Aug 23 (DM) The combined Socialist Alliance strongly supported the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) as a means of finding a lasting solution to the North-East conflict and said the APRC report could be used as a launching pad to start talks. LSSP leader and Minister Tissa Vitharana said that it was sad to see some members of the government and the opposition having a misconception that development alone could resolve the longstanding ethnic conflict. more..

Aug 23 (GDI) The Embassy of Japan in collaboration with the University of Peradeniya will present a Japanese �Yosakoi Dance�, on August 25 at the E.O.E. Pereira Theatre, University of Peradeniya, (Faculty of Engineering) at 6.00 p.m. followed by another performance in Colombo on August 27 at the New Town Hall auditorium, (next to Mahaweli Centre) at 6.00 p.m. The �Yosakoi Dance� will feature �Hokuto-gumi�, which is an elite unit of Team Yamabiko, more..

Aug 23 (Island) A new vaccine to fight Measles, Mumps and Rubella is to be introduced into the National Immunisation Programme. The spokesman for the Health Ministry said that the MMR vaccine would be introduced through the Programme from October 1. He said the GAVI Alliance (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) had agreed to provide the MMR vaccine which costs Rs. 1,200 to the NIP. Howeverm when contacted by �The Island,� for further details regarding more..

Aug 23 (LB) Everybody appreciates a tarred road. But not everybody can organize to get one tarred as quickly as Ranil Wickremesinghe did last week. The man may know nothing about administering a political party but, by god, he can get a road fixed... and by the president�s own ministry, too. Certainly, Ranil did quite well for himself last week. For one thing, he is still UNP leader. Still. This is a singular achievement. more..

Aug 23 (AFP) Australia captain Michael Clarke believes fending off the challenge posed by Sri Lanka's spinners will be the key to winning the three-Test series starting next week. The series, which opens at a traditionally spin-friendly venue in Galle on August 31, will be Clarke's first as Test captain since taking over from Ricky Ponting after the World Cup. Clarke said a 3-2 success in the one-day series against the hosts would stand his side in more..

Aug 23 (DM) The percentage of students who pass in Maths will be increased from next year and new methods will be introduced to solve Mathematical calculations easily, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. He said the objective of the new assessment book for Maths was to popularize Maths among students. �The new assessment book directs the teacher on how the student could be motivated more..

Aug 23 (DM) An organization claiming to be interested in the civil, social, cultural and moral welfare of the people in Sri Lanka yesterday filed an objection to the fundamental rights action filed by a human rights organization seeking guidelines from the Supreme Court with regard to the sentencing of those accused of rape and child abuse. Mervyn Dhanawardena, chief executive of Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) of Weligampitiya, more..

Aug 23 (DM) The support of the armed forces and the police will be obtained for solid waste disposal in the Health ministry�s endeavour to control dengue. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena was told at the progress review meeting that though there was a slight decrease of dengue cases in the island compared to last year, precautionary measures were necessary to face the North-East monsoonal rain as it was during this season that the dengue attempted to raise its head, more..

Aug 23 (Island) A five-day �Pacific Air Lift Rally 2011� is underway in Sri Lanka with the participation of the US as part of its overall efforts to enhance co-operation among countries in the Pacific region. Such an exercise wouldn�t have been contemplated during the conflict due to LTTE threats. The joint exercise was a sign of post-war stability in spite of various interested parties seeking to undermine the country. more..

Aug 23 (LT) An elephant calf being transported illegally from Devram Viharaya at Kollonnawa was taken over by the officials of the Dept of Forest Conservation on pressure from environmentalists say reports. The elephant calf was taken over by officialsof the Dept of Forest Conservation when it was being transported from Devram Viharaya belonging to Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala Thero to Allan Mathini Aramaya more..

Aug 23 (DM) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday those who hurled abuse at him were doing so with �hatred� due to their �egoism� and he would not get disturbed by them as he had developed �patience� by reading the Dhammapada every morning. �I learnt the importance of patience from late President J.R. Jayewardene. Like him I also read a stanza of the Dhammapada every morning and contemplate on it for at least five or ten minutes. more..

Aug 23 (Island) In spite of having hired at least three foreign PR firms to lobby, on behalf of the govt of Sri Lanka, in the US, UK and India, the country is facing growing criticism on the diplomatic front, govt sources acknowledged. Sources told The Island that the US and UK would step up pressure in the run-up to the forthcoming Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. more..

Aug 23 (AN) The Royal Court has forwarded the case of Sri Lankan death row housemaid Rizana Nafeek for an amicable settlement with the Saudi parents of the child she was convicted of killing, reliable sources told Arab News on Monday. Arab News learned that the case had been referred from the Royal Court to the Riyadh governorate through the Ministry of Interior during the first week of the holy month of Ramadan. more..

Aug 24 (LBO) A top tea exporter has suggested more cordial relations between plantations companies and labour unions could reduce "confrontational" approaches to wage negotiations. Merrill J Fernando, chairman of Ceylon Tea Services, which exports under the Dilmah brand, said there was an urgent need for govt and industry to work together to make the tea industry viable. The island's tea industry has repeatedly warned that escalating production costs, more..

Aug 24 (LP) An �On The Spot� investigation was conducted by the Police with the assistance of the Civil Defence Force at tuition locations in Nugegoda today to gather information and find how school going teenagers jumped tuition classes. Lankapuvath at the scene captured several photographs of �back gate� movement of the girls and boys who made their exit. This investigation was initiated by top Police sources following reports that young girls and boys jumped tuition and more..

Aug 24 (LBO) Distilleries Corporation of Sri Lanka, the island's largest distiller, said an artificial substance is being used to produce counterfeit coconut arrack, a drink made out of the fermented sap of coconut flowers or toddy. Harry Jayawardene, chairman of DCSL said that toddy supplies have become tight due to felling of trees in the island's south due to disease. A large number of trees had also been destroyed during a tsunami in 2004. more..

Aug 24 (LBO) Virtusa, a US-based firm which has a development centre in Sri Lanka, has struck a deal with the island's vocational training body to provide information technology skills to its graduates. The deal is the first project under a partnership formed last month between the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) to enhance the IT skills of graduates in the country. more..

Aug 24 (AD) The Ministry of Health has banned medical laboratory tests being referred to private labs, when necessary facilities are available in govt hospitals. The Health Minister has received several complaints of people being referred to private laboratories for medical tests such as blood, stool. Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed authorities to prohibit, with immediate effect, referring the public to private laboratories, as the govt has provided laboratory more..

Aug 24 (LT) An interview is being held today (23) from morning to recruit personnel to the National Savings Bank on the mediation of Messrs. Namal Rajapakse and Shashendra Rajapakse say bank employees. The son and the nephew of the President have called the interview without following any recruitment procedures to recruit their supporters as bank employees. The normal procedure is to call applications by putting a notice in the gazette and more..

Aug 24 (CI) Michael Clarke is, so far, providing ample evidence that he is a natural tactician and on-field leader, particularly adept in his management of spin bowlers and Mitchell Johnson. Numerous observers, Trevor Bayliss and Darren Lehmann among them, expected Clarke to add plenty to a team of humble means by marshalling his men with flair and vision. His batting has been quietly efficient, and in the final match there was the determined air of a man preparing mentally for more..

Aug 24 (BDN) Ten Barry students have described a charity school trip to Sri Lanka as a �life changing experience�, writes Luke James. During the trip the Barry Comprehensive pupils taught English at a local school for two weeks. Christopher Jones, James Arnold, Michael Walker, George Scott, Joe Hodgson, Luke Elworthy, Caelum Davies, Hannah Parker, Clara Danielson and Ben Callow took part in the trip, along with teachers Karen Walters, Rob Bourton and Julie Lander. more..

Aug 24 (FL) Sri Lanka's protracted internal conflict, which lasted for three decades, ended in May 2009, but landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) continue to kill or injure both people and animals. The country is now struggling to unearth an estimated 1.3 million landmines. Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor (LCMM), �a programme providing research and monitoring for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and more..

Aug 24 (UCAN) Parents and relatives of two priests who disappeared five years ago amid fighting between security forces and fighters of the LTTE have urged the govt to seek justice for the clergymen. The call came during a Mass last weekend for Father Thiruchchelvan Nihal Jim Brown and Father Wenceslaus Vimalathas, both of whom have been missing since August 20, 2006. The two men were last seen on a motorbike at a checkpoint in Allaipiddy, an area that at the time was tightly controlled by more..

Aug 24 (FL) AT 4-30 p.m. on a Friday, a herd of elephants reluctantly made its way from the Maha Oya (river) back to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, about a kilometre away, after two and a half hours of fun and frolic in the river and on the mud banks. As the herd trudged up the narrow stone-paved, souvenir-shop-lined street, one strange-looking elephant caught the eye. For those who had seen and known Sama (meaning eternal peace), a cow elephant and a victim of a landmine blast at the orphanage more..

Aug 24 (UCAN) In the remote, impoverished parish of Seemawelia, the local church and a group of determined Catholic villagers are working with Caritas to build a set of substantial brick houses, replacing the improvised clay dwellings they have used for years. It is perhaps ironic that the material needed to build the houses is what the residents have been sitting on all along; an irony that was certainly not lost on Shama Herath, one of the villagers. �Businesses often come here to more..

Aug 24 (LT) A fundamental rights case would be filed against the arrest of the former convener of the IUSF Udul Premaratne and another, remanding them for two weeks on false charges and harassing them for 1 � years claiming legal actions were being taken against them states IUSF. Mr. Udul Premaratne and the former President of the Faculty of Visual Arts at University of Visual and Performing Arts Gihan Seneviratne were arrested by Cinnamon Gardens Police in 2009 while more..

Aug 24 (DBS) A disturbing phenomenon in recent times has been the widespread panic in many parts of Sri Lanka about alleged attacks on women by unknown persons posing as devilish monsters. Reports in the media refer to them generally as �Grease devils� in English-�Kreese Pootham� in Tamil and �Thel Yaka� in Sinhala. This descriptive title is due to the fact that the assailants are said to be daubed in grease or some sticky, oily substance that more..

Aug 24 (DM) The police investigations into the case against ITN News and Current Affairs Deputy General Manager Sudharman Radaliyagoda and two other suspects have now been handed over to the Peliyagoda Special Crimes Division from Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau, the Peliyagoda police informed Colombo Fort Magistrate today. In this case Mr. Sudharman Radaliyagoda had been named as the main suspect over his alleged involvement in providing a forged document to more..

Aug 24 (GDI) Public servants who have joined the service after 1st of July 2007 have to obtain the proficiency certificate for the 2nd language before the end of next year. The Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration announces that salary increments of the employees who are unable to obtain the certificate within 5 years will be suspended. The relevant circular has already been issued by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs. more..

Aug 24 (DM) IGP N. K. Illangakoon assured today that the situation in Puttlam is now under control and normalising. He said that he instructed the police to continue with their routine duties, �We have not arrested any suspects so far,� he added. The Army and the elite STF took control of the Puttlam town after violent clashes erupted on Sunday night which resulted in the death of a 23 year old Police Constable and injuring five civilians. more..

Aug 24 (GDI) The newly appointed Israel Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alon Ushpiz paid a courtesy call on Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, today (23) at the Ministry of Economic Development. Discussions were focused on important issues such as strengthening and boosting the friendship and effective cooperation between the two nations. Economic, cultural and Scientific relationships between the two countries were also discussed. more..

Aug 24 (AFP) Police carried out mass arrests in northern Sri Lanka on Tuesday after residents clashed with troops alleged to have protected so-called "grease devil" sex offenders, officials said. At least 102 men were taken into custody in the Jaffna region when residents smashed two military vehicles, in a protest against the alleged sheltering of sex offenders by soldiers. "Grease devil" is a common local term for men who sneak into private houses at night to molest sleeping women. more..

Aug 24 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's port authority said it has asked China for $40 million loan to demolish a massive seabed rock obstructing the entrance of its new $1.4 billion Hambantota port, due to start commercial operations this year. The island nation launched the port in August 2010 with an initial target of handling 2,500 ships annually, as a cornerstone of a $6 billion drive to rebuild infrastructure that was neglected during more..

Aug 24 (LBO) Sri Lankan share prices slumped almost one percent Tuesday, falling for the third straight day, with gains in the health sector as investors bought into a hospital group, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed at 6,861.73, down 0.96 percent (66.30 points) while the more liquid Milanka index fell 1.17 percent (73.32 points) to close at 6,219.03. Turnover was 1.6 billion rupees. People's Merchant was the most actively traded stock, more..

Aug 24 (AD) At a time when people�s cost of living (CoL) is sky high, the govt is preparing to bring down 14 helicopters on loan, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake accused. Speaking at a media briefing regarding the govt purportedly ordering 14 Mi-171 helicopters from Rosoboronexport State Corporation under a Russian credit deal. It has been 2 years since the war has ended, however the govt is yet to reduce defense costs and provide relief to the masses, more..

Aug 24 (ST) Parliament sittings ended abruptly today as at least ten Governments and Opposition MPs who were listed to speak were not present in the House. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa called out names of several MPs who were listed to speak on an Order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy which was under debate but they were all absent. The Speaker then adjourned the House and called on UPFA MP Arundika Fernando to move the adjournment motion more..

Aug 24 (PRIU) A meeting was held with the chairmen and boards of directors of state banks with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday (22), in order to receive their ideas and suggestions for the preparation of the Budget 2012. The chairmen of the state banks presented information on the economic progress achieved by each bank by mid-this year. The meeting discussed length as to how the country�s state banks should adapt more..

Aug 24 (MoD) Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya has notified India Globe reporter Raghubir Goyal that statements he recently made during a U.S. Dept of State news briefing are drastically incorrect. In a letter to Mr. Goyal, Ambassador Wickramasuriya corrected accusations made by Goyal, and suggested that they meet to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka. The ambassador's letter to Mr. Goyal follows: Dear Mr. Goyal, As you may recall, we have met and discussed more..

Aug 24 (SL) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says the state of emergency will not be removed to make India, the US or UK happy. He says the President will decide what�s best. India has been pushing Sri Lanka to repeal the emergency laws which were in place mainly as a security measure during the war against Tamil Tiger rebels. With the defeat of the LTTE two years ago the Indian govt has continuously said that the emergency laws should be withdrawn. more..