jan 18 (CT) The govt’s behavior in handling the impeachment motion demonstrates that it has no respect for the rule of law. Although, its spokesmen repeatedly declare that everything was done according to the law it has failed to convince the legal community and the civil society within and outside the country. Another clear instance of govt’s disregard for the rule of law is the violence unleashed on the peaceful demonstrators on the 10th January by the political goons more..

Jan 18 (Island) Former Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka makes no bones about his disillusionment with the political forces he once mobilised to challenge his bete noire President Rajapaksa. It took him less than three years to lead the army to victory against what was once considered the world’s most ruthless terrorist group. But, more than three years have already elapsed since his dramatic entry into politics and he is still struggling to establish a bridgehead on the more..

Jan 18 (GV) The immediate post-civil war years of 2010 and 2011 in Sri Lanka were trumpeted as record-breaking eight percent or greater annual real growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two consecutive years including the highest ever economic growth rate of 8.3% recorded in 2011. However, the GDP growth rate in 2012 is unlikely to exceed six percent and the prospect for 2013 is even less. more..

Jan 18 (CT) Those who are in the ‘inner circle of the judiciary’ are fully aware that in the recent past the incumbent CJ, had turned down 6 or more improper requests made by the President Rajapaksa to meet him at the temple trees. It is important to mention that all this requests had been made only after the Supreme Court declared number of Bills presented to the Parliament unconstitutional. Inner circle also well aware that, when the CJ refused to meet the President, he had uttered that more..

Jan 18 (DN) An ensemble of traditional Ruhunu song, dance and drums, presented by Ruhunu Sanskruthika Mandalaya, will be held on January 19 at the premises of the organization No. 91, Sri Jayewardenapura Hospital Road, Madiwela, Kotte. According to a news release issued by Ruhunu Sanskruthika Mandalaya President Anuja Karman Wickremasinghe 10 dancers belonging to Thovil dancers of Ruhuna, will present over 15 varied items of popular dances, songs and drums for more..

Jan 18 (CI) The A-team is back. There's Michael "Hannibal" Clarke, who loves it when a plan comes together. There's David "B.A" Warner, the muscles of the operation. There's Matthew "Howling Mad" Wade, who had every right to be after Ian Healy's stinging criticism last week. The only one still missing is Shane "Faceman" Watson. Perhaps he's off with that intrepid reporter who was always hanging around the group. more..

Jan 18 (DN) Arrangements are in place to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in sugar within the next seven years, Minister Lakshman Seneviratne said. "We have made arrangements to launch a special programme for the next seven years to stop importing sugar," the minister said. This is to improve the productivity of Pelwatta and Sewanagala sugar factories, he added. Minister Seneviratne said so handing over new vehicles to the Sewanagala sugar factory. more..

Jan 18 (CT) Police arrested nine Lankan Tamil refugees at the Chenkalpattu Govt Hospital in Tamil Nadu yesterday, on charges of attempting to commit suicide. The nine Lankan Tamil refugees were admitted to the hospital, as their condition had deteriorated, following the hunger strike they had staged demanding that they be released from the special detention centres that had been set up to interrogate them on their involvement in militant activities. The refugees denying any more..

Jan 18 (ST) The accuracy of the data and statistics of a Sri Lanka report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was challenged by civil society groups at a discussion in Colombo this week. The discussion was part of the ‘Breaking Point Project, National Consultation on Civil Society’s Role in Realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Sri Lanka’ organized by local NGO, Alliance Lanka. more..

Jan 18 (Island) In celebration of its 20th anniversary, ‘Kala Pola’, Sri Lanka’s largest open air art fair launches ‘Kids Art’, an exhibition and sale of the masterpieces done by budding young artists, between the age of six and fourteen. Organized by the John Keells Group in collaboration with the George Keyt Foundation, the ‘Kala Pola’ presents an array of creations by local painters and sculptors for art lovers and enthusiasts alike to meet the artists, study, admire and purchase their work, more..

Jan 18 (Island) All efforts by the police, to stop protesting Ruhuna university undergraduates from entering the Matara town yesterday, were unsuccessful. Angry undergraduates caused chaos in the Matara town and refused to put down a dummy of President Rajapaksa. They marched in protest against Wednesday night’s assault of the student union president by an unidentified gang. Convener of the IUSF Sanjeewa Bandara said that the resident of the Students’ Council more..