May 20 (SO) A former member of the elite Ceylon Civil Service and one-time Ministry Secretary, Director of Information, Lake House Chairman, international civil servant of the Paris-based UNESCO, writer and literary critic, Dr. Sarath Amunugama is the Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation in the UPFA Government. He often shuttles between Colombo and Washington to negotiate foreign aid for the country. more..

May 20 (NS) Former Army Commander and former Presidential Candidate, Sarath Fonseka, is in all likelihood to be released from prison shortly. While the terms of his release are not yet finalized, all indications point to this controversial man re-entering the social and political world he had to leave unceremoniously a little over two years ago. Few would disagree that Fonseka played a key role in the comprehensive military defeat of the world�s most ruthless terrorist organization, the LTTE. more..

May 20 (LB) By the time you read this editorial in print, former army commander Sarath Fonseka would probably have had the first taste of freedom following his recent state of incarceration. His release portends well for the country, and primarily it�s a signal that the tumult that resulted in the aftermath of the war against the LTTE due to the landmark nature of the Tamil Tiger defeat, is itself coming to an end. This bodes well. However, there would undoubtedly be those who see a more..

May 20 (SO) The leader of the EPDP and Minister Douglas Devananda says the three years after the end of war has given many things to the Tamil people who had been deprived of their rights in the past. Yet there are so many other things they have to win, such as a political solution to the problems faced by the people in the North and East. He is confident that Tamil people will be able to find the solutions for the pending problems in the future. more..

May 20 (Island) The release of General Sarath Fonseka from prison is now onna menna as the Sinhala language so pithily has it. It would happen anytime now and may have even already happened when you read this comment. The vast majority of the people of this country will be glad that, even belatedly, his prolonged trauma would at last be over. Whatever his flaws (and which human being is without flaws?), his contribution to the ending of LTTE terror in Sri Lanka was undoubtedly formidable. more..

May 20 (ST) Yesterday's 'spit and polish' tri-services parade at the Galle Face in Colombo to commemorate the more spectacular military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 was overshadowed by the swirling stories that the incarcerated Commander who led those men then was to be released. The parade was held under a cloud as it were. Already, certain quarters, especially abroad are throwing words such as "triumphalism" and asking whether the glorification of the 'war' victory is not more..

May 20 (NS) External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris undertook arguably the toughest assignment of his political career this week when he traveled to Washington for a meeting with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This engagement, falling short of a meeting at the heads of state level, is a direct result of the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in March and is a reflection of the diplomatic challenges lying ahead for Sri Lanka. more..

May 20 (NS) Addressing the nation yesterday at the solemn, but impressive celebrations held at the Galle Face Green to mark the 3rd anniversary of the victory over the LTTE terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he is not prepared to compromise the country�s security by dismantling the army camps in the North. He pointed out that the Tamil Diaspora and the LTTE rump quite active abroad have not abandoned their cherished goal of a Tamil Eelam. The President said: more..

May 20 (NS) Speculation was rife throughout last week regarding former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka being released through a Presidential pardon to coincide with the 3rd anniversary of the end of the war. Discussions behind the scenes between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and key figures in the Fonseka camp took place on several occasions. Then on Thursday, President Rajapaksa�s media spokesman Bandula Jayasekera confirmed to the media that more..

May 20 (Island) The week before last, just days before the launch of my book Gota�s War, TNA MP M.A.Sumanthiran made a mighty hue and cry in parliament about the subtitle of the book "The Crushing of Tamil Tiger Terrorism in Sri Lanka." He alleged that the term �Tamil Tiger Terrorism� depicted Tamils as tigers and terrorists! This I believe is not a charge that can hold any water because the entire international media, including The Economist, The Washington Post, more..

May 20 (LB) No prizes for guessing what was the abiding concern of politician, journalist and man on the street this week. That the president met his estranged ex-General�s wife, Anoma Fonseka, at dinner at Tiran Alles�s house last week is now old hat known by almost all Sri Lankans. But why Tiran Alles? And why now? And didn�t the president give Tiran Alles virtually the same cold shoulder that was given to ex-SLFP strongman Mangala Samaraweera, who was summarily kicked out of the party? more..

May 20 (ST) A quick poll on Thursday by the Business Times (BT) on the crisis at the National Savings Bank (NSB) vis-�-vis a tainted stock market transaction, found near-unanimity in the call for the removal of bank chairman Pradeepa Kariyawasam and its directors. The poll which drew more than 400 respondents, from different professional and civil society segments, also saw 100 % of the respondents saying the authorities "had failed in more..

May 20 (Island) BBDO set up house in Sri Lanka in late 2011. A member of Omnicom Group, Inc. BBDO Asia is a global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications company with functioning locations in 18 countries, said Managing Director, BBDO Lanka, Santosh Menon. Chief guest at the inaugural launch of BBDO�s mechanical air cleaning billboard, Deputy Minister of Environment, Abdul Cader said that initiatives to conserve the environment, as demonstrated by BBDO, more..

May 20 (ST) Members of the Outdoor Advertising Association (OAA) have hit out at the new regulations regarding outdoor advertising introduced by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). The regulations specify the size of the advertisement hoardings that can be put up in the City and the areas where they will be permitted to come up. According to the new rules the CMC will not give permits to put up hoardings at junctions, religious places, close to statues and historical more..

May 20 (Island) The Sri Lankan govt yesterday celebrated third-year anniversary of its triumph over the LTTE with an impressive combined security forces and police parade in Colombo as the two LTTE front organizations, the UK-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and Transnational Govt of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) announced a common strategy to bring President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s government in to its knees. more..

May 20 (LB) Environmentalists criticized the govt�s decision to allow transport of sand without a permit stating that it will lead to a spike in illegal sand mining that in turn would lead to major socio-environmental issues. �Sand mining has already become a main issue in some parts of the island and the transport permit was the best defence available to combat this menace,� said environmentalist lawyer Jagath Gunawardane. He added that although one needs a separate permit to mine sand, that requirement has been widely ignored by those who handle transport. more..

May 20 (SO) Deputy Minister M.L.A.M. Hizbullah last week focused on the increasing number of juvenile marriages and juvenile pregnancies in the country and said that it has become a threat to the younger generation in a civilised society. He said in addition to child abuse and rape cases, juvenile marriages and juvenile pregnancies are also reported from various parts of the country. He said that creating awareness among schoolchildren, parents, elders and members of civil society on more..

May 20 (NS) While the decision to release Sarath Fonseka is welcome news, he needs to explain his stance on national issues if he intends to continue with his political career, according to Chairman of the National Trade Union Centre and former JVP MP K.D. Lal Kantha. Lal Kantha said when Fonseka ran as the common opposition candidate at the last Presidential election, he did not have any political experience and was purely a military officer. more..

May 20 (ST) International Union of Conservation of Nature�s (IUCN) Business and Biodiversity Programme (BBP) for Asian Region which was recently established in Sri Lanka, intends to start a new project for Coast Conservation with the support of the private sector. The world's biodiversity is down 30% since the 1970s, with tropical species taking the biggest hit, according to the latest Living Planet report released last week. �Leaving protection of biodiversity to govts alone will not work, and all of us need to come forward to conserve Earth�s Biological Diversity,� more..

May 20 (SO) The war against Somali piracy must be fought on two fronts: battling the country's pirates and feeding its people. That was the view of envoys from seven countries whose citizens have been held by Somali pirates. The diplomats from Italy, the Seychelles, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania and Thailand were in Abu Dhabi to discuss ways to end piracy.They broadly agreed that the keys were military action, restoring law and order, and increasing aid. "Yes, we must get rid of the bases of pirates to avoid attacks, but more..

May 20 (ST) Assets of those designated by a Competent Authority as engaged in terrorist activity will be liable for seizure, according to new regulations formulated by the External Affairs Ministry. The regulations have been made by the Minister under the United Nations Act of 1968 and are intended to give effect to a 2001 UN Security Council Resolution which sets out wide-ranging strategies to combat terrorism, in particular the financing of terrorism. more..

May 20 (NS) The recommendations of the LLRC could not be challenged in court, a legal expert claimed. UNP MP and Attorney-at-Law, Wijedasa Rajapakshe said court did not have jurisdiction to direct the LLRC, as it was appointed by the Presidential Commission. �They are only recommendations. These recommendations cannot be challenged in courts,� he said. Meanwhile, Minister Douglas Devananda had repeatedly stated that he would take legal action against the LLRC, as more..

May 20 (Island) UNP MP Harsha de Silva rejected claims made by Minister G.L. Peiris in Washington comparing the growth rates of the northern economy with that of the national economy. Peiris who met with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said that the economy in Northern Province was growing as much as 22% while the average for the rest of the island was about 8%. De Silva said that the 22% growth for the Northern Province was a nominal figure which includes inflation in more..

May 20 (ST) Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Monitoring MP for the Ministry of External Affairs, has sent what he calls the following "clarification": "Reference the article that appeared in the Sunday Times of 13 May, 2012 under the heading, "Sajin, GL cause of grave commotion in South Africa". "The article states that the Hon. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena has issued a condolence message on the demise of the late Radhakrishnan Padayachchee at the State Funeral more..

May 20 (CT) Former Indian Foreign Secretary and the Indian envoy to Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao was shown black flags in Pondicherry by the `We Tamils� party members yesterday. The protestors in the former French colony in South India shouted that Nirupama Rao assisted the Lankan Govt to win the war in Sri Lanka. Sixty protesters who had shown black flags against Nirupama Rao were arrested by the Police and detained at the Pondicherry Central University where, the former Indian envoy to Sri Lanka arrived to receive an honorary doctorate. more..

May 20 (Island) As a war veteran and the key military strategist who ended the three-decade long war, Sarath Fonseka should be released unconditionally and given absolute freedom to lead a normal life sans any restrictions, says UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa. Speaking to journalists after visiting the former army commander at the Nawaloka Hospital, he said that Fonseka was imprisoned because he contested the presidential poll as an opposition candidate. more..

May 20 (CT) After more than two years in prison, former Army Chief, Sarath Fonseka is likely to walk out a free man tomorrow. Officials confirmed the former Army Chief will be released on Monday, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa remitting Fonseka�s sentence under the powers vested in him by the Constitution. DNA MP and chief negotiator for Fonseka�s release, Tiran Alles, reportedly met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 4 p.m. yesterday to iron out more..

May 20 (OT) MUSCAT Migrant labour contributes to 33 per cent of Sri Lanka�s foreign exchange and eight per cent of its GDP, according to Dilan Perera, Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare. �Sri Lanka is one of the major countries that sends citizens for foreign employment and nearly 25,000 locals leave the country every year for overseas jobs,� said Perera, who is on a three-day visit to the Sultanate from Thursday. more..

May 20 (ST) My Dear Sarath, I thought I would write to you once again because by now, you must be counting the hours for your release and eagerly waiting to savour the freedom you so longed for. I must congratulate you not only for that but also for not asking for a pardon for nearly two years in the face of severe pressure and a significant risk to your health. That shouldn�t surprise us, of course. You were someone who had enough courage to take on the Tigers when everyone else was shaking their heads and saying that it couldn�t be done and more..

May 20 (LBO) Sri Lanka�s President Mahinda Rajapakse has signed papers to pardon jailed ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, his aide said Sunday, a day after the island marked three-years since defeating the Tamil Tigers. Rajapakse inked the papers on Friday evening and passed them to his chief-of-staff, his spokesman Bandula Jayasekera said. �The papers will be sent to the Ministry of Justice on Monday,� more..

May 20 (Island) The SEC Friday announced that according to arrangements that have been finalized, Taprobane Securities Private Ltd. (TSL) will pay the Sampath Bank approximately Rs. 387 million that the bank paid the sellers on account of the controversial NSB � TFC deal plus interest. As has been widely anticipated and reported in these columns the sellers will take back the shares and make good the consideration paid by Sampath even though NSB who bought the shares on more..

May 20 (NS) Former Norwegian Minister and Sri Lanka�s peace envoy Erik Solheim blamed LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran at a seminar he addressed in Oslo last week. Dismissal of proposals for a joint solution, not heeding to international advice and sole dependence on a military solution were three blunders committed by Prabhakaran, Solheim recalled. He spoke on the topic, �Three years since the end of Sri Lankan war�. In the recent past, India voting for the UN resolution against Sri Lanka was an important event concerning Sri Lanka, he said. more..

May 20 (ST) Leaders of both the UNP and the TNA will make separate announcements in Parliament next week on important political issues if behind-the-scene consultations with the govt, now under way, bear fruit. At Temple Trees: The UNP delegation led by Ranil Wickremesinghe discussing the national question with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and senior Ministers. The most significant among these announcements will be that the two parties will more..

May 20 (SL) Colombo�s only abbatoir, the one at Dematagoda, has had allegedly been non functional for the past two years. As a result, beef, needed by Colombo�s consumer has to be got from out side the city, resulting in the receipt of the carcass at the butcher�s retail outlet, sometimes a day after the slaughter, raising questions of hygiene. And there is that all too often complaint, of allegedly having to bribe the police when transporting such carcasses to Colombo more..

May 20 (SO) All arrangements are now complete to unload all car carriers at Magampura, Mahinda Rajapaksa Port from May 31 onwards with the opening of customs and SLPA to open offices there, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri told the Sunday Observer. "All car carriers bound for Sri Lanka can unload the cars at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Port from May 31 enabling the Colombo Port to make use of the space made available for the parking of cars", he added. more..

May 20 (SL) The exchange rate (ER) further weakened to the Rs. 129.80 level on the back of import demand to end last week at Rs. 129/70/90 in two way quotes. However call money rates and market repurchase transactions held at the previous day Thursday�s levels and so also did Treasury Bills and Bonds in secondary market trading, he said. Meanwhile reports that Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal having had more..

May 20 (ST) Former UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya seems to have more time on his hands now. Just last Thursday, he signed as witness for seven different weddings, some for the brides' side and some for the groom. He seems to be getting more social invitations than before. Last week, he also received a letter from a counsel representing the UNP Disciplinary Committee calling for his explanation for violating discipline and bringing disrepute to the leader. more..

May 20 (ST) The Inter-University Students� Federation insists the Govt withdraw the circular stopping the transfer of new entrants to A/L classes from one national school to another. The circular, issued earlier this month by the Ministry of Education, has been put on hold after parents and students protested. The ruling is unfair because it prevents students who excel at the GCE O/L from transferring more..

May 20 (LB) The third anniversary of the defeat of the LTTE and the end of the three-decade long civil war, was officially marked on a grand scale yesterday. The date May 19, 2009 has been marked or commemorated in the country, during the past three years, as the day on which LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran�s corpse was located at the Nandikaddal lagoon in Mullativu. At the time around 300,000 displaced persons had returned from Wanni to Vavuniya, with a small number having more..