May 28 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday completed 42 years since becoming a Parliamentarian, having first entered Parliament as its youngest MP in 1970. President Rajapaksa was elected a Member of Parliament for the Beliatta electorate at the May 27, 1970 general election. He succeeded his father D A Rajapaksa to Parliament and represented the same electorate his father did from his first election in 1947. He was the Labour and Vocational Training and Fisheries more..

May 28 (Island) The Employees Provident Fund has not transferred to the accounts of EPF members a total sum of Rs. 3,450 million recovered through legal procedure from defaulting employers who had failed to pay contributions, an audit inquiry has found. The Auditor General�s report on the EPF Board for the year 2010 says that the Labour Commissioner has been able to recover the aforesaid sum from the employers who had not been remitting the more..

May 28 (NS) The TNA is yet to decide on its involvement in Sarath Fonseka�s political future. Despite welcoming the release of Fonseka, the TNA seems skeptical, as Fonseka was yet to make his political stance clear. �There are several reports on his future political activities. Some say he is going to form a political party while some say he would actually support the govt if it does the right things,� said TNA MP, Suresh Premachandran. The TNA supported Fonseka�s candidature at the last Presidential Elections. more..

May 28 (Island) Close on the heels of losing his cabinet portfolio, Erik Solheim, one-time Norwegian envoy handling the Sri Lankan peace process has suffered another setback with the govt overlooking his bid for the post of the country�s UN ambassador. Diplomatic sources said that Geir Pedersen, a senior foreign ministry official was expected to be appointed Norway�s permanent representative in New York. Director General of the foreign ministry, Pedersen visited Colombo last December. Following the recent cabinet shake-up, more..

May 28 (Hindu) The ITAK, the main constituent of the TNA � the lone credible representative of Tamil people in the Northern Province � has refused to revisit its constitution, which seeks the establishment of a separate state, at its 14th national convention in the Eastern headquarter town of Batticaloa. The Sixth Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, enacted in August 1983, prohibits political parties from having more..

May 28 (Island) The UNP led administration of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) rejected the claim made by one of their former stalwarts M. H. Maharoof that he is the UPFA Group Leader. Mayor of Colombo A. J. M. Muzammil told The Island that Maharoof had written to him as the UPFA Group Leader requesting some chairs to be replaced in the Group Leader�s office. He said that he could not accept the request from Maharoof as he was only a UPFA Councillor. more..

May 28 (Island) No one has been arrested so far over the suspected arson attack on the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) new office building at Katthankudy in the early hours of Saturday. The building was to be opened by party leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem. Deputy Minister M.L.A. Hisbullah told The Island yesterday that according to what he had heard, there was a dispute among the members of the SLMC and that may have led to the incident which he condemned. more..

May 28 (AN) Sri Lanka will introduce new practices in the Kingdom to market its labor potentials in a professional manner, the island's ambassador to the Kingdom said yesterday. Ambassador Ahmed A. Jawad was speaking to Arab News following his arrival from Amman, where he had attended the recent regional consultative meeting of the heads of Sri Lanka diplomatic missions and officers attached to more..

May 28 (DN) Minister Prof GL Peiris returned to the island after successful official visits to Washington DC, Russia and Kazakhstan where he gained the confidence of these countries on Sri Lanka's ongoing national reconciliation process and its efforts to find a lasting home-grown solution to the national issue. External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama said the Washington think tanks, Senators and US Secretary of State were impressed with more..

May 28 (Island) Having released thousands of LTTE cadres taken into custody at the conclusion of the conflict, the govt intends to pursue legal action against those who are hardcore elements. Of some 12,000 held in May, 2009, over 10,000 were released in batches over the past two and a half years. The remaining suspects are held pending rehabilitation. Prosecution witness, EPDP leader Douglas Devananda will testify at the Colombo High Court today more..

May 28 (LB) Minster of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne who previously stated that the seaplane operation would be halted due to loss of revenue, now says it will go on irrespective of the venture making profits or losses � as it is useful for travellers who want to reach any destination within the island, faster. The Aviation Ministry media secretary Jinadasa Rajapaksa said, �Initially we thought it might not be necessary but more..

May 28 (IRIN) Three years after Sri Lanka�s 26-year civil war ended, thousands of former fighters of the LTTE face an uphill battle in re-establishing themselves, despite govt efforts to rehabilitate them. "I�m struggling a lot economically. I don�t regret the loss of the LTTE, but I wish there was a better support system for us,� said 34-year-old Raja from Batticaloa District in eastern Sri Lanka. He was in the separatist movement from 2005 to 2008 and more..

May 28 (Xinhua) The police in Sri Lanka arrested 113 people on Monday as they attempted to sail to Australia illegally by boat. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said that six human smugglers were also arrested in a pre-dawn sting operation. He said that the would-be illegally asylum seekers were arrested in the capital Colombo and in the coastal town of Negombo, located approximately 37 km north of Colombo. more..

May 28 (GDI) The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development will launch a mega project today to transform Colombo into a 'Garden city of the East'. The Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP), financed by a concessionary loan to the amount of US$ 213 million aims to reduce flood risks, improve urban infrastructure and services, develop road network and environment in Colombo and suburbs. more..

May 28 (ST) The Central Environment Authority (CEA) is to purchase 100 noise level monitoring meters at a cost of Rs.30 million to check vehicle horn noises after regulations are passed in Parliament this week. The units, one costing about Rs.300,000, are to be distributed to the Police and Motor Traffic Department - the implementing bodies. Central Environment Authority (CEA) Chairman Charitha Herath said, once the Motor Traffic Act is amended adding more..

May 28 (IBN) Sarath Fonseka, DNA leader and former Sri Lankan army chief, said that power should be devolved to the Tamil minority only after trust between the Sinhalese and the Tamils is restored. �There is so much mistrust and suspicion between the two communities built up over the years by politicians on both sides of the ethnic divide. This is why solutions like devolution of power is not accepted by the Sinhalese,� he told Express at his country retreat more..

May 28 (BBC) Sri Lanka's defence secretary has said it is not appropriate to view the north of the country, over which a separatist war was fought, as a predominantly Tamil area. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who many credit with defeating Tamil rebels, also said there were few civilian casualties in the war's closing phase. Human rights groups say tens of thousands died at the end of that war. He also cast doubt on accounts of enforced disappearances more..

May 28 (DM) Over the years, the significance of maintaining road discipline and its obvious absence from the roads of Sri Lanka has been subject to constant discussion. Yet, no amount of talk has been able to bear any fruit. Tragedies on-the-go have become such mundane occurrences that, their high prevalence has long ceased to generate shock or disgust in the minds of the public, as they ought to have done. Frequent sensationalized reporting in the newspapers and television channels too have failed to increase the people�s awareness, more..

May 28 (LBO) Sri Lankan stock prices continued to tumble, with the main indice breaching the psychological 5,000 barrier, brokers said. On Monday, the broader All Share Price Index shed 1.49 percent or 74.66 points to close at 4,935.01m while the liquid Milanka Price Index fell 1.86 percent or 84.57 points to end at 4,441.56. Monday�s turnover was 395.8 million rupees, largely driven by conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC. JKH, which has investments in tourism, more..

May 28 (Island) Although the Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena made a statement on May 15 that the draft bill on National drug policy would be ready within one week to submit to the Cabinet and then to Parliament for final approval, nearly two weeks have passed and the Health Ministry has yet to receive the draft bill from the Legal Draftsman�s Department. When contacted Chief Legal Draftsman Ms. K. Samarasinghe said that her department had not received the draft Bill from the more..

May 28 (wsws) President Mahinda Rajapakse used the third anniversary of the defeat of the separatist LTTE to stage an unprecedented show of military might. The parade only underscored the degree to which his govt rests on the country�s huge military apparatus. In all, more than 13,500 members of the security forces paraded in Colombo: 398 army officers and 4,628 soldiers, 115 naval officers and 2,651 sailors, 78 air force officers and 1,383 airmen, together with the civil defence force and more..

May 28 (LBO) Central Bank said, The Finance Company, a firm that is being bailed out under regulatory supervision is stable and expressed confidence that it will return to profits. The Central Bank said The Finance has increased its deposits by 5.36 percent and its lending portfolio by 11 percent in the year to April 2012, from a year earlier. "Further, the company is now embarking on a path towards profitability, after a period of rather steep losses reported before the restructuring," more..

May 28 (CT) The govt�s action plan on implementing the LLRC recommendations, that was presented to the United States includes a Cabinet-level Committee to monitor its progress, sources said. The Committee is expected to submit periodic short-term, medium and long-term reports, which will also be shared with the international community. The action plan lists out 16 categories under which recommendations are made, including reconciliation, more..

May 28 (Island) Chairman of the UGC, Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that Sri Lanka needed a thorough dialogue on higher education as much focus was given only to the preliminary and secondary education at present. Denying rumors that the UGC Chairman had tendered his resignation, Prof. Samaranayake said that some sections of the higher education sector wanted his resignation. He said that a dialogue on higher education system should be held with more..

May 28 (GDI) Proficiency in English in every stratum, ethnic and social divide is the best weapon to fight class division and social discrimination, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga observed. Mr. Weeratunga made these observations when he addressed a gathering in Colombo to mark the signing of an agreement between the Vocational Training Institute of Sri Lanka (VTISL) that functions under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry and more..

May 28 (SLN) Two Japanese and one Pakistan naval ships arrived at the Port on Colombo today. They were ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in keeping with naval customs and traditions on arrival. Two Japanese ships are � IKAZUCHI� and �SAWAGIRI� belonging to the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force with Commanding officer Escort Division Five, Captain Hirokazu Yamazaki onboard. They are both destroyers enroute to interchange for counter piracy operations more..

May 28 (CT) UNP MP Dunesh Gankanda from the Ratnapura District who has gone hiding from the Police has surrendered to the Colpetty Police a short while ago through his lawyer. The MP was wanted in connection for causing grievous bodily harm on a businessman at a night club in Colombo last Saturday. Dunesh Gankanda from the Ratnapura District who has gone hiding from the Police is due to be arrested shortly according to Police Sources. more..

May 28 (Hindu) Describing as �an insult to injury� Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's assertion that his country would not bow to outside pressure and withdraw the Army from the North, the DMK president M. Karunanidhi said the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) would soon organise a conference to discuss these issues and take a decision. Recalling a report released by the US secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the major human rights problems more..

May 28 (BN) The World Bank said its lending to Sri Lanka will more than double in the year starting July to help spur investment and sustain economic expansion. The island will receive $500 million in the period under a recently endorsed new country partnership strategy and $527 million in the 12 months ending June 2014, Susan Razzaz, a senior country economist at the development lender, said. The country currently borrows about $200 million annually under concessionary terms, more..

May 28 (DM) Against the backdrop of the rapid disappearance of artefacts, Sri Lanka is going to make fresh efforts to bring back various artefacts taken by the colonial rulers during different eras in history, Minister Jagath Balasuriya said yesterday. There are such Sri Lankan artefacts kept in different museums in England, Portugal and the Netherlands - the countries that colonized Sri Lanka in history. Minister Balasuriya said that some attempts had been taken in the past to more..

May 28 (CG) SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena admits there are criminals and drug dealers in his party. He was shown on television, speaking at an event saying at times as the SLFP General Secretary he has not been too happy. This, he says is because there have been criminals including rapists, drug dealers and others in the party which is now governing the country. Sirisena however did not mention names but said among those criminals are Ministers and Deputy Ministers. more..

May 28 (AD) The UNP today accused the govt of attempting to save face by getting down Indian celebrities and showing a rugby festivity. The public cannot be deceived, no matter what festival is shown, UNP MP Gayantha Karunathilaka said. He questioned why the govt is not organizing a festival to uplift �volleyball,� which is the national sport of Sri Lanka. On the cost of fuel, Gayantha claimed that despite oil price presently declining in the global market, more..

May 28 (DM) Financially ailing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is facing a race against the clock to sign the new contracts with players before the Pakistan tour begins in a few days time as they haven�t been able to complete the payments of players for the previous year�s contract. Ken de Alwis, representative from the Sri Lanka Cricketers� Association which is negotiating the contracts with SLC said yesterday that players can refuse to sign the new contract if the SLC fails to more..

May 28 (CT) UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has undergone a minor neck operation at the General Hospital in Colombo today after being admitted to the hospital on Sunday, sources close to Attanayake said. UNP MP Attanayake had been admitted to the hospital on Sunday after complaining of a neck pain, after which he had undergone the sensitive but minor neck surgery. The UNP General Secretary is currently recovering and is expected to be discharged in the coming few days.

May 28 (CG) The External Affairs Ministry summoned British High Commissioner John Rankin today and expressed displeasure over comments he had made in a video recently. A spokesman at the External Affairs Ministry said that Minister G.L Peiris met the British envoy at the Ministry this afternoon. The Ministry was unhappy over Rankin�s comments posted on YouTube where he had urged the govt to reduce the military presence in the north, especially more..

May 28 (TA) The Sri Lankan govt has accused the remnants of defeated terrorist group the Tamil Tigers of funding the passage of asylum-seekers to Australia. Sri Lanka says it is part of a campaign to convince the world that Sri Lanka is not safe for Tamils. The claim -- dismissed by the Tamil community and doubted by the Gillard government -- came as authorities in Sri Lanka detained 113 asylum-seekers and six organisers as they prepared to leave for Australia. more..

May 28 (ECB) Lasith Malinga has pulled out of representing Middlesex in this year�s Friends Life t20 due to fatigue. The Panthers secured the services of the Sri Lanka paceman in May but, after returning from the Indian Premier League with knee and back complaints, has agreed with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board that he needs to rest. With Sri Lanka�s inaugural domestic t20 premier league following limited-overs series against Pakistan and India, Malinga believes he will not be able to more..

May 28 (LT) The inaugural ceremony of the �Anti-imperialist People�s Movement� (A-iPM) built with mass organizations, intellectuals, artistes and trade union leaders was held at Foundation Institute in Colombo today (27th). The participants were addressed by the co-conveners of the A-iPM former Parliamentarian K.D. Lal Kanthe and Ven. Dhambara Amila Thera, the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva and several others. more..

May 28 (NS) The testimonies of the hoards of civilians who recounted their NFZ experiences to the LLRC contradict the set of testimonies culled by Rajan Hoole and Co and included in the UTHR (J) special Report 34. It�s not a case of a lot of blind men trying to describe an elephant. The two batches of testimonies are plain irreconcilable. They do not complement but contradict each other on the most fundamental level. We do not know Hoole�s methodologies of collecting testimonies. more..