Sept 11 (GDI) Minister Douglas Devananda chairing a discussion held at the Agriculture Faculty of Jaffna University in Ariyavil City on Friday (07) said that action will be taken to commence the Agriculture Faculty next month and the Faculty of Engineering as soon as possible. The Minister had this discussion with the heads of the relevant faculties of the University of Jaffna to discuss the issues that stood in the way causing delays. It was revealed at more..

Sept 11 (Reuters) Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis has promised to deliver all five of his bowling variations in the Twenty20 World Cup tournament which begins next Tuesday. Mendis, who holds the best bowling figures in the T20 format with 6-16 from four overs against Australia in 2011, has been included in Sri Lanka's squad after spending nine months out with a back complaint. He is known for his unique style of spin bowling in which he applies more..

Sept 11 (CT) Trade oriented Israel is willing to share knowledge, technology and experience to uplift the agriculture industry in Sri Lanka, Embassy of Israel Deputy Chief of Mission Yahel Vilan said. He made these remark at the AgroTech 2012 business forum jointly organized by the Embassy of Israel Business Development Office (IBDO) in Sri Lanka held at the Hilton Colombo Residence, yesterday. �It is important that G to G (Govt to Govt) discussions and more..

Sept 11 (Xinhua) The United Nations review mission expected in Sri Lanka later this week will only be a monitoring visit and does not reflect a change in the government's stance, the external affairs minister said here on Tuesday. External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris refuted media reports that the review mission that will be composed of representatives from India, Spain and Benin were appointed by the UNHRC following a U.S. backed resolution passed in March. more..

Sept 11 (CG) Douglas Devananda, a Sri Lankan minister wanted in connection with a murder case in Chennai and who was declared as a proclaimed offender in 1994, has approached a sessions court in Chennai saying he was ready to face the murder trial through video-conferencing. He wanted the court to recall the non-bailable arrest warrant pending against him, and to dispense with his personal appearance in court. more..

Sept 12 (NS) The drought disappeared and the rains set in bringing countless hopes of abundance to many, the world over. At times, when springs go dry, the bottom of the wells get muddy. When large tanks run dry, they say rain is god sent. True to form, history has shown that ancient rituals are conducted with the hope of receiving rain, to flourish crops. The Kandy Esala Perehara or Dalada Perehera has been conducted with the hope of receiving rain since the times of kings and queens. more..

Sept 12 (NS) �Prisoners are also human beings� is the large-lettered legend that decorates the wall of the Welikada Prison. The Sri Lankan prison system recognizes the fact and has space for many programs that affirm it. Prisoners, especially those serving long sentences, learn new trades, prepare for and sit examinations, put together all manner of cultural events, participate in meditation programs and through these and other measures obtain meaning for their otherwise monotonous lives. more..

Sept 12 (SO) The welfare of around 24,000 prisons in Sri Lanka is an important factor when we consider the future of law and order in the country. Giving them better rehabilitation to become a good citizens in society should be considered an important factor as their reintegration to society at the end of their prison term plays a key role in creating a peaceful environment. As Prisoner's Welfare Day is scheduled to be celebrated on Sept 12, more..

Sept 12 (CT) In Tamil Nadu, continuing spate of recent violent, rowdy protests targeting innocent Sri Lankan civilians visiting TN and India on purely private and religious tours, define how empty and extremist and therefore emotional and violent they can turn out to be, when picking on the Sri Lankan Tamil issues. The recent escalation of these violent anti people mob attacks since they last set upon a group of Sri Lankan pilgrims in Chennai in August 2011, more..

Sept 12 (CT) Recent events in Tamil Nadu demonstrate the risk inherent in what most suggest is the Rajapaksa regime�s LLRC gambit � to drag on a process of enfeebled accountability and reductive reconciliation until the sections of the international community interested in independent, international investigations into allegations of war crimes lose interest, shift focus or both. A little time coupled with support from the Beijing consensus, they believe, would clear them of their deeds. more..

Sept 12 (DBS) Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias �Pillaiyan� is likely to be appointed as Chief Minister of the Eastern Province for the second time if the ruling UPFA forms the Eastern Provincial Council Administration again. Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan is the head of the TMVP which is a faction that broke away from the LTTE in 2004. The TMVP contested as part of the UPFA under the betel symbol at the Eastern Provincial council elections of 2008. more..

Sept 12 (GV) I will assume in this article the general acceptance of two principles of fairness with regard to university admission. Fairness principle 1: That, apart from any affirmative action criteria used, admission should be based on merit rankings. Fairness principle 2: That affirmative action criteria and the merit ranking scheme should not be arbitrary, but must follow fixed transparent principles or past precedence. It is possible to show that the current solutions more..

Sept 12 (GV) �This is my home, this is my sister�s home, this is my neighbour�s home�and now we�re not even permitted to enter our own land,� says *Rajan, a villager living at the Malankaadu temporary resettlement camp, pointing to their homes, where Navy families currently reside. Since their eviction by the Sri Lanka Navy in 2007, people like Rajan have been made into �strangers� looking at their beloved homes and farmlands from afar. �We don�t want anything else from the Govt, more..

Sept 12 (GV) The LAKBIMAnEWS cartoon on Sunday seemed to have ruffled some feathers. Going by the tweets that were critical of the cartoon, I noticed some card-carrying activists of the anti- Sri Lankan lobby, who may have mistaken LAKBIMAnEWS for one of the Sri Lankan govt mouthpieces � which LAKBIMAnEWS is not � and decided to make avail of this opportunity to go for another round of Sri Lanka bashing. That is a sad miscalculation on their part, and more..

Sept 12 (Island) Doomsday prophets who go by the ancient Mayan calendar in predicting the future of mankind in this complex universe and expect the Apocalypse to occur in 2012 are talking of a possible nuclear Armageddon, solar storms, massive earthquakes, super volcanoes and mega tsunamis. But, they have not factored in one main source of danger��nuclear power plants. The foregoing is an excerpt of an editorial comment we wrote last year on the Fukushima disaster and the grave danger more..

Sept 12 (Island) Sri Lanka may have won a World Cup and has the highest wicket taker in both Test and ODI cricket, but as a unit, bowling was never their strong point. The strong batting line-ups the Sri Lankans had in the 1990s made them a good side and even when the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas were at their peak, the opposition was content at seeing off the two star bowlers and targeted the rest. But times have changed. The current Sri Lankan line-up more..

Sept 12 (FT) Over 10 agreements are to be signed during top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo�s visit to Sri Lanka that will kick off later this week, a top official said yesterday. Standing Committee of the National People�s Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo�s visit will be the most high profile diplomatic exchange between the two countries in recent times, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wu Jianghao told a press conference. Describing the agreements as promoting more..

Sept 12 (DN) Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake briefed international medical professionals in the United States on the steps taken by the government to advance professionalism in the field of indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka. The minister highlighted that the policy derived from Mahinda Chintana, has given equal importance to both Western and indigenous medical sectors. He explained how ensuing programmes to expand research facilities and treatment centers, promote more..

Sept 12 (DN) The Agriculture Ministry plans to make Sri Lanka self sufficient in green gram, said Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane at the progress review meeting held recently at the ministry. �Sri Lanka has become self sufficient in rice and maize. If the country becomes self sufficient in green gram, we can utilise the money spent on green gram imports to enhance the production of other food crops.� he said. The Agriculture Ministry has taken measures to promote green gram cultivation more..

Sept 12 (IL) The final Randoli Perahera of the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya took to the streets Saturday night on Sept 8. The historic Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Sri Dalada Maha Perahera and pageant of the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya which began on Aug 27 will conclude with the water cutting ceremony at Diyawanna lake followed by the Deva Dana on Sept 9. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has participated in religious observances at the Kotte Raja Maha Vihare more..

Sept 12 (FT) The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), which is the third largest equity/stock market in the world with a total market capitalisation of US$ 3.3 trillion, has expressed interest to have Sri Lankan listed corporates on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) to be listed on the TSE as Japanese Depository Receipts (JDRs), stated Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Admiral (Rtd.) Wasantha Karannagoda. Listing of foreign corporates in the TSE as JDRs is customary since more..

Sept 12 (FT) The legal battle between Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, the manufacturer of the �Munchee� brand of biscuits, and biscuit titan Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Ltd. has been amicably settled. The settlement was arrived at as the Defendant Maliban Biscuit Manufactories agreed to change its trade dress, which the Plaintiff Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. alleged had been its trade dress for �Munchee Hawaian Cookies� and �Munchee Lite Marie� products. The Plaintiff filed more..

Sept 12 (FT) Sacred Kapilavastu Relics brought to Sri Lanka by Indian Minister of Culture Kumari Selja on August 19, will be taken back to India today afternoon after the successful conclusion of the Exposition at ten venues. The Kapilavastu Relics had arrived in a special aircraft of the India govt and will leave for India in a special aircraft organized by the Sri Lankan govt. All the four Mahanayakas, Members of the Mahasangha, Minister of more..

Sept 12 (Island) The Small Hydro Power Developers Association yesterday commended the govt for setting up of a transparent tariff setting process for Non Conventional Renewable Energy for 2012 and 2013. �The govt has finally introduced is a transparent tariff setting process for Non Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE)". We particularly appreciate the initiative taken by the Public Utilities Commission in inviting stakeholders and public to give views and critic more..

Sept 12 (DN) China yesterday said that Sri Lanka has notched tremendous achievements in the economic sector with the end of 30 years of conflict under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaking to a group of media persons in Colombo, Chinese ambassador Wu Jianghao said that the living standards of the people have improved with the end of conflict and the government has succeeded in promoting social welfare of the people. "All social undertakings more..

Sept 12 (Island) SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that Saturday�s election result proved beyond doubt that both, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Reformists� leader, Sajith Premadasa were incapable of reviving the ailing party. He said that MP Premadasa, too, was a failure. A smiling Sirisena said that the Hambantota MP had moved to the North Central Province in the run-up to the Sept. 8 election as he believed the ongoing more..

Sept 12 (Island) The Opposition UNP will push for the establishment of the Independent Commissions for Elections and the Police which had been among the recommendations of the LLRC. "The establishment of the independent commissions, have been specified in the LLRC recommendations and we will be pushing for it aggressively given the rampant election malpractices which prevailed in the run up to the just concluded Provincial polls, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said more..

Sept 12 (Hindu) Elected representatives from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are among those who did not make the trip for the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meet that has opened here. Though a majority of the 800-plus representatives from over 175 branches were in town since Sept 7, the meet was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday. While it was clear that Tamil Nadu Speaker D. Jaya Kumar will not be attending, the case of Karnataka is curious. more..

Sept 12 (Island) The former chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Thilak Karunaratne has urged retail investors to foray into the Colombo Stock Exchange via unit trusts, because most brokers could not be trusted, with some of them being investigated for using dummy accounts to manipulate the market while some firms were showing their newly bought Mercedes and BMW as assets against which more credit could be generated. more..

Sept 12 (Island) Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singapooli yesterday told the police, that they may use police powers, if University students turned unruly, during the period of Commonwealth Parliamentary Speakers Seminar from September 11 to 16, 2012 and it was not necessary to issue a judicial order. The application for a preventive Magisterial order was refused. The OIC of the Kurunduwatte police station had complained that the NIB had noted that the University students more..

Sept 12 (DN) SriLankan Cargo has projected that the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Cargo Centre will handle over 180,000 metric tonnes of cargo this year, surpassing the existing record, a Civil Aviation Ministry official said. SriLankan Cargo has taken a firm step towards positioning the BIA, Colombo as a regional hub for air freight, by handling the highest ever volumes of both total cargo and transshipment cargo in a single month. SriLankan Cargo is the sole handling agent for more..

Sept 12 (Hindu) President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his private visit to the country next week, against the backdrop of attacks on pilgrims from this country in Tamil Nadu. Rajapaksa is set to meet the two leaders on Sept 20, Minister G L Peiris said. Rajapaksa is travelling to Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh on September 19 to lay the foundation stone for the construction of more..

Sept 12 (Island) All doctors attached to govt hospitals in the Sabaragamuwa province will go on strike from Sept 19, demanding the immediate intervention of the Health Ministry to effect the due transfers of Health Services Directors of the North-Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, the GMOA announced on Monday. President of the GMOA Dr Anuruddha Padeniya said that if the Health Ministry failed to give a proper reply by September 19, they would get more..

Sept 12 (Hindu) Fears over the first full-fledged international flight from Madurai airport appear to be receding following assurances from SpiceJet, whose Colombo flight service was in doubt following the recent tension over the presence of Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu. The Madurai-Colombo flight service was seen as the one that would herald international connectivity for Madurai and the southern districts. The Sri Lankan Govt had issued a travel advisory more..

Sept 12 (Island) The SLFP-led ruling coalition yesterday said that there couldn�t be any ambiguity as regards the SLMC joining the UPFA to form the Eastern Provincial Council administration. The govt said that the SLMC as a constituent party of the UPFA contested the Sept.8 election on its own in line with an understanding reached with the coalition. Minister Susil Premjayanth, SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena and SLFP Treasurer more..

Sept 12 (DN) Ambassador-designate of the US, Michele J. Sison, who arrived in Sri Lanka at the week-end, called on External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Ministry on Monday. Minister Peiris discussed with Ambassador Sison political and economic developments in Sri Lanka since the end of the conflict, and the way ahead. He told the Ambassador that, wherever she travels in the country, she would find ample evidence of the new mood of confidence among Sri Lankans, more..

Sept 12 (DN) A 15 member team from the National Defence College (NDC), India, called on Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake at the Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters, recently. The team headed by Maj. Gen. Anurag Gupta also comprised of officers from Australia, India, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Uganda. They were accompanied by Indian Defence Adviser in Sri Lanka Captain Sumeet Kapoor. The team viewed a presentation on the role and structure of the Sri Lanka Navy more..

Sept 12 (CT) Despite a manhunt being launched by the police to nab Minister Mervyn Silva�s son, Malaka and the late Minister Mano Wijeratne�s stepson, Rehan Wijeratne � who are accused of assaulting an Army officer, Malaka Silva was seen paying homage to the Kapilavastu Relics that were on display at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya yesterday, accompanied by his father and a large security contingent. more..

Sept 12 (CT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated the government�s plans to hold elections in the Northern Province in 2013. He gave this assurance addressing the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Colombo. �You have come here just days after we conducted elections in three provinces. You can see that people are free to elect their representatives,� the President said adding, �More recently, we protected our democratic system, and the democratic rights more..

Sept 12 (Island) The Federation of University Teachers� Associations (FUTA) yesterday decided not to go for arbitration offered by the Labour Department to solve their demands. FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told �The Island� that their executive committee took the decision when they met at the Open University of Sri Lanka. "We are ready to face any difficulty over refusing arbitration," he said. Dr. Dewasiri said that officials of the Open University did not allow more..