Nov 3 (LG) When you travelling through mountains in Sri Lanka especially in tea growing areas you would notice some spectacular yellow booms along the road. When you travel further and nearby forests, you can see some yellow booms through the forest areas as well. This invasion is being happened in Balangoda, Knuckles, Haldummulla, Ohiya, Suriyakanda, Rakwana and few more areas in higher country. What is this �yellow booming� plant. more..

Nov 3 (LG) What�s even more disturbing is the military�s obvious intrusion into civilian affairs. On our way up to Jaffna, my friend and I decided to grab a quick cup of coffee at what can be vaguely described as a Sri Lankan roadside caf�. We were served by an army guy. Army personnel are also working in various shops where household items are sold. I have read that the military has even gotten involved in tourism. This is absurd. The war is over. more..

Nov 3 (SO) Stepping into Ananda College for the first time is one of my life�s most precious moments. For me, that precious moment came in January 1981 as a Grade 6 student. Way back then, Ananda did not have a primary section and classes ranged only from Grade 6 to 12. I was fresh out of Asoka Vidyalaya, just a two-minute walk away. All my brothers and even sister (!) had been students of Ananda (the school used to have a very few girls from time to time), more..

Nov 3 (LG) We have just liberated the North from the terrorists. How can we devolve power when other Tamil militants are stalking the land.? Have we eradicated Terrorism or the LTTE ? Why do we still live in fear ? Is it not because we have been made to fear the terror tactics of all Tamil militants ? Is one Tamil militant better than the other ? History has proved that they never changed. There is a lucid interval in every criminal Tamil Terrorist ? History has proved that more..

Nov 3 (LG) I wish to refer to Milinda Rajasekerea�s informative article on poverty which appeared on 31 October 2011 in the Sri Lanka Guardian and add my own views on this very important but much misunderstood issue. It is reported that more than 80 percent of the global population lives in countries with wide differentials of income which are rapidly widening. Only 5 per cent of the global income is earned by a massive 40 percent of the world population and more..

Nov 3 (SO) Envisioned as a part of creating an authentic village in the city, Kolamba Kamatha (Threshing floor in Colombo) has been launched recently coinciding with the launch of lyrist and poet Bandara Eheliyagoda�s CD �Saduta Avanatavee� on October 19. The Kolomba Kamatha was created in the back yard of the BMICH in the middle of the paddy field which has been there for over 10 years. The outer periphery of the Kamatha is the terraces more..

Nov 3 (GV) Dear Sir, At the last general meeting of the Batticaloa Peace Committee our talks led us to the conviction that we should speak out. We commemorated then the grouping of tragic events in our vicinity 21 years ago that proclaimed the vast gap between the aspirations of the Tamil people and the blindness of national leaders. With this short list of violent events, the die was cast, setting the nation on a continuous confrontation that ended only with the annihilation of any hope of equality of more..

Nov 3 (GV) Sunimal Fernando, speaking from the audience at my presentation on Sri Lankan English at the recent conference on Language and Social Cohesion (Colombo, 17-19 October), confirmed my own conclusion, that while the �English as a Life Skill� programme continues, Sri Lankan English has been quietly dropped from the agenda. This may be welcome news to those who feel Sri Lankan English has no relevance to English language teaching in Sri Lanka, but I more..

Nov 3 (ST) He enters as a 40-year-old but leaves as an 80-year-old. This is the devastating image of a stroke victim who enters a normal medical ward that Neurologist Tissa Wijeratne paints graphically to drive home the point that the management of �brain attacks� should be carried out in a Stroke Unit under a vital multidisciplinary team. Commending the huge efforts of the �Stroke Champion and Pioneer� in Sri Lanka, more..

Nov 3 (Island) America's debacle in Paris the other day has eclipsed all its 'achievements' during the past few months such as the killing of key terrorists and the ouster of the Gaddafi regime. The conferment of full UNESCO membership on Palestine has come as a diplomatic knuckle sandwich for the US-led western bloc on an aggressive campaign to shore up its international image and reassert its global dominance. The kneejerk reaction of the US to the UNESCO fiasco was to more..

Nov 3 (SL) Rajya Sabha MP, Dr. Sudharshana Natchiappan visiting Jaffna on 27 October, with a team of �international parliamentarians� was pointedly asked by Jaffna media, if he is part of the Delhi agenda in �colour washing� the Rajapaksa regime, neat and clean. A difficult task, with other reports getting on the public domain. A working visit to Sri Lanka by three Malaysian MPs, Datuk Johari Abdul (Sungai Petani), Suadara Manoharan (Teluk Intan) and Senator S. Ramakrishnan more..

Nov 3 (NS) In the murky world of criminal gangs one rule supersedes all others. One who pulls the trigger first lives, while the victims, however powerful, join the long line of �dead men tell no tales.� In Colombo�s underworld a man known as Karate Dhammika reached the top by the same method, disposing of the heads of a number of other gangs to be crowned the latter day Al Capone. Rarely seen in public, living a very secretive private life, his command was more..

Nov 3 (DN) The Sri Lankan public can obtain any type of health information regarding any disease / health issue by contacting specialist doctors attached to the Health Net by simply dialing the hot-line 0710107107 or log on to www.suwasariya.gov.lk. Information can also be obtained through chatting (without revealing your identity), email, through SKYPE or through SMS using your mobile. Confidentiality of all information exchanged through Health Net will more..

Nov 3 (DN) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in a press release issued yesterday, said the tax on petrol helped to offset the loss incurred by the sale of diesel at a subsidised rate to a certain extent. Levying of a tax on imported fuel had been a procedure customarily followed throughout history and the UNP govt too imposed a tax of over Rs 25 per litre fuel during its tenure, the CPC said. The release added: "The landing cost of a litre of diesel is Rs 112 but more..

Nov 3 (DBS) The October 30th attack on France-based chief of LTTE is attributed to an on going internal power struggle. Nadarajah Matheenthiran alias Parithy a.k.a Regan, head of the LTTE front in France, Tamil Coordinating committee (TCC) was attacked in Paris. When Matheenthiran & 2 bodyguards left the TCC office on Sunday (30)night a gang of 6 with clubs&knives were waiting outside the premises. The LTTE trio were clobbered with more..

Nov 3 (Island) The recall of misfiring fast bowler Dilhara Fernando into the national side has been greeted with dismay and disbelief in some quarters as national cricket selectors had agreed that the 32-year-old was past his best after a disappointing series in England, where he returned home early with a hamstring injury. But his sudden recall to the side for the ODI series against Pakistan surprised many and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan provided the answers why Fernando was more..

Nov 3 (TN) Even though the war ended three years ago in the East, houses and lands belonging to Tamils in Ward Four of Era�voor village in the Era�voorpaththu-Chengkaladi DS division are still under the control of the Sri Lankan forces in the name of High Security Zone. The villagers displaced twenty one years ago in the year 1990. The roads that lead to Tamil settlements located 16 km off Batticaloa city along Batticaloa-Vaalaichchenai highway still remain blocked. more..

Nov 3 (DBS) Joint action taken by the Trincomalee UC along with the ,Police has restored the �be-headed� SJV Chelvanayagam statue�s head in Trinco town. The �de-capitated� head of the respected Tamil leader was affixed again through�reparatory sculpture�&the statue�re-opened�for public viewing. The damaged statue being restored in its original position in a �holistic�state with some�imperfection�within 24 hours has reduced tensions. more..

Nov 3 (Island) Leader of the Opposition in the Kandy Municipal Council, Neranjan Wijayaratne, addressing the first meeting of the recently elected Council, pledged to support the ruling UPFA in all moves for the benefit of the city and its citizens. He also urged the party in power to implement the election promises given by the UPFA. Mayor Thushantha Mahindra Ratwatte chaired the meeting. The govt had promised to implement development projects worth Rs. 220 billion in Kandy, more..

Nov 3 (Island) The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) earned Rs. 70 million in fines from January to October. They conducted 27,123 raids in all parts of the country. The highest that the CAA earned in its history was Rs. 28 million. Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando told �The Island� that the fines had increased by 238 per cent from last year (2010) and the number of raids by 249 per cent. He further said that he had instructed the Chairman of the CAA Rumy Marzook to increase the number of raids more..

Nov 3 (DM) The All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union today charged that the report on the Alawwa train collision released today, which stated that the accident was due to the negligence of the railway driver was incorrect and that the report was meant to tarnish their image to protect others politically involved. The union�s General Secretary S. Manawadu said the three-member committee did not have the skills or the expertise required to more..

Nov 3 (Island) The water levels of 69 reservoirs, managed by the Irrigation Department, had increased due to the prevalent inter monsoon rains. "The current overall water level is about 42 percent resulting in an increase of more than 10 percent," Director General of the dept, G.G.A. Godaliyedda said. During the last month the overall water level was about 30 per cent. The reservoirs managed by the Irrigation Dept could hold a total of over 2.8 million acre feet of water and currently the reservoirs hold a little over 1.5 million acre feet. more..

Nov 3 (Island) The Management of the Malabe Private Medical College denied the contents of the story �Students leave Malabe PMC� published in The Island of October 28. A clarification issued by the management states: The Management of the Malabe Private Medical College strongly denies the contents published in �The Island� of 28 October headlined �Students leave Malabe PMC�. The Management states that South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) has not more..

Nov 3 (CI) Two days after the Southwark Crown Court's landmark verdict in the spot-fixing investigation, Pakistan's players will have to forget about their former team-mates and focus on five days of hard Test cricket. They play at a venue favoured by their predecessors but much has changed since those heady days of the 1980s. In 2001 the Indian government banned the national side from playing there but Pakistan's exile as a cricketing more..

Nov 3 (RSF) Reporters Without Borders has written an open letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa urging him to take whatever measures are necessary to protect Frederica Jansz, the editor of The Sunday Leader, and to ensure that those responsible for last week�s death threats against her are arrested. The threatening letter Jansz received on 27 October was prompted by her 2009 interview with Gen. Sarath Fonseka, a former army commander and presidential candidate in 2010, more..

Nov 3 (TI) Deadly landmines still lurk under roads and forbidding forests hold other perils, but that hasn�t deterred hundreds of Indian workers from building homes in a different land. Not for themselves but for Sri Lankan Tamils who lost their houses in a bruising ethnic conflict that lasted over 26 years. According to latest estimates by human rights organisations, there were still about three lakh internally displaced people in Sri Lanka, all victims of more..

Nov 3 (Island) Two companies listed on the proposed Expropriation Act are making profits while one of them controlled by a UNP politician is being harassed by rival politicians. Assets of Sevanagala Sugar a subsidiary of the Daya Group of Companies controlled by Gamage family, members of the UNP, and Pelwatte Sugar, a public quoted company have been listed in a proposed new act for takeover by the state. more..

Nov 3 (Island) The Cyber Security Week (CSW) 2011 conducted in mid- October featuring many activities, some of them introduced for the first time, was a tremendous success, said Presidential Advisor and ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) Chairman Professor P. W. Epasinghe. In a glowing tribute to CSW 2011 organizers the Professor said that Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Team | Coordination Centre had conducted the Week very well. Set up in 2006, as a subsidiary of ICTA, more..

Nov 3 (LBO) Banking regulator has urged bank directors to be more diligent and use their skills to ensure the health of their own institutions and that of the financial system. Central bank governor Nivard Cabraal said that although the economy was growing fast with the end of the island's 30-year ethnic war in 2009, global uncertainty made it tough to maintain the pace and stability. "You must attend board meetings, you must be reading board papers, asking the right questions more..

Nov 3 (DM) Russia�s Gazprom, one of the largest gas and oil companies in the world, has agreed to start work on offshore oil exploration in the Mannar Basin, the Petroleum Ministry said yesterday. The company also agreed to send a team of technical experts for the preliminary work in this regard during the next three weeks. Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha said he held talks with Gazprom Vice Chairman Valery Gulev during his four-day visit. more..

Nov 3 (Island) The Sri Lanka Society for Medical Laboratory Science (SLSMLS) urged the administration of the Colombo National Hospital (NHSL) to implement the circular issued by the Health Ministry on out sourcing laboratory tests. President of the SLSMLS, Ravi Kumudesh said that the circular had been issued by the Health Ministry over a month ago instructing lab tests to be carried out at the NHSL. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena visited the NHSL more..

Nov 3 (Island) The academic activities, including exams at all universities countrywide were interrupted yesterday due to a sick note campaign launched by the administrative staff and non-academic staff of universities, sources said. Inter Univeristy Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) staged the token strike demanding an immediate rectification of salary anomalies. The examinations that were to be held at several Universities had to be postponed. The new date would be fixed, authorities said. more..

Nov 3 (Island) Critically injured MP Duminda Silva had been taken from the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital for treatment abroad on Tuesday night against medical advice as he had not recovered enough to be discharged. A family member acting as his guardian had signed the Left Against Medical Advice (LAMA) discharge form. It is learnt that three other ambulances had accompanied his ambulance to the Ratmalana airport, while a security helicopter flew more..

Nov 3 (Island) Controversy surrounds a move to create the post of CEO at the country�s premier investment promotion agency, the Board of Investment. Sources said the Treasury was pushing for the new post with the backing of the Economic Affairs Ministry. They said that the new appointment would make the post of Chairman redundant. Those wanting the new post were now seeking Cabinet approval in the wake of the long standing Deputy Director General of the BOI, A.M.C. Kulasekera retiring. more..

Nov 3 (DN) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa graced the official launching of the Freedom Speaks documentary movie produced by a group of young enthusiastic film makers for the uninformed world that unknowingly supported terrorism in Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, at the Tharanganee cinema hall in Sri Lanka Film Corporation premises. 'Freedom Speaks' reveals unspoken ground reality of Sri Lanka's war is an investigative documentary movie based on true ground witness more..

Nov 3 (DM) The COPE which investigated 249 govt-owned institutions have found that the losses incurred by them during 2007 - 2009 exceeds a staggering Rs.19 billion, a COPE official said. He said the loss-making institutions included the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the State Timber Corporation (STC), Rupavahini, Lankaputhra Bank and Mihin Lanka among others. more..

Nov 3 (Island) Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda met representatives of the factory owners from the Industrial Estates, including those of Horana and Pallekele, at the ministry recently and sorted out their problems. One of the main problems was the 40 per cent increase in rentals on lands allotted to them and the non-provision of vital infra-structure facilities as per the agreements that had been entered into. more..

Nov 3 (Island) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka is always committed to protecting the independence of the judiciary. This is considered their prime objective, BASL president Shibly Aziz, President�s Counsel, said. The BASL, being an independent professional body, always work in the best interest of its members as well as for the independence of the judiciary in the country," Aziz told the media at a conference to announce its annual flagship event "National Law Conference-2011" more..

Nov 3 (LB) A survey conducted recently reveals that 50 percent of what is currently on the internet is unsuitable for children. However, social scientists opine that precluding children from logging on to the internet, entirely, is not the best course of action at this point in time. They say that it is the responsibility of the parents to guide their children on what they should source from the internet and what they should avoid. more..

Nov 3 (SL) She was easily the most beautiful girl in the village and it was her continuous burst of energy and courage that helped her face the ups and downs in life; but today, as she lies in bed, helpless Jezima realizes that this �down� time in life is here to stay� The first time Abdul Cader Jezima went to Saudi Arabia was in 1996. �I love you very much,� her husband of one month, had told her. more..