Apr 21 (CT) Aminal al-Filali was fifteen when she was raped. According to Morocco’s penal-code, a rapist could escape prosecution if he married his victim. Amina did not want to marry her rapist; but the rapist was willing, her parents were willing and the judge was willing. After several months of abusive marriage, Amina drank rat-poison. She was just sixteen. Amina’s suicide caused a national uproar against the country’s ‘rape marriage law’. In January 2014, Morocco’s parliament more..

Apr 21 (CT) The crushing cost of living, which has come under criticism constantly over the last few years it's something the govt has not given any serious thought to except providing the people with some relief by bringing in price controls or reducing taxes on certain commodities, resulting in the prices of those commodities coming down in the short-term. This has been a phenomenon observed when elections are around. But with the euphoria following the winning of the elections, more..

Apr 21 (CT) Senior Minister Professor Tissa Vitarana who was not included in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) expressed his disenchantment with the govt's handling of the political solution, and said there is no point summoning the TNA to the PSC if the govt does not have a genuine commitment to address matters pertaining to the country's national issue. He said the TNA had decided to boycott the PSC because more..

Apr 21 (DM) Homagama Zonal Education Office today announced the closure of three schools in the Seethaawaka Divisional Secretariat Division for three days as a result of a Dengue outbreak in the area. The schools closed were -- Hanwella Rajasinghe Central College; Pahathgama Roman Catholic College and the Hanwella Mayadunne College. Dengue was reported to be spreading rapidly and that a student had died more..

Apr 21 (Island) A deeply concerned Negombo business community is pushing the police to review security measures in the wake of a second major armed robbery this year at a jewellery shop on the main street last Thursday at 7.30 pm. Deputy Minister Sarath Gunaratne said that business community as well as the political leadership in the area wanted law enforcement authorities to take tangible action to neutralise more..

Apr 21 (Island) The govt of Pakistan was working closely with Sri Lanka to thwart attempts to smuggle in heroin into Sri Lanka, a spokesperson for the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo said. The official was responding to a query in the wake of Sri Lankan authorities arresting a 53-year-old Pakistan national along with a Canadian passport holder of Sri Lankan origin, following the seizure of 36 kgs of heroin more..

Apr 21 (CG) Former Norwegian Minister and special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim, says he conveyed to the LTTE leadership the messages which the Govt wanted conveyed. Solheim was responding to allegations that he had several contacts with the LTTE during his time as special envoy to Sri Lanka during the war. “(President) Mahinda asked me to convey numerous messages to (LTTE leader) Prabhakaran. more..

Apr 21 (CI) For almost 18 years, there was hardly a better time to be a Sri Lanka cricket fan than the past two weeks. The WT20 party hurtled seamlessly into the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in one uninterrupted sequence of exploding firecrackers, and the nation drew deep from the taste and noise of success. But two weeks is all you get. As the head coach contemplates jumping ship, euphoria has begun to dissolve with more..

Apr 21 (SL) The theory of an international conspiracy is gaining ground within the govt. The state media is giving considerable attention to the Canadian decision to stop funding the Commonwealth during the tenure of President Rajapaksa as its Chairman. Canada was also one of two countries that officially boycotted the CHOGM in November 2013 because it was being held in Sri Lanka. The Canadian position is that more..

Apr 21 (ST) Every year, April brings about a cheery and festive mood to Ishara’s residence. The National New Year celebrations are extra festive in her family as it is her birthday too. But this year was different. Her parents were alone during the New Year and celebrations were on low key because Ishara, a first year Allied Health Sciences student at the University of Ruhuna did not come home for Avurudu. more..

Apr 21 (Bernama) Sri Lanka offers immense opportunities for Malaysian investors, especially in infrastructure development, Malaysia's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Azmi Zainuddin said. The Sri Lanka govt is determined to attract investments to the country after the end of the 30-year-long civil war in 2009, he said. "Malaysian companies have always been here, even during the war, especially in more..

Apr 21 (DM) UNP MP Harin Fernando, a vocal member of the opposition, at an interview with Daily Mirror expressed his views on the UNP crisis, the election results and the way forward for the ‘grand old party’. Below are texcerpts from the interview. Q: There is this notion that people like you, who support or are propping up the present UNP hierarchy, should be held responsible for its decay. Isn’t that notion justified? more..

Apr 21 (DM) There are not many societies in the world that are socially and culturally uniform. This is particularly so in societies that attracted migrants from other territories. America attracted and accommodated a wide range of ethno-religious groups into its fold. The process of accommodation of diverse communities there was guided by the dominant idea of a melting pot; the incoming groups and individuals were expected to adapt to the dominant ideas and values of the country of more..

Apr 21 (DM) If further evidence was required of the breakdown of the rule of law and the politicisation of the Police Department, it came live with television footage when five UNP MPs—elected representatives of the sovereign people visited the Rajapaksa homebase of Hambantota for a first-hand official infection of the controversial MRIA and the MMRP. Opposition leaders and most independent analysts are describing it as the 'Hambantota doctrine' more than 40 years after more..

Apr 21 (CG) The Govt says there is no room for extremism in the country and any attempt to promote extremism will be thwarted. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that a small group of people were attempting to promote extremism in the country. While refusing to name any group, he said that the public will decide who are extremists and who are genuine. “Whoever the extremists are they are a threat to national reconciliation. more..

Apr 21 (CT) Acting Opposition leader John Amaratunga said a special UNP Parliamentary group meeting will take place today, to discuss the future course of action, in the wake of the recent attack on a group of UNP MPs in Hambantota. Subsequent to the meeting, Party MPs would decide on what course of action they should resort to as MPs. He also said details of the attack would be conveyed to the Inter Parliamentary Union, as the international community should be made more..

Apr 21 (Island) Health Ministry and the GMOA have pointed to the govt the danger involved in the patient care at private hospitals due to non-maintenance of specialist registries. As some private hospitals did not maintain a specialist registry, some foreign doctors were practicing medicine as consultants in those hospitals, the GMOA alleged. GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya said that for want of specialist registry the private sector hospitals were a law unto themselves. more..

Apr 21 (CT) Committee member of the Asgiriya Chapter, Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, defended the intervention of the General Secretary of BBS, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who stormed a press conference jointly organized by Muslim clergy and Buddhist monks. Instead, Thera blamed Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who he said was 'completely responsible for the destruction of the forests belonging to more..

Apr 21 (Island) UNP MP Sajith Premadasa whose name cropped up over the attack on five UNP MPs visiting the Mattala International Airport and Magampura Harbour denied all allegations made against him by certain interested parties. He said that those were stupid allegations and even ludicrous and atrocious if the people were to believe them. In the first instance, he was never invited to join the five UNP MPs Ajith Perera, Eran Wickremaratne, Nalin Bandara, more..

Apr 21 (DN) President Rajapaksa has instructed the Anuradhapura Mayor to halt all constructions within 500 metres of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precinct. The President also advised him to not to permit any construction that would be a threat to the sacred bo-tree. This decision has been taken following certain media reports that highlighted a possible danger posed to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree from a car park which is being constructed near the bo-tree. more..

Apr 21 (CG) TNA says the Tamils in Sri Lanka want autonomy and welcomed a call to this effect made by the National Peace Council (NPC). TNA leader R. Sampanthan says the best way the govt can avoid international pressure following the adoption of the recent resolution at the UNHRC is to agree to give Tamils autonomy. The NPC had last week urged the govt and other political parties in the country to urgently set up institutions to more..

Apr 21 (ENS) In the heated debate relating to ethnic conflict between SL Tamils and Sinhalese-dominated govt, the problems and aspirations of Malaiha Tamils (hill country Tamils of Indian origin) do not find any mention. This subject is of vital importance, because Sri Lankan Tamils, mainly the diaspora, are keen to mobilise the support of 80 million Tamils spread across the globe. At the same time, they are reluctant to make common cause with their Tamil brethren in the hill country. more..

Apr 21 (AT) The High Commission of Sri Lanka participated in the inaugural Malaysia International Tea & Coffee Expo 2014 (MITCE 2014) which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 27 to 31 March. The Fair was a unique tea and coffee promotional event in Malaysia, co- organised by the Tea Trade Association of Malaysia, Malaysia Muslim Restaurant Owners' Association and Perstauan Pengusaha Serbuk Kopi & Teh Selangor & W.P with the support of the diplomatic missions of more..

Apr 21 (FT) A 21 member’s delegation of the National Defence University (NDU) Pakistan, headed by Major General Noel Israel Khokhar, HI(M) will be arriving in Sri Lanka today on a weeklong visit. The visit aims to gain overview of the defence, economic, domestic and foreign policies of Sri Lanka. It will also help in exploring areas of mutual interest for enhancing mutual cooperation in various spheres. more..

Apr 21 (DN) The country’s higher education sphere will benefit when Sri Lanka hosts the World Conference on Youth 2014 (WCY) in May, UGC Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said. She said this conference, being held in an Asian country for the first time, is a valuable opportunity to attract more international students to our universities. Hirimburegama said the youth participants from various parts of the world could be made aware on the opportunities they have more..

Apr 21 (CT) The JVP yesterday condemned the attack on a group of UNP parliamentarians, who were on a fact finding tour in Hambantota. JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath claimed the attack was not carried out by the masses, but by Madamulana thugs. "Parliamentarians are people's representatives. Therefore, any attack against parliamentarians is an attack against the public. This incident is a clear example of the jungle law prevailing in the country," he said. more..

Apr 21 (PTI) Launching a blistering attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the first time during the current electioneering, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday charged her with shedding crocodile tears for TN fishermen on poll eve. “Sonia Gandhi is shedding crocodile tears for fishermen during elections after doing everything against Tamil fishermen and in favour of the Sri Lankan govt,” Ms. Jayalalithaa said more..

Apr 21 (LBO) Sri Lanka needs private equity to play a bigger role in financing business which will help them grow faster with less leverage and become world beating firms, the Central Bank said. The central bank said it its recently released annual report that "it is imperative to strengthen the role of private equity as a major source of financing for Sri Lankan enterprises." "The central bank is very keen that private equity funds come and operate in Sri Lanka," Governor Nivard Cabraal said. more..

Apr 21 (FT) The Oxonian Heart Foundation (OHF) a charity organisation registered both in the UK and Sri Lanka launched a public awareness cum fund raiser campaign in Jaffna during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year period to begin cardiac care (heart surgery) in the North of Sri Lanka. A leading private hospital in the peninsula, Northern Central Hospital has offered an ICU and space for surgical operations. The OHF aims to provide free cardiac care for deserving people of the North more..

Apr 21 (ST) Sri Lanka’s National Coach Paul Farbrace was strongly tipped to be named into the England coaching team yesterday. If so Farbrace will become new England coach Peter Moores’ second-in-command. Moores’ appointment was confirmed by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). But any news relating to Farbrace’s appointment did not surface from the ECB camp. Moore was named by the ECB to replace more..

Apr 21 (Island) Exemplary Indo-Sri Lankan ties would redound to the political and economic benefit of both countries as well as the region as a whole. A peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka, enjoying close ties with India, would be a factor of strength for India. Equally, friendly relations with India are a crucial determinant of Sri Lanka’s future development prospects, given its proximity, large and growing market, technology and human resources, Vivekananda International more..

Apr 21 (Island) Following a special investigation conducted by police a businessman from Vavuniya was taken into custody yesterday for receiving money from LTTE groups operating overseas. The police have sealed a sports club owned by the suspect in the North. The police traced the numbers recorded on his mobile phone to residents in Canada, India and several other countries. They were either members of the Tamil disapora or LTTE activists. The suspect had worked very hard more..

Apr 21 (FT) SL businesses will soon have greater access to Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) funding, with the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM) selecting a leading local bank to carry out the due diligence process of proposed projects. The selection of the bank was after four months of intense search of an ideal partner to carry out the processes of due diligence and Know more..

Apr 21 (ST) The Tokyo Cement Group recently opened its second Biomass power plant to supply the largely rural region of Mahiyanganaya with 5MW of energy. This Rs. 2.4 billion plant by Tokyo Power, the energy arm of the nation’s leading cement and concrete manufacturer, Tokyo Cement Group, is an initiative to build on its expertise in sustainable biomass power. “Tokyo Power launched the Mahiyanganaya plant after successfully pioneering the first plant of its kind in Sri Lanka more..

Apr 21 (Island) Discovery of gas in Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajaaksa has announced in Kandy during his recent visit there that "an exploration team has discovered a huge deposit of natural gas in the sea bed", as reported in the website of the Ministry of Economic Development. This is indeed good news to all those concerned about protecting our environment (This news was surprisingly not picked up by any news media). This will also relieve the country of the heavy more..