Aug 16 (DN) UPFA Kandy District MP Dilum Amunugama said CHOGM 2013 would give an opportunity for Sri Lanka to open itself up to the rest of the world. "No other country could match the feats we have achieved in Sri Lanka in such a short time by rebuilding, resettling, reconstructing, rehabilitating and working towards reconciliation in the aftermath of the war. Therefore, this will provide the opportunity for the country to showcase the socio - economic developments achieved by more..

Aug 16 (Island) Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has demanded a high level investigation into the alleged failure on the part of the police to disperse mobs responsible for causing damage to a mosque and several houses at Grandpass recently. He has also forwarded a DVD containing CCTV footage depicting what he called police inaction, while reminding IGP N.K. Illangakoon that the latter assured more..

Aug 16 (DM) The issue of troubled finance companies has surfaced again. In 2009 we saw a string of unlicensed finance companies and a few licensed ones belonging to a conglomerate going bust, leaving their depositors high and dry. Some companies were closed and others were given new identities through new managements. The legal battles against some of these companies and their director boards are still going on. But the majority of the depositors have so far not even received more..

Aug 16 (DM) In an exclusive report today, Daily Mirror reveals that the Maliboda-Deraniyagala, a village situated an hours drive from Noori where many atrocities are alleged to have taken place, was also alleged to have been under a similar reign of �terror� under a �warlord� known as Dammika and eight of his cohorts. Daily Mirror learns that similar to the Police and Political collusion that ensured the furtherance of terror in Noori, Dammika and his gang allegedly had complete political and police more..

Aug 16 (CT) "Judging by what is going on in the Party, obviously the UNP is on a downward spiral, and Party Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe is on his last legs," UNP MP, Harin Fernando said. He said Ranil has now fully realized the dismal situation he is faced with, and does not wish to cling on to Party leadership for much longer. "Ranil's biggest blunder was his obstinate refusal to allocate certain Party positions to Dayasiri. more..

Aug 16 (SL) With the aim of enhancing disaster response in Sri Lanka and allowing more effective US assistance in the event of a disaster, the Sri Lanka Air Force in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and the US Pacific Air Force co-hosted a Health Services Outreach (HSO) and Engineering Civil Programme (ENCAP) code named �Exercise Pacific Angel� from 5th to 10th August, in the Northern Peninsula. more..

Aug 16 (ST) A 300-hour training programme, costing Rs. 130 million for primary school teachers that was first launched in the Western Province is to be launched in the North Central Province amidst criticism from teachers in both provinces. Teacher union sources said that teachers in both provinces were warned that failure to attend the course would affect their salary increments. Western Province teachers also charged that more..

Aug 16 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP warns the public that those who have bribed their way into political office over the years are not interested in public welfare. Addressing a propaganda rally in Chilaw in support of NFF candidate, Samansiri Herath contesting the North Western Province on the UPFA ticket, he stressed the importance of electing some genuine representatives. more..

Aug 16 (CG) Dr Kasippillai Manoharan, the father of Ragihar Manoharan, one of the five students killed in Trincomalee in 2006, is to submit a petition to the UNHRC in September calling on the Sri Lankan govt to make public a 2006 Presidential Commission report into 16 serious human rights violations. The UNHRC will meet in September in Geneva and with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay visiting Sri Lanka more..

Aug 16 (Island) Social unrest seen in different parts of the country can only be tackled by an inclusive approach, whether in business or politics, UNP MP Eran Wickremeratne said. He said that high-handed approaches were bound to fail even though there could be a perception of success, after the army had used excessive force to disperse a protest by Weliweriya villagers, who were asking for clean water. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Sri Lanka had the best tsunami warning system in South Asia, Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Assistant Director, Pradeep Kodippili said. Addressing a media conference on the end-to-end coastal hazard early warning systems in place in the country, Kodippili said that the tsunami warnings could reach the public within two minutes two minutes of the DMC confirming a tsunami alert from Geological Survey and more..

Aug 16 (Island) An action was instituted by Maureen Seneviratne, President�s Counsel, in the District Court of Colombo on 21st February 1985, against Sita Rajasingham, wife of Rudra Rajasingham, former IGP for inter-alia, a demolition of a part of building constructed by her illegally and unlawfully on a road reservation which was intended to be a turning circle over which she had a right of user to obtain access to the Public Highway. more..

Aug 16 (AD) The UGC says it will take stern action against four Sri Lankan university lecturers who are reported to have participated in an alleged pro-Eelam conference in London organized by the Transnational Govt of Tamil Eelam (TGTE). The Chairperson of the UGC, Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said that an extensive investigations will be carried out regarding the purported participation of these lecturers in more..

Aug 16 (DM) The Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry is to introduce a new law seeking action against publications, either in print or online, that defames the original teachings and traditions of the major religions, officials said. As a first step in this effort, the Ministry has drafted a bill that provides for the establishment of a Buddhist Publications Regulatory Board with authority to regulate any publication that is in violation more..

Aug 16 (CT) Adding what could easily be dubbed a footnote to an emotive fortnight, the UNP led joint-opposition staged a demonstration, in conjunction with media and human rights activists, outside the Fort Railway Station on Wednesday (14), demanding, among other things, answers for the Weliweriya tragedy. There is no gainsaying the need for public remonstration against the actions of what is being perceived as an increasingly despotic regime. more..

Aug 16 (CT) I was wondering why the President is so vehemently opposed to Provincial Councils now when earlier he even talked of the 13th Amendment Plus. Wimal Weerawansa who seems to be proxy tried to whip up popular opposition. But his campaign has tapered off without gathering momentum as I had expected. Why? Is it due to the hard line attitude of the Indian Govt? I think the opposition to the Provincial Councils is due to the fear of the ruling family that such Councils more..

Aug 16 (KSA) Colombo resident Pradeepa Ramalingam, 32, is excited that she will soon be able to set foot in her childhood home in Jaffna, located in a 23-acre area that became part of Jaffna's High Security Zones (HSZ) during Sri Lanka's civil war. On Aug 3rd, the army announced it would release control of these lands, enabling their original owners to return. During the war, the army expanded its base in Palali to prevent more..

Aug 16 (TOI) A 32-year-old woman, Gomalatha of Paramakudi has knocked on the doors of the Madurai bench of the Madras high court by way of filing a habeas corpus petition (HCP) seeking the court's intervention to find her husband Raja Gopal, who went missing from 2011. Her husband had gone to Sri Lanka on March 24, 2011. But, he had not returned home so far. As she was unable to trace him in Sri Lanka, she contacted her friend there, who had told her that he returned to more..

Aug 16 (LBO) Sri Lanka hopes to have a current account surplus in the balance of payments after 2016 Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. "Sri Lanka will have inflows to the country," Cabraal told a forum organized by S&P's in Colombo. "We will become a current account surplus country." He said current revenues from the ruling administration's 'five hubs' concept will increase in the future with tourism, airport and port services, business process outsourcing revenues more..

Aug 16 (DM) A series of questions appeared in the order paper during recent sittings of Parliament seeking oral answers from the govt. UNP MP Ajith P. Perera, directed these questions at the govt seeking details on the functions of each provincial council, the dates on which they were constituted, and the number of statutes passed by them to run their affairs independent of the central govt, at least to some extent. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Police headquarters yesterday said that the judiciary would be moved against UNP and other Opposition activists for launching a protest march in Colombo on Wednesday in violation of a court order. A senior police official told The Island that the court had ordered that the protest be confined to the area opposite the Fort Railway Station. In spite of Court expressly prohibiting a protest march, the UNP had gone ahead with it, the official said. more..

Aug 16 (Island) All doctors at the Kandy General Hospital have launched a strike, demanding disciplinary action against nurses defying orders. President of the KGH Branch Union and Vice President of the GMOA Dr. Saman Karunatilake said, following discussions with the Health Minister and Health Secretary, that they would call off their trade union action today if the Ministry gave them a written assurance that action would be taken against the nurses and theatre sisters more..

Aug 16 (AD) The UNP today charged that the govt is launching its acts of �terrorism� across the nation not only through politicians affiliated to them, but also though a selected group of police and army personnel. UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera claims that the govt has selected certain groups from the country�s military and police force to carry out what he called as �Rajapakshika� terrorism. He stated that more..

Aug 16 (Xinhua) A Chinese woman was arrested at Sri Lanka's BIA on Friday carrying over 30,000 dollars worth of gem stones. Airport customs office said that the gems were found inside the luggage of the 35 year old Chinese woman. Officers checked her luggage on suspicion when she was preparing to board a flight to Shanghai and the gem stones were found inside. The woman pleaded innocent saying she did not know that gem stones could not be taken out of the country undeclared. more..

Aug 16 (PTI) A court in Sri Lanka ordered the release of eight Indian fishermen, who were taken into custody by naval personnel of the island nation on June 15 for allegedly crossing the International Martime Boundary Line. The fishermen who were under judicial custody since June 16 were ordered to be released by magistrate Anandhi Kanakarathinam of the court in Mannar. However, the remand of 41 other fishermen, arrested on different dates, was extended upto Aug 22, more..

Aug 16 (Island) In the wake of media reports based on findings made by the Industrial Technological Institute (ITI) that Maliban non fact milk powder, too, contained DCD, Theja Gunawardena, Manager, Quality Assurance, Maliban Milk Products has issued the following statement: Our product does not contain DCD. This is an assurance given by the Milk Powder supplier, �Dairy Australia�, the governing body of the Australian Dairy more..

Aug 16 (AA) The Rwandan High Commissioner to India, Ernest Rwamucyo on Monday presented credentials to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at a function held at the Presidential Secretariat in the capital Colombo. The Rwandan Mission in Delhi is also accredited to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. According to a statement from the high commission, Rwamucyo was accompanied at the meeting by Cally Alles, the Rwandan honorary consul in Sri Lanka, among other officials. more..

Aug 16 (LT) Occurrences that cannot be experienced in anywhere in the world could be experienced in Sri Lanka says the Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. He said this having a discussion with several Indian media personnel at his ministry. Though it has not been reported what these experiences are we could apprise our viewers regarding some of them. � Deploying security forces to shoot people and murder two students and a father of one more..

Aug 16 (S24) Sri Lanka turned down a request from Pakistan to play day-night Tests in the upcoming series in the UAE where both countries have loyal fans. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said it decided against playing day-night Tests "since the national team players have not practised under lights and with the new pink ball". The challenge facing such Tests has been to find a ball that is clearly visible in both sunshine and floodlights, more..

Aug 16 (SM) Chilaw additional magistrate K.K. Liyanage has made an order prohibiting protests and demonstrations in front of Chilaw Munneshwaram kovil up until the 22nd. Intelligence units had discovered that a group is getting ready to hold a protest in front of the kovil against the Animal sacrifice. Accordingly Chilaw police had requested to issue a prohibition order to protests in the area to preserve peace and order. Last week Puttlam DIG and Chilaw SP had discussed more..

Aug 16 (CT) Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said that the President has not issued any directive as of yesterday over granting presidential pardon to the police officers who were convicted over assaulting Rukantha and Chandraleka. Earlier the two requested the president to grant presidential pardon to the convicts, which was followed by media reports that the president had granted pardon. Mohan Samaranayake clarifying on those reports more..

Aug 16 (Reuters) A Sri Lankan court on Friday banned the sale and advertising of all Fonterra milk products for two weeks, following a complaint by a health sector trade union that the company's marketing was misleading. The National Health Services Union said it sought the court ban because Fonterra products suspected of being contaminated with the toxic agricultural chemical DCD were still on the market despite more..

Aug 16 (Island) Intra-party conflicts continue to plague the UPFA in the run-up to the three provincial council elections scheduled for Sept. 21. Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) yesterday said that the house of a UPFA candidates� supporter had been attacked by a group belonging to the same party. CaFFE executive director Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that the house of person supporting Dayasiri Jayasekara, Salinda Dissanayake and Jayarathne Herath had been attacked. more..

Aug 16 (CG) Sri Lanka has promised to back Nigeria for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said. The Nigerian President after meeting the new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Nigeria, Anura Liyanage. During his meeting with the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, President Jonathan extended appreciation to President Rajapaksa for pledging to support Nigeria�s quest for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. more..

Aug 16 (AD) Minister Basil Rajapaksa today said that water should never be made a weapon and reminded that the British colonialists had destroyed the country�s ancient tanks, irrigation systems, reservoirs and other water resources which were the main stay of the country�s economy. �Their objective was to break the will of the nation and subjugate it by turning cultivated fertile agricultural land into waste lands,� more..

Aug 16 (Island) Private bus owners are determined to go ahead with their plan to increase bus fares from Sept. 1 though the National Transport Commission (NTC) has threaten legal action against such arbitrary revision of bus fares. Lanka Private Bus Owners� Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne reiterated that from Sept. 1 his association would implement the ten per cent bus fare revision. They were not worried about NTC Chairman Roshan Gunawardena�s threat that more..

Aug 16 (CT) Though the demand for fresh milk is likely to increase, particularly with the issue pertaining to imported milk powder containing harmful substances, the leading fresh milk producer in the country, Lanka Milk Foods may not be in a position to meet the demand, its General Manager, Patrick Wickramasinghe said. He said though LMF has not yet experienced a dramatic increase in sales of fresh milk a rather evident and satisfactory hike in purchase of fresh milk has been noted. more..

Aug 16 (LT) The political arena has got agitated with the topic of govt politicos� relatives who have been given nomination for the Central and North � Western PC elections. We publish here a list of such relatives for the amusement of our viewers. The son of Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayaka is contesting for Matale while his brother is contesting for Kandy. Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage�s brother Ananda and his cousin Weerasinghe more..

Aug 17 (NS) Lord Acton, a British Liberal Peer has been immortalized for coining the expression: �Power corrupts.� And somebody else, who might well have been talking about the Sri Lankan political scene, added the amendment: �But loss of power tends to corrupt absolutely. From a democratic perspective it would seem self-evident that those who live by the poll die by the poll. But losing hope in the possibility of holding on to such heady power or regaining it appears a terrible prospect more..

Aug 17 (NS) The subsidized rice ration [Hal potha], a legacy of WW II, was considered by the people as their �inheritance�. The attempt to abolish it in one stroke; trebling the price, also the elimination of the free midday meal to children, due to poor fiscal and economic planning of the Senanayake regimes of 1947/53, and further aggravated by Korean Boom caused turmoil. The adversity within the working class and the poor was displayed by their readiness to come on to the streets. more..