July 25 (TC) When Tamil Nadu�s newly-elected Chief Minister publicly advocated an economic blockade of Sri Lanka and a war crimes trial of the Rajapaksas, Colombo responded with more than a touch of arrogance: �Sri Lanka deals with India and not with individual states�, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella declared, and added, snidely, �Ms. Jayalalitha is free to come here, with the permission of Delhi� (The Hindu). The Rajapaksa regime�s dismissive attitude towards more..

July 25 (NS) Jaffna Army Commander, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, speaks to The Nation on the role of the Army in Jaffna peninsula, especially in the backdrop of the local government elections. He says that so much had been done and many things to be done. With that political stability, when new people, new blood is infused into the society in the political stream, other issues could also be addressed for people to enjoy a normal life. more..

July 25 (Island) The outcome of Saturday's Local Govt (LG) elections was devoid of an element of surprise. The ruling UPFA swept the polls in the southern parts of the country flooring as it did both the UNP and the JVP. It has bagged 45 out of 65 LG bodies, the TNA 18 and the TULF 2. One may argue that the govt cannot be satisfied with its performance in the North as its mega development drive and election-related handout distribution did not yield the intended results. more..

July 25 (DM) The fact remains that whatever the outcome we witnessed at yesterday�s polls, the masses in their day to day battle against survival remain the losers. The victors will always remain those in power having the world at their feet or those with a closer proximity to them. The actual voter whose engagement with the political entity, be they national or at Pradeshiya Sabha level is at a continuing distance, the best reflection of the vacuum existing between the people�s concerns and more..

July 25 (ST) 22 year-old Ramachandran Dushani is days away from leaving the rehabilitation centre for female ex-combatants of the LTTE, at Poonthottam in Vavuniya. She�s happy to be reunited with her parents and sister after more than two years, but her joy is mixed with a feeling of apprehension about how accepting society would be of her, once she returns to her home in Wattakachchi in Kilinochchi. �I don�t know what to expect when I go home, but more..

July 25 (SO) The City Traffic Police (CTP) warned motorists to refrain from driving close behind ambulances and ministerial convoys since it could cause accidents. According to the CTP, some motorists and motor-cyclists were in the habit of driving their vehicles close behind ambulances and ministerial convoys thereby violating repeated police warnings. CTP Senior Superintendent of Police, Chula de Silva said that only ambulances, presidential, ministerial convoys and more..

July 25 (SO) Majority of the city star class and top hotels in the Colombo city are operating without a food licence from the Colombo Municipal Council which is issued to them after inspecting the food hygiene conditions, workers health and the cleanliness of the place, Chief Medical Officer of the CMC Public Health Department Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said. He said out of the 550 city hotels including the star class hotels which had obtained the food licence from the CMC last year more..

July 25 (Island) A leading financial analyst warned that the trade between Sri Lankan and European Union will considerably drop in the coming months due to the debt crisis that prevailed in the Union. " A large quantum of Sri Lankan exports goes to European Union will likely to beaffect in the future due to the prevailing crisis," Financial Analyst Dinesh Weerakkody said. He said that sometimes Sri Lankan immigrants may have to come back home because more..

July 25 (DM) The Ceylon Teachers� Union (CTU) says that seven member committees including a Provincial Education Director and Provincial Education Secretary with some of the officers responsible for irregular teacher transfers in the Eastern Province have been appointed to look into the same matter. The CTU has requested the authorities to hold an independent inquiry into the irregular teacher transfers made in the Eastern Province spending Rs. 4.5 million and more..

July 25 (DM) The killing of an elderly woman, who was around 65-years of age at Widagama in Bandaragama by an unidentified gang on Saturday evening, had sent shockwaves throughout the area. The victim, Menike, had been found trussed up and had allegedly been killed inside a room in a house at Sirirajas Mawatha, Widagama in Bandaragama where she had been working as a servant for more than 30 years. Inquiries revealed that she was all alone in the house at the time of her death and more..

July 25 (BBC) Selvarajah Ragunathan greets me warmly at his Jaffna home. His face is kindly but furrowed with sadness. He lost his brother and sister in the early years of the civil war, more than 20 years ago. Like many others, he left his rural home when the army took over the land. He worked for years in the Gulf but could not save much. Now he rents this place in the city - a quite spacious house with a garden, where he lives with his wife and more..

July 25 (ST) A record 250 entries were received this year for the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence Programme jointly organized by The Editors� Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), showing a growing acceptance among the wider spectrum of print journalists to what has become the most prestigious media awards in the country. This year will be the 12th edition of the industry driven Awards programme, which was first begun by The Editors� Guild in 1998. more..

July 25 (BBC) While the govt portrays the results of the Saturday's local elections in the north as a victory for democracy after the end of the conflict, the victorious party in the north has urged the govt to work on improving democracy. Susil Premjayanth, the secretary general of the ruling UPFA said that the voters in Sri Lanka has delivered a message to the international community. The TNA, he said, worked on an agenda against Sri Lanka together with the Tamil diaspora to more..

July 25 (CI) In an effort to cut costs, Sri Lanka Cricket's new interim committee, headed by Upali Dharmadasa, has decided to cut down on the staff at SLC headquarters in Colombo. The board has been in a financial crisis since the 2011 World Cup, for which they built two new stadiums, at Hambantota and Pallekele. When the new committee was appointed on July 1, the main task sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage set for them was to keep an eye on the board's finances. more..

July 25 (CI) Basnahira's bowlers held their nerve to deliver a one-run win against Combined Provinces at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Basnahira had been bowled out for 138 after electing to bat, but an incisive spell from offspinner Dilruwan Perera reduced Combined Provinces to 69 for 5 in their chase. Jeevan Mendis, who had taken 3 for 22 with his legspinners, produced with the bat too. He led his team's recovery in a 54-run partnership with Sachith Pathirana, more..

July 25 (DN) �The decision taken by people of the North and East at the recently concluded Local Govt Elections is greatly appreciated by the govt�, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said. �The vast majority of the country has accepted the Mahinda Chinthana programme. In addition, development programmes, such as, Divi Neguma, Gama Neguma, Maga Neguma which are being carried out to uplift the villages are also highly appreciated and accepted by the people. more..

July 25 (Island) Indian �Q� Branch Police says it has received information that there are LTTE members in the Sri Lankan refugee camps in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Roughly 100 families are currently taking shelter in the five refugee camps within the Sivaganga district and the Q Branch Police believes that remnants of the Tamil Tigers are amongst them. It has been reported that LTTE cadres who fled Sri Lanka during the final stage of more..

July 25 (DM) The fiercely-fought mayoral battle for the newly formed Kaduwela Municipal Council ended yesterday with G.H. Buddhadasa getting the highest number of preferential votes.Mr. Buddhadasa obtained 29,719 votes whereas the other aspirant, Buddhika Thusara, got only 23,621 votes. Mr. Thusara contested under the UPFA�s betel leaf symbol as a representative of the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) of Wimal Weerawansa. Both candidates campaigned vigorously for the post, and more..

July 25 (FT) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday strongly urged the political leadership to work towards an inclusive society by giving equal political and other rights to ensure a peaceful as well as an economically prosperous country. Delivering the Justice K. Palakidnar memorial oration at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Kumaratunga recalled the history that led up to the war and criticised many of the actions taken by past leaders. more..

July 25 (Island) Air Force athlete W.K.L.A Nimali bagged the gold medal of the open 5,000 metres to complement her record breaking performance on day one and was adjudged as the Best Athlete in the open category as the 29th Women�s Athletics Championship ended yesterady. The two day championship which was sans a number of top athletes, who were representing their respective teams in the World Military Games in Brazil, saw just two Sri Lanka records being established. more..

July 25 (ST) Pigeon Island had also faced destruction in the past. In early 1980, the reef was attacked by coral-eating star fish to the point of extinction, reducing the live coral cover considerably. Subsequently, the reef recovered. Coral scientists say that Pigeon Island corals, like any ecosystem, has the ability to recover, but points out the need for management measures to assist the recovery, as it is a slow and sensitive process. Pigeon Island is one of the Marine more..

July 25 (Hindu) The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Sunday called for a referendum among the Tamils in Sri Lanka on providing them with their due rights and bringing about a political solution to the ethnic issue. Equal rights were a long-pending demand in the island nation and a separate Eelam was once seen as the way to achieve it. But, divergent views and stands among Tamil groups came in the way of realising this objective, the DMK's general council said more..

July 25 (LB) A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Finance is to resign from his post shortly and head overseas, well informed govt sources said. According to these sources, this high-ranking official who is affiliated to the Ministry of Finance and Planning is to throw in the towel sooner rather than later, a move welcomed by several govt ministers and MPs. They added that this official is expected to resign consequent to the presentation of the 2012 budget this year, and more..

July 25 (LBO) Sri Lanka's tourism industry has earned 370.1 million US dollars in revenues in the first half of 2011, up 50.9 percent from a year earlier, amid a strong increase in arrivals, official data showed. In the six months to June arrivals had grown to 381,538, up 36.9 percent from a year earlier. The Central Bank data showed that tourism revenues had climbed to 41 billion rupees (370 million US dollars) from 27.9 billion (245 million US dollars) a year earlier more..

July 25 (LBO) The chairman of State-run CPC, Ashantha de Mel had "no choice" but to use zero costs derivatives to which went against him when oil price fell "dramatically" in 2008, according to a ruling by a London court. A London court which dismissed a counter claim by CPC that that de Mel and finance manager Karunaratne had no capacity to enter into contracts with banks, has said Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers had asked him to hedge oil "without delay." more..

July 25 (DN) Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena issuing a message on the election results of 65 Local Government bodies held on Saturday stated that the entire Sri Lankan community including the Northern and Eastern Provinces had accepted and approved once again the political and socio-economic perspective and programme presented in the Mahinda Chinthana policy by the President and the government. more..

July 25 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's ruling UPFA said Sunday that their landslide win in the weekend's local council elections was a vindication of government policies. "There is a clear message not only local but international that at the end of a 30-year war in the north the people were able to select the political party of their choice freely," Susil Premajayantha, a senior minister and the ruling party general secretary said. The UPFA won 45 of the 65 councils on offer. more..

July 25 (Island) The SLFP-led UPFA secured a comfortable victory at Saturday�s LG polls by securing 45 local bodies, while the TNA (18) and TULF (2) shared the remaining 20 local authorities in the electoral districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Digamadulla. Of the 16 local bodies in the Jaffna electoral district, the UPFA won Kayts, Velani and Delft. The TNA captured power in Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Tirukkovil and Karaitivu in the East. more..

July 25 (GDI) Institute of Human Resource Advancement (IHRA), University of Colombo with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) is calling for applications for Chinese Language Certificate Course aiming to enhance the basic knowledge relating to Tourist Guiding and International Business. Duration of the course is seven and a half months and will be held on weekends. Applicants who wish to follow this course should register on more..

July 25 (AT) Local govt authorities are planning to provide a proper training for the newly elected councilors of the 65 Local govt bodies. This will include law and procedure of the local govt system and the tender procedures and carrying out development programmes. Names of the new councilors will be declared by the election commissioner through a special gazette notification and new term of the local govt bodies will commence after one month following the gazette notification. more..

July 25 (LB) At the request of the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) an expert is to conduct a study on the tests done by the Kelaniya University to ascertain the levels of arsenic and mercury in pesticides in the presence of Prof. Priyani Paranagama. This was confirmed by Prof. Paranagama who said that she would be present when such tests are carried out. Meanwhile, Dr. Rohitha Nanayakkara - president, said that with stories relating to arsenic in paddy more..

July 25 (DN) National Youth Centre in Maharagama, saw the commencement of a new chapter in the socio-political environment of Sri Lanka, where the inaugural session of the National Youth Parliament, was held recently. Modeled after the Sri Lanka�s Parliament this is the country�s first step to join several developed nations in this advanced social experiment as it joins the peoples and nations of the world in celebrating more..

July 25 (ST) The tourism industry this week cheered a move by Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) to finally prepare the groundwork to spend on advertising and promotion of the country in the post-war era, an issue that both sides have been at odds. SLT Chairman Nalaka Godahewa said a committee inclusive of representatives of the two main industry associations and SriLankan Airlines has been set up to prepare a promotion campaign that will run more..

July 25 (ST) Reference is drawn to a well researched commentary on police matters by Rtd. Senior DIG Meryl Gunaratne renowned and respected for his analytical skills and deep understanding of sensitivities pertaining to National Security, Intelligence, and Police Administration. The article per se carried on June 6 is an in-depth analysis of the current police administration and perhaps may be of immense interest to the new administration. more..

July 25 (ST) A Sri Lankan businessman placed an order via internet for stationery items from a Malaysian based company. He sent e-mails to obtain quotations for the purchases and was satisfied with the prices quoted. He used his credit card and paid Rs. 800,000 for a container of stationery items. He was then told to pay up for the three containers he wanted to purchase. Accordingly, he paid Rs. 900,000 more. more..

July 25 (DN) The Local Government election result in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts has abundantly proved the Tamil people�s confidence in the government though opposition parties in the region carried out an organized political campaign to promote racism among the Tamil people by potraying humanitarian operation which crushed the LTTE terrorism as a war against Tamils, Minister Douglas Devananda said. more..

July 25 (DM) The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, presided over by Sri Lanka�s Former Chief Justice, Asoka de Silva, convicted former military chaplain Emmanuel Rukundo and sentenced him to 25 years in jail. Rukundo was charged with three counts of genocide, murder and extermination which were crimes against humanity while serving as the military chaplain of the Rwanda Armed Forces (RAE). more..

July 25 (Island) Dayasiri Jayasekera, the maverick UNP reformist, who is now increasingly distancing himself from that camp and is not one bit shy about announcing his own ambition to be the party and the country�s leader vows to fight every inch to prevent the country falling back into the bad old days. The man who also says he is in no hurry to achieve his aims as he is only 40 years old, however insists that more..

July 25 (ST) A search was launched for a foreign-flagged landing craft with a nine-member crew, including two Sri Lankans, after it went missing on July 10, while sailing from the southern port of Hambantota to Trincomalee in the east. The Iranian registered �Queen Mary� hired from a firm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has �disappeared� without a trace, along with millions of rupees worth of heavy salvage equipment. more..