Sept 5 (Island) Close on the heels of the UNP alleging that SSP Premalal Ranagala, in charge of the Digamadulla electorate, had been biased towards the ruling UPFA in the run-up to the Sept. 8 polls for the Eastern, North-Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, police headquarters relieved the officer of his responsibilities as regards police operations in Samanthurai, Akkaraipattu, Pottuvil and Kalmunai. more..

Sept 5 (Hindu) This is a sight that has become familiar across Sri Lanka since the Kapilavastu relics arrived here mid-August: Thousands of people, young and old, all clad in white � the colour associated with purity and peace � wait hours on end for a second�s glimpse of an object they consider divine. People move in the queues round the clock. With three queues moving sequentially � one for men, another for women and a third for infirm and VIPs � each person gets just about enough time to offer his or her prayers and more..

Sept 5 (DN) Promotions are in full swing as Sri Lanka gears up for its only international gem and jewellery show commencing today and held till September 8 at the BMICH. FACETS Sri Lanka 2012 which is being held for the 22nd consecutive year is tipped to witness its largest foreign delegation yet. Over 50 Gem and Jewellery dealers from China alone are expected at the exhibition. The exhibition is organized by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association and more..

Sept 5 (TOI) Local politics, including sensitivities in Tamil Nadu, prevented the Indian govt from reacting to the attack by Tamils on a group of Lankan Tamil pilgrims in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. Instead, the ministry of external affairs reacted to a travel advisory issued by Sri Lanka on Monday asking its citizens not to travel to Tamil Nadu. India assured the island nation on Tuesday that it will continue to take steps to ensure safety of all Lankans visiting India. more..

Sept 5 (DC) Though by no means unexpected, the enraged reaction of Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa to a friendly football match between visiting Sri Lankan schoolboys and a team of customs officials in Chennai is deeply distressing. She has suspended the state government official who had allowed the use of an indoor stadium, and has packed off the youngsters �back to their country�. On top of it, she has �condemned� the Union govt for allowing the football team more..

Sept 5 (DM) UNP MP Lakshaman Kiriella recently challenged the ruling party to point out a single factory that was built by the govt of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. If you keep aside the political rhetoric of this statement by MP Kiriella, it gives an insight to the Rajapakasa govt�s economic policy. Although President Rajapaksa can proudly point at the expressways, ports and airports he has built; going with MP Kiriella�s statement, it is doubtful whether the President can claim a more..

Sept 5 (SL) The appointment of Dr Nalaka Godahewa as Chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission far from putting the controversy surrounding pump and dump and market manipulation at the Colombo Stock Exchange at rest, has caused an uproar amongst seasoned investors. The uproar has been fuelled by Dr Godahewa�s links to Dilith Jayaweera who admitted to the media last week that he had received �five� letters � and more..

Sept 5 (Island) The Meteorology Department yesterday warned that showers and thundershowers would continue for two more days in the South Western part of Sri Lanka. Meteorologist in-charge Jeevan Karunaratne said that the showers and thundershowers were due to the South West monsoon becoming active. He said that showers and thundershowers would occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces and Galle, Matara and Kurunegala Districts while more..

Sept 5 (Island) The UPFA government claimed that it was united while the UNP was divided, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s recent remark about a minister acting like a lion outside and a rat inside the Cabinet, indicated the deep divisions within its ranks, the UNP said yesterday. The Ministers and parliamentarians in the Rajapaksa govt publicly claimed that they were free, united and could act without fear but only insiders knew the extent to which they were gagged and more..

Sept 5 (LB) The Supreme Court last week took up three petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Economic Development Ministry�s Divineguma Bill. The court�s determination will be conveyed to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa on Thursday. The three-judge bench that heard submissions comprised Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and Justices Priyasath Dep and S.E. Wanasundera. The petitions were filed by Chamara Madumma Kaluge, more..

Sept 5 (ST) A businessman from Nugegoda purchased a prime block of land of 20 perches bordering the High Level Road and put up a three-storied building, opening up a car sales centre too. A few months into the business the upper floors were rented out and business was thriving. Not long after, he received the bad news that there was another owner to the land on which he had built. The owner, living overseas, more..

Sept 5 (Island) Bogambara Prison intelligence officers have recovered a cell phone and a security map of the prison from the main convict in the High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya murder, Naufer Mohammed alia Kudu Naufer. Naufer, who was sentenced to death with six others for killing the judge, has been handed over to a special police team to find out who gave him the cell phone and the security map of the prison as there is more..

Sept 5 (LBO) Indian Oil Corporation's Sri Lanka unit, Lanka IOC has called for a pricing formula for retail fuels which keeps parity with import prices a call that has been echoed by other economists and analysts. "It would help everyone if the Govt of Sri Lanka could evolve a long-term pricing formula which will provide for adjustment of duties and levies and revision in prices from time to time based on the international prices, with more..

Sept 5 (TS) Mohanathas Sivanayagam marked the long weekend by sticking 2,100 acupuncture needles into his head. The 37-year-old is a father of three young boys and works in the trucking industry. He came to Canada from Sri Lanka when he was 23. He has a pleasant smile, a calm demeanour, and a love of record breaking. He already holds the Guinness world record for �most needles inserted into the head.� more..

Sept 5 (AFP) A Chinese man was arrested for attempted theft and taken to hospital for a dose of laxatives on Wednesday after swallowing a diamond worth nearly $14,000 at a gem exhibition in Sri Lanka, police said. The 32-year-old had asked the stall owner for a close inspection of the diamond on the opening day of Facets Sri Lanka, an annual jewellery show in the capital Colombo. "He had taken the diamond out of a display cabinet and appeared to be more..

Sept 5 (IE) Toeing the Centre's line for cordial ties with Sri Lanka, key UPA ally DMK chief M Karunanidhi today virtually blamed Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for attacks on Lankan pilgrims, saying her action in sending back a football team from that country had led to the incidents. "(Jayalalithaa's) efforts to show that this govt is concerned for Sri Lankan Tamils by sending back the football players led to attacks on pilgrims," forcing Colombo to issue an advisory to its more..

Sept 5 (Island) Gen Sarath Fonseka, UNP stalwart Karu Jayasuriya and daugher of slain Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman, Hirunika Premachandra had pledged their support to the Maubima Janata Party to build a united common opposition, MJP Leader Hemakumara Nanayakkara said yesterday. Addressing the media at a Colombo hotel, he said that unofficial talks were also being held with the UNP, JVP and other parties in that regard.

Sept 5 (SLN) Two Japanese ships, Uraga MST-463 and Hachijyo MSO-303, belonging to the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill and supply visit on sept. 3rd. They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions. �Uraga� is 141 meters in length and has a displacement of 5,650 tons. It has a complement of 160 naval personnel. "Hachijyo", with 60 naval personnel onboard, is 67 meters in length and has a displacement of more..

Sept 5 (Xinhua) Power cut-hit Sri Lankan's govt has begun construction of a thermal power plant in the former war torn northern province and is planning two more in the eastern province in a bid to increase economic activity. The thermal power plant will be constructed at a cost of 30.5 million U.S. dollars and is expected to provide 24 megawatts of power. The installation of three generators has already begun. more..

Sept 5 (GDI) Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa was in Poland to attend the Kielce Security Conference on Monday. Secretary Defence was among the selected number of distinguished invitees from around the world to attend this important seminar. The conference -titled "Military needs and the condition of the Defence industry in light of budget cuts" - was organized by the Euro-Atlantic Association. Secretary Defence met a number of more..

Sept 5 (LT) It is reported that �Milco� under the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community Development has thrown away 800,000 liters of milk during the period from May to August. Recently dairy farmers engaged in agitations as they were unable to sell their produce. Govt mediated to settle this issue. Accordingly, �Milco� was entrusted to buy milk produced by dairy farmers. However, trade unions state the milk bought from dairy farmers as a result of govt�s solution is thrown away secretly. more..

Sept 5 (CT) Pradeep Sanjaya won Sri Lanka�s first medal of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the Men�s 400m T46 in today. He bacame the 3rd palce and won the Bronze medal. � �I have to buy all the equipment, shoes and clothes, everything from my own salary. I did not get any sponsorship for my training, If we are get proper equipment and sponsorship, I�m sure we would do much better,� Pradeep Sanjaya told more..

Sept 5 (Island) Seven temporary shelters put up by returning IDP�s at Marichchakatti, Mannar were torched by an unknown group on Monday night. They were part of a group who had taken shelter at Kalpitiya in Puttalam during the war. They had returned and put up 49 shanties. On Monday night the arsonists had come and pulled out about 15 families from their abodes, but seven families who had refused to budge had had their houses torched along with all their belongings. more..

Sept 5 (LBO) Brandix has seen strong demand from the US helping offset a slump in Europe demand helping keep revenue growth in positive territory. Sri Lanka's apparel exports fell 1.6% to 1.98 billion rupees in the first six months of 2012, with June shipments falling 6.3% to 310.6 million US dollars. Brandix director A J Johnpillai however said revenues at his firm are in positive territory with strong demand from the US helping offset more..

Sept 5 (CT) A man had hacked to death two children and their mother at their residence in Godakawela last night. The perpetrator was the woman�s paramour, who is her 19-year-old cousin. �The father of the children is employed in Ja-ela and visits the family once a month. The woman�s lover, who was a resident of Panamure used to visit them during his absence. However, one day when the woman and her paramour were having more..

Sept 5 (DM) A 17-year-old youth was killed on the spot and four children were injured this evening in an explosion at the Kandakuli Beach in Kalpitiya in an area which is close to the Civil Defence Force (CDF) training camp. The explosion occurred when they had picked up an object lying on the beach and thrown it at a dead turtle. The injured children were admitted to the Kalpitiya Hospital. Two of them who were in a critical condition were later transferred to the Puttalam Hospital. more..

Sept 5 (PTI) India was training armed forces personnel from Sri Lanka in different states of the country including Tamil Nadu as part of exchanges with neighbouring countries, Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. "Yes, training exchanges are conducted between armed forces personnel of India and various neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka... In Tamil Nadu, two Sri Lankan personnel are being trained at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington," Defence Minister A K Antony more..

Sept 5 (PTI) BJP denied allegations of some pro-Tamil leaders, including MDMK leader Vaiko that party leader Sushma Swaraj had invited President Mahinda Rajapakse for an official event in Madhya Pradesh on Sept 21. State unit chief Pon. Radhakrishnan said he had spoken to Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and she had "categorically" told him she had not invited Rajapakse. more..

Sept 5 (Island) The Court of Appeal on September 6, 2012, will resume the hearing in respect of the Writ Application filed by the Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya and thirteen others against the animal slaughter, currently at the Sri Badhrakali Amman Kovil, Chilaw. The petitioners have requested the Court to order the IGP and the DIG Chilaw Range to prohibit cruelty to animals in the premises of the Kovil during the months of August/September. more..

Sept 5 (FT) Pure Gold, the reputed and award winning multinational jeweller based in Dubai, has arrived in Sri Lanka. �We warmly welcome Pure Gold Group to Sri Lanka. Their entry strongly enhances our gold industry profile. Pure Gold�s initial investment here is $ 50 m,� revealed minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday, after meeting with Firoz G. Merchant, Chairman of Pure Gold Group (PGG), Dubai, UAE. Minister Bathiudeen previously announced the pending arrival of more..

Sept 5 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened a state-of-the-art fish market complex in Trincomalee on Tuesday which will give immense benefits to the fishing community and the public in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The complex is fully equipped with ultra-modern facilities such as a 35 ton capacity deep freezer room, a vehicle park, water purification plants, more..

Sept 5 (AN) A three day vocational exhibition (Aug 31-Sept 2) to present the work and commitment of many missionary congregations in Sri Lanka and help young people to find their path. Desired by Card. Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo and President of the Bishops' Conference of the country, the initiative took place in St. Joseph's College in the capital. Dozens of people, most of whom were young boys and girls, crowded the stands of more..

Sept 5 (WSJ) Tamil nationalists attacked a bus late Tuesday carrying ethnic Sinhalese Sri Lankans who were visiting India, the latest sign of ethnic tensions that could imperil New Delhi�s relationship with Colombo. About two hundred Sri Lankan tourists were on their way to an airport in India�s southern Tamil Nadu state late Tuesday when a mob led by the regional Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party hurled stones at their buses and smashed several windows, say police more..

Sept 5 (NYT) Last week, while traveling down the coast of Tamil Nadu for my article about the fishing wars between India and Sri Lanka, I noticed pilgrims walking along the side of the road. They trudged along, despite the heat, as they walked kilometers on a pilgrimage to Christian shrines in the state of Tamil Nadu. What I had not realized is that some of the pilgrims visiting the state were from Sri Lanka. more..

Sept 5 (DM) The International Cricket Council (ICC) as part of its commitment to the local community in Sri Lanka will be supporting the Murali Harmony Cup in the buildup to the ICC World Twenty20, 2012. Scheduled to commence on September 8, the Murali Harmony Cup named after cricketing legend Muttiah Muralitharan, brings together young cricketers from across the country on to one field. The tournament will emulate the format of the ICC World Twenty20; featuring 12 boys' teams and more..

Sept 5 (NF) UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya says that people in the country are being made to pay the price of the Govt's poor foreign policy. He expressed this view at a rally in Thalawa. "A group of Sri Lankans who went to India are now being brought back because problems have cropped up This is because we are angering all the nations that were friendly towards us." "Representatives who come here are also of an unusual kind. We have angered all the nations that assisted us including more..

Sept 5 (SLBC) Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says that the friendship between Sri Lanka and India will not be affected as a result of the activities of state govts. India has already taken measures to safeguard the cordial relations. India has already taken measures to safeguard the cordial relations. He said that nobody could reject the connection of the facts raised by the TNA regarding Eastern Provincial Council Election more..

Sept 5 (HBJ) Stamford human-relief nonprofit AmeriCares says it funded a $2.8 million addition to ease overcrowding at a Sri Lanka hospital. The expansion of Trincomalee District General Hospital includes an 83,000-square-foot addition that adds 250 beds, operating rooms, a laboratory complex and a neonatal intensive care unit. AmeriCares said the project expands the hospital's capacity to treat patients in an area ravaged by the 2004 tsunami and the long-running civil conflict that ended more..

Sept 5 (IT) The Sri Lankan high commissioner to India, Prasad Kariyawasam, said that despite the opposition to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's proposed visit to Madhya Pradesh later this month, he would keep his date with India. Kariyawasam said that there was no change in Rajapaksa's plan despite opposition from some political parties and pro-Tamil groups. Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit Madhya Pradesh on September 21 to more..

Sept 5 (AD) All universities in Sri Lanka will reopen tomorrow (6) for academic sessions, Higher Education minister S.B. Dissanayake said. All the faculties of the universities excluding the Medical faculty had been closed since August 21 following the union action taken by the university lecturers. However, President of the FUTA, Nirmal Dewasiri stated that the trade union action adopted by the lecturers will continue unhindered. more..