Dec 20 (AD) The Cabinet today granted approval for the construction of Hostels for 400 males and 400 females at a total cost of Rs. 654.4 million, phasing it out over a period of five years commending from 2013 and subject to stipulated conditions. The proposal was made by S.B.Dissanayaka, Minister of Higher Education. Construction Seven Storied Building for the Faculty of Graduates Studies, University of Colombo. Cabinet approval was given to award construction of Stage 1 of more..

Dec 20 (DM) The Ministry of Finance & Planning today said that the Country has not lost any tax revenue for the racing cars imported for the use at the night races held recently in order to promote tourism industry and foreign investments. Issuing a statement the ministry said: The Ministry of Finance & Planning emphasizes that the statements made by certain interested parties that the Govt has lost Rupees 2022 Million due to importing more..

Dec 21 (NS) Deputy Minister for Resettlement Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan has said that providing job opportunities and vocational training to youth would keep them occupied and prevent them from resorting to illegal or violent activities Thousands of youth lost their lives and thousands more were left disabled as a result of the 30 years that the war raged. Youth in the North have over the years been accustomed to the violent situation and had to adapt accordingly. more..

Dec 21 (NS) We at Access Engineering are very pleased to be recognized at the National Business Excellence Awards 2012. Whilst we benchmark ourselves to be in the forefront as a business enterprise providing value engineering services to our diverse clientele, every now and again we appreciate the opportunity to benchmark our performances with all business enterprises in Sri Lanka. The National Business Excellence Awards is known for its diligent process in selecting more..

Dec 21 (SO) 2012 has been a momentous year for her where she was crowned as Derana Veet Miss Sri Lanka 2012, became the Most Popular Contestant with an astounding 32,604 votes and even debuted as an actress. And in the very year, Vinu Udani Siriwardana headed to China to vie for the title of Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International. Despite her busy schedule she spared some time to share more..

Dec 21 (CT) Rajapaksa regime is using one of my articles on the independence of the judiciary to justify their witch hunt against the Chief Justice. As Spinoza said this is not to laugh, not to lament, not to detest, but to understand. The govt has created a television advertisement with my article and an opposition MP�s speech and broadcasting it repeatedly. Regime-support journalists like my friend C. A. Chandraprema has been quoting the same article for weeks. more..

Dec 21 (Island) State banking giant Bank of Ceylon has opened its Premier Banking Centre to provide a personalised private banking experience in an exclusive environment for high net worth clients. BOC Premier Banking customers are provided with a branded personalised cheque book along with branded Debit Card with a higher withdrawal limit, a Platinum Credit Card, special interest rates and tailor-made banking privileges. A wide array of deposit products and wealth management more..

Dec 21 (ST) In keeping with the promise he made when he took over the Lankan cricket reins for the second time a year ago, Mahela Jayawardena has decided to abdicate after the gruelling Australian tour. We salute him for that. Without pushing a new captain at the deep end � like the way Dilshan had to wade through the quagmire in England �Mahela has stayed on to take on the tough Kangaroos on their own backyard and more..

Dec 21 (DBS) The recent decision of the President to seek further advice before deciding whether to proceed with the impeachment against the Chief Justice is most welcome. It suggests that he feels concern about the position to which various elements in govt were propelling the legislature. There is no doubt that there have been several misjudgments with regard to the treatment of the Chief Justice. It was certainly unusual that someone with no previous experience of more..

Dec 21 (DBS) Struggle of JVP was an insurgency that did not demand the division of the country but the struggle of LTTE wanted division of country. President wanted DPF leader Mano Ganesan to explain this fact to the Jaffna University students who had alleged to have commemorated the later. President Mahinda Rajapaksa made the above view responding to Ganesan�s appeal to the President to directly intervene in the matter of the Jaffna University students and prevent the more..

Dec 21 (Island) It was said that Sri Lanka would struggle once off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan departed. Only half of that is true. Sri Lanka, no doubt have had their ups and downs in Test matches since the champion spinner�s retirement, but not because of spin bowling. Rangana Herath has fitted into the equation like a duck taking to water. The national team�s struggles are due to two reasons. One of them is fast bowling and the other, more..

Dec 21 (Island) Weather gods continue to unleash hell. They show no mercy. Floods, earth slips, rock falls and gale force winds are reported from many parts of the country and the resultant disasters have left about 23 people dead and 180,000 displaced. The number of victims is increasing. The worst affected districts are Hambantota, Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Moneragala, Batticaloa, Kurunegala, Puttalam and Kegalle. The situation is bound to take a turn for the worse more..

Dec 21 (CT) On the 22nd of March, 1952, D.S. Senanayake, first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon, passed away after falling off his horse, during his morning ride at Galle Face. It is widely known that his son, Dudley Senanayake succeeded him. It is not so widely known that the circumstances of the succession were controversial, and Sir John Kotalawala, then Senior Vice President of the UNP, and more importantly Leader of the House, had fully expected to be called by more..

Dec 21 (Island) Three frontline CEO�s of listed banks said that they were taking the challenges posed to them by the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on the adjustments needed for the economy reaching the US$ 4000 per capita income level. This follows Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal�s keynote address to the Banking Directors and CEOs on Dec 11 under the theme �Positioning the banking sector more..

Dec 21 (ST) The consumption of rice goes back to the very beginning of Sri Lankan history and civilization. Until foreign forces invaded this fair isle, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was a nation second to none because it was self sufficient in the staple food � rice. �Rice was not only our staple food but was also the base for short-eats and sweetmeats. Fed and nourished by this wonder food- rice, our ancestors accomplished feats that were the wonder of the rest of the world,� more..

Dec 21 (DN) Shilpa 2012, the National Exhibition and Trade Fair, organised by the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry will be held from December 27 to 30 at the SMICH. This annual exhibition and trade fair is organised to motivate craftsmen and small and medium scale entrepreneurs. It will be opened by Minister A H M Fowzie. Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, S B Navinna and Bandula Gunawardena will be the Chief Guests on more..

Dec 21 (FT) Krrish Group, planning to put up an ambitious $ 500 million mega multi-complex real estate venture in Fort, has this week advanced a further Rs. 1.4 billion to the UDA bringing the total to Rs. 2 billion as part of its lease payment. The handover of lease, estimated to cost Rs. 5 billion is still being processed by the UDA under MOUs signed between the parties but Krrish said the fresh advance payment more..

Dec 21 (ST) Sri Lanka's private sector is supporting local inventors, specially the young ones, in a big way owing to the inability by the state to fund the creations of young inventors. In fact one of the topmost business concerns in Sri Lanka, Brandix which has wings in India and Bangladesh, is calling all those who have new ideas to come to them for help. These facts were revealed at the Sahasak Nimavum 2012 National Awards for Inventors 2012 held last week at the BMICH more..

Dec 21 (SAO) Citing a recent piece in the local National Post about a defected Sri Lankan soldier exposing atrocities committed by Sri Lankan forces during the last stages of the ethnic war, the Toronto-based Canadian Tamil Congress has said that Colombo is not serious about addressing Tamil grievances. In a statement, the CTC said the Sri Lankan soldier's story comes just after the release of a highly critical UN internal report in Nov which blamed the UN for not preventing more..

Dec 21 (CT) The four Jaffna University undergraduates placed in rehabilitation camps following their arrest, agreed to go into rehabilitation on their free will, police said yesterday. Police Media Spokesperson, SSP Prishantha Jayakody, said despite claims made by student unions and human rights movements, the four undergraduates agreed to be rehabilitated willingly, and were not forced by the police. more..

Dec 21 (CT) The support of even unprincipled politicians is essential, in order to ensure stability in a country, Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena declared. �In the same way that support of people of all walks of life, including professionals, is necessary for the progress of a country, unprincipled politicians� support too is essential. Otherwise, a country could slide down into crisis situation, similar to what happened in Libya, Syria and Egypt,� he pointed out addressing the Annual Alumni Association more..

Dec 21 (Island) Minister Kumara Welgama claimed that he did not get a wink of sleep from the 20th to 28th of every month due to the inability to pay salaries of Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) employees. The govt credited Rs. 10,100 to each employee�s account every month and the balance had to be paid by the respective depots. Some SLTB depots were neglecting the payment of the balance the salaries. He had taken necessary action to investigate the revenue shortages in more..

Dec 21 (TOI) Three more LTTE men are moving around in Tamil Nadu, investigators questioning the four LTTE operatives arrested on Wednesday have learnt. One of the three, as part of a plan to revive the organisation in Sri Lanka, is said to be in Madurai, trying to bring together sympathisers of the outfit that had been destroyed by the Sri Lankan army in 2009. On Wednesday, based on information provided by the more..

Dec 21 (CT) The main opposition, UNP, vowed to launch a series of anti-government agitations in January next year, to express condemnation over the crisis in the Judiciary, Kurunegala District UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. Addressing the media yesterday, he said all the public sectors in the country are on the verge of collapse. �The education system is in a mess. The health sector has become quite unstable with the doctors and nurses engaging in trade union actions. more..

Dec 21 (FT) BOI said yesterday it has signed an agreement with Havelock City (Private) Limited to establish a mixed development project which will include a shopping mall with multiplex Cinema, restaurants, shops, entertainment areas and an office complex. The value of this investment is over Rs. 27 billion (of which US $ 5 million is FDI). This project will provide an estimated 243 direct employment opportunities. �This is another flagship development by Overseas Realty which more..

Dec 21 (Island) President Rajapaksa will discuss the findings of the PSC, on the Impeachment Motion against the CJ Shirani Bandaranayake, with a group of intellectuals before he decides on any course of action, the govt said. Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella said that no action would be taken outside the legal framework and the Constitution. The Standing Orders that governed the current parliament was in force since 1984 more..

Dec 21 (AT) Sri Lanka and Grenada established formal diplomatic relations on 19th Dec 2012. Dr. Palith Kohona, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, signed the MoU on behalf of Sri Lanka, while Ms. Dessima M. Williams, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Grenada to the UN, signed on behalf of Grenada. Dr. Kohona spoke of the similarities in the history between Grenada and Sri Lanka as spice producers and as members of the Commonwealth. more..

Dec 21 (Island) The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has taken steps to provide more jobs in the Korean fisheries sector for youth from the Eastern Province. SLBFE Chairman Amal Senalankadhikara said that this step had been taken to employ those youth in national economic development. He claimed that the migrant workers from the Eastern Province had contributed their foreign exchange to the country�s development indirectly. The SLBFE would provide more..

Dec 21 (Island) More than 19,000 people continued to be displaced, 14 were reported missing and the death toll reached 25, due to floods, caused by torrential rains in 15 districts during past three days. While the flood waters were receding in most areas yesterday, more bad weather was forecast from tomorrow. According to latest figures, 314,916 people, belonging to 80,534 families, were affected due to floods in the Puttalam, more..

Dec 21 (DN) The Disaster Management Ministry will provide a report to the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry on public officials who have neglected their duties during the latest disaster situation which occurred as a result of the inclement weather, Minister Mahindananda Amaraweera said. He said the Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister had agreed to take action against public officials who neglected or failed to perform their duties affecting the coordination and more..

Dec 21 (DN) The first ever baseball ground in Sri Lanka and also in South Asia constructed at the Mahinda Rajapakse International Sports Complex, Diyagama with the funds provided by Japan will be declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday. The govt of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP) has provided a sum of US $ 111,607 of grant assistance along with US $ 136,400 from Japan International Cooperation (JICA) to the more..

Dec 21 (Island) President�s Counsel Romesh de Silva yesterday told the Court of Appeal that Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was not given enough time and details to disprove the charges levelled against her. The purchase of a Trillium Residence was in the name of her sister and even for that, the necessary details and ample time were not given for her to explain the earning capacities of her sister and her brother-in-law, who more..

Dec 21 (DM) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday promised an impartial investigation and extra police protection for Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Wijeydasa Rajapakse after gun shots were heard outside his home last morning. Mr. Rajapakse said the President�s visit was an informal one and that nothing related to the impeachment of the Chief Justice was discussed during the visit. �The President assured me that additional security would be provided and more..

Dec 21 (TE) West Indies and Sri Lanka will renew their rivalry when they face each other in a limited overs Tri-Nation Series next year, that also involves powerhouses India. The tournament, which runs from June 28 to July 11, will be hosted in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. West Indies were originally scheduled to host Sri Lanka in two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals, but the tour has now been deferred to allow players from both teams to participate in the IPL. more..

Dec 21 (Hindu) With a parliamentary panel finding her �guilty� of misconduct, it is certain Sri Lankan Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake days at the helm of judiciary are numbered, but that has not prevented various groups of people from rallying around her. �The issue is getting a lot of traction in Sri Lanka. It is not like the time when the impeachment process began,� said a senior diplomat. A few opposition politicians, and more..

Dec 21 (FT) The Court of Appeal will decide today whether to issue notice on respondents and grant interim relief in the writ application filed by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake against the findings of the Parliamentary Select Committee. Upon hearing submissions by lead attorney for the Chief Justice, President�s Counsel Romesh De Silva, the three-judge Appeals Court bench decided to reserve its order to be delivered at 11 a.m. today. The petition was taken up for support before more..

Dec 21 (MSN) Sri Lanka are tapping into Lasith Malinga's local knowledge as they prepare for their first MCG Test in 17 years. None of the current tourists was around for Sri Lanka's only previous Test at the ground - the Boxing Day Test of 1995 - when Muttiah Muralitharan was famously no-balled for throwing. Retired Test speedster Malinga, playing in the Big Bash League with the MCG-based Melbourne Stars, was at his national team's training session on Friday, talking with coaching staff more..

Dec 21 (Island) The Police are probing a shooting attack on the residence of UNP MP and Bar Association president Wijedasa Rajapakshe. Gun shots had been fired at President�s Counsel Rajapakshe�s residence, situated down Vijayabha Lane in Nawala, at around 12.20 a.m. yesterday. On hearing of the incident, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, MPs Susil Premajantha, more..

Dec 21 (DM) At Christmas time, Santa Claus might have to give Sri Lanka not toys or teddy bears, but a new constitution where political bears won�t be able to play around with the sovereignty of the people. At present, Sri Lanka is facing one of the biggest constitutional crises over the move to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, with an eminent lawyer telling the Supreme Court last week that barbarians are trying to invade the temple of justice. The CJ, on Dec 6, walked out of the PSC more..

Dec 21 (DM) Reading news has become a depressing business, but there was something there on Wednesday to gladden Kumbhakarna�s slumbering heart � a front page picture of a smiling young woman holding an indignant-looking snake in her hands. From both faces, Kumbhakarna knew at once that this story, unlike most told in Sri Lanka these days, has come to a happy ending. And it has indeed. At a time when the justice system itself has fallen into a snake pit, it�s heartening to more..