Jan 16 (CT) If only the Executive Committee of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka could understand the gravity of the current crisis where Sri Lanka is likely to lose its IAAF membership for ignoring the demands of the parent body, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the crisis-ridden local body could have taken serious measures to correct the situation back in September 2012. more..

Jan 16 (SL) Tax payers money running into millions of rupees have been squandered through various bogus road development projects which had been approved by the former Provincial Finance Minister and Chief Minister of North Central Province, Berty Premalal Dissanayake. He is accused of allowing the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA) to award contracts for supporters without more..

Jan 16 (CNN) A woman who Australia deems to be a national security risk has given birth to a child who is likely to spend the early months, if not years, of his life in detention. Baby Paari was born on Tuesday to Ranjini, a 33-year-old mother of two other boys aged six and nine, who was granted refugee status by Australia in 2011 after fleeing violence in Sri Lanka. Since May, they've been living in residential housing more..

Jan 16 (LBO) Japan will grant a dredger to Sri Lanka's state-run fishery harbhour agency to keep navigational channels clear for fishermen. The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) said a study team sent at Sri Lanka's request and officials of Ceylon Fishery Harbhour Corporation had found that existing dredging capacity was not enough. Additional capacity of 63,000 square metres a year was needed for annual more..

Jan 16 (ICJ) The appointment of former Attorney General Mohan Peiris as Sri Lanka�s new Chief Justice raises serious concerns about the future of the Rule of Law and accountability in the country, the ICJ said today. Mohan Peiris has served in a variety of high-level legal posts in the past decade, always playing a key role in defending the conduct of the Sri Lankan govt. He served as Attorney-General from 2009 to 2011. more..

Jan 16 (Island) The country was in an unsatisfactory situation. It had deteriorated in many aspects. Its prestige could be regained only if the leaders became devoid of crime and corruption, former Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in Kandy recently. He was addressing a meeting of the Central Province Branch of the Anoma Fonseka Foundation, in Kandy to invoke blessings on Ms Anoma Fonseka birth anniversary. more..

Jan 16 (Island) The JVP alleged that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had sided with President Rajapaksa on the impeachment of CJ Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, while pretending to be at war with the Rajapaksa regime. JVP trade union leader Lal Kantha said that President Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe pretended to be fighting. He likened what he called the Mahinda-Ranil drama to the Tom and Jerry cartoon more..

Jan 16 (CT) The darkest hour comes just before dawn. Whether this is just another clich� or an inspiring set of words handed down from one generation to another from time immemorial, one would not know. But how else could one describe what happened on Sunday and thereafter? The lightning speed with which the govt converted Friday's parliamentary vote into action and implemented the laborious steps involved in an impeachment motion against a CJ of a more..

Jan 16 (CT) We cannot deny that Sri Lanka is in a crisis at the moment. Even if the country does not meet the indicators of a failed state, it is as good as one. Whatever impression the govt would like to give, fiasco upon fiasco is mounting. if we go from the most recent � the illegal impeachment of the CJ, to the totally botched up case of Rizana Nafeek, the mess in the Judiciary before the CJ�s unfortunate fate, to the Z score, to the messed up education system at all levels, more..

Jan 16 (Island) Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Dr. P. Saravanamuttu yesterday filed a fundamental rights violation application in the Supreme Court, challenging the appointment of the new Chief Justice, President�s Counsel Mohan Pieris. The CPA is a Non-Governmental Organization. The petition requested the Court to restrain the Parliamentary Council from selecting Mohan Pieris and had further claimed that he should refrain from accepting the more..

Jan 16 (GDI) Minister Basil Rajapaksa recalled the uplifting of Sri Lanka�s agriculture and the farming community following the introduction of the Paddy Lands Act by Philip Gunawardene and stressed the need for returning to the self-sufficient economy of the pre-colonial era. He said this at a commemoration ceremony held in connection with the 112th Birth Anniversary of Philip Gunawardene at the Seethawaka Abhimana Awards presentation ceremony held parallel to the more..

Jan 16 (Island) Minister Dilan Perera has accused some local politicians of attempting to fish in troubled waters following the execution of the Sri Lankan housemaid, Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia last week. Addressing a memorial service for Rizana, at the Dewatagaha Mosque, he said "now it is our duty to look after Rizana�s family and fulfil their needs as Rizana went abroad to build a better future for her family." more..

Jan 16 (LT) Despite a situation has arisen that factories are being closed down with the dawn of the New Year the govt has not sought any solutions for the issue states Inter Company Employees Union (ICEU). The President of ICEU Wasanthe Samarasinghe issuing a media statement states factories established under BOI approval in Gampaha District are being closed down with the beginning of 2013. Chrystal Sweater (pvt) Company in Malwatta Investment promotion estate at more..

Jan 16 (OU) There is a dearth for 331 teachers in the 101 schools located in the Kilinochchi educational zone. Owning to this, 29thousand and 554 students are deprived from educational activities was said by the parents from the locality and education observers with much disheartening. We lost our properties and assets after war. We got resettled, and we consider our children's education is our main capital. But that is also, due to the scarcity of teachers, more..

Jan 16 (DM) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday said change was vital for Sri Lanka as the country had reached such low levels with leaders promoting criminals and drug dealers into power. She made these comments at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Oration organised by St. Bridget�s Convent under the theme �Educating Women for Leadership.� Kumaratunga said she was devastated about the present situation of the more..

Jan 16 (DM) Passengers who were expecting to take a �breakfast� flight to Hyderabad, ended up making it there only around lunchtime. The reason: The plane, with all the passengers on board, was made to wait on the tarmac for around 90 minutes because 18 Sri Lankans who were booked on it hadn�t landed in Chennai yet. According to irate passengers who boarded Jet Airways flight 9W 2780 at 9 am, the cabin staff remained absolutely unresponsive for the entire time that they more..

Jan 16 (DM) The mother of the main suspect in the Ratmalana triple murder, in her evidence before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate said he was not her biological son and that she had hidden this fact for the past 31 years. Vimukthi De Silva is the main suspect in the killing of his wife and their two children on December 20. In her evidence she said that she had kept this fact a secret for 31 years. �I have kept ita secret for the past 31 years. He is not my biological son. I adopted him,� more..

Jan 16 (AFP) Sri Lanka�s controversial new chief justice spent his first full day at work in his chambers on Wednesday after his impeached predecessor insisted she remained the country�s top judge. Anti-riot squads and police commandos were deployed in and around the main courts complex in Colombo Tuesday amid heightened tensions over the appointment of Mohan Peiris as CJ, but the guards were removed more..

Jan 16 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's central bank is expected to keep key policy rates steady on Thursday after last month's surprise rate cut, a Reuters poll showed, but analysts see further easing in monetary conditions during the first half. Eleven out of 14 analysts polled by expect both the repurchase and reverse repurchase rates to be left unchanged at 7.5% and 9.5%, respectively, this week. Two analysts expected the central bank to cut both rates by 25 basis points (bps), more..

Jan 16 (Reuters) Stock market rose more than 1% on Wednesday to hit a three-month high, helped by foreign buying in large caps and falling interest rates ahead of the central bank's January monetary policy rates announcement. The main share index closed up 1.08%, or 62.23 points, at 5,812.47, its highest close since Oct. 9. "Foreign investors bought large caps," a stockbroker said on condition of anonymity. "We see a positive outlook for the market at the moment due to falling interest rates." more..

Jan 16 (DM) A suspect accused of having prepared a fake birth certificate for Rizana Nafeek who was beheaded in Saudi Arabia recently was imposed a suspended sentence and fine by the Colombo High Court after trial. The accused had forged the birth certificate of under-aged Rizana Nafeek to show an older age so that she could be sent on foreign employment to Saudi Arabia. The accused Thambi Lebbe Abdul more..

Jan 16 (CG) The TNA is to meet this week and discuss a proposed visit to the United States early this year, reports said. According to the Jaffna media, TNA leader R. Sampanthan, who has been overseas for medical treatment, is due back in the country this week. On his return he is scheduled to attend a function in Trincomalee on Thursday and then discuss the visit to the US. The State Department had reportedly invited the TNA to Washington for talks on the political solution more..

Jan 16 (DM) �I was forced to take to politics due to wrong decisions of the govt. Former CJ Shirani Banadaranayake has also faced the same fate. I am ready to join hands with her to fight to protect democracy for the sake of the people and the country,� Democratic National Alliance leader Sarath Fonseka said. �The country has deteriorated in every sector. Everyone hopes for an alternative. In my political career I do not want to keep company with thugs, drug addicts or to be a dictator. more..

Jan 16 (OU) Whether disputes have come to an end, after the impeachment against Chief Justice Prof.Shirani Bandaranayake, disagreements among the judiciary, executive and legislature after the removal of Chief Justice position and the appointment of new Chief Justice was queried and many political dignitaries gave their opinions. Mano Ganeshan states, now only clashes begins. The clashes among judiciary, executive and more..

Jan 16 (AAP) Angelo Mathews has rated young batsman Lahiru Thirimanne a future star of Sri Lankan cricket. Thirimanne has been the surprise packet of Sri Lanka's tour of Australia, turning himself from an injury reinforcement into last-start match-winner in Adelaide, to bolster hopes of a one-day series upset. The 23-year-old also scored a fighting 91 after being rushed into the third Test loss at the SCG and is the tourists' form batsman heading into Friday's pivotal ODI more..

Jan 16 (ST) The recruitment of Sri Lankan female domestics to West Asia will continue on a day to day basis despite the recent outcry following the execution of Rizana Rafiq in Saudi Arabia early last week, the industry said today. "There is no change in the recruitment pattern and the authorities have not advised us otherwise", Faizer Maickeen with the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) said a short while ago. However he added that ALFEA was prepared to more..

Jan 16 (DM) He says his approach does not confine only to regulate. �Education is a big part of my job,� he stresses, quite unlikely to the two regulators before him, who threw in the towel in a span of just one year, ducking to pressures from all over. Will this new formula help him to stay in the job longer than the previous duo? �This job was not something I asked for. Given my track record, it came my way. So, I don�t have to do anything more..

Jan 16 (DM) Navy�s Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapakse�s name has been proposed to head the Sri Lanka Elle Federation according to reliable sources. He has responded in a positive manner to the proposal and also set to take up the position. The AGM is scheduled to be held on March 30 where the election too is to take place. Lieutenant Rajapaksa is well known for his rugby which sport he is at the top ranks and led the national team and still engaged with national rugby squad. more..

Jan 16 (PTI) A Sri Lankan national was arrested on Wednesday at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi for allegedly trying to travel on fake passport and other travel documents, setting security agencies on a trail of suspected conmen. The Central Industrial Security Force, acting on an tip off, apprehended the foreign national identified as one Marvin (24) at about 0100 hours after he had allegedly received the fake documents more..

Jan 16 (CT) Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa acknowledged the flaws in the executive presidency and the current Constitution, the speaker himself stated that Constitution should be changed, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said. He said Sri Lanka should have a system where there is power devolution and where all people share in the power of the country, instead of allowing the power to be concentrated on one person; namely more..

Jan 17 (DBS) On 14th January, around 7 pm the Secretary to the President and DIG Anura Senanyaka required the Registrar of the Supreme Court to pack all belongings of the Chief Justice (Dr. Bandarayaka) and send the same to her residence. He had also been told that the new Chief Justice would arrive on the following day and everything must be cleared for him. In the night, on 14th January, a large number of Defence personnel had occupied the Superior Court Complex. more..

Jan 17 (DBS) The Tamil month of Thai was ushered in on Monday Jan 14. It marks the end of the harvesting season of rice for the Tamil farmers who will be celebrating that harvest with their famous festival of Thai Pongal. Pongal means �boiling over�. To signify that they have had a bountiful harvest, the people allow the milk in which they pour the rice to boil over � as a pot bubbling over with its fare is a sign of abundance. It is a time of rest and relaxation for the agrarian community after the stresses more..

Jan 17 (SO) The environmentalists warned the authorities last week against relaxing environmental laws to allow exporting of endangered and endemic freshwater fish species as a boost to the ornamental fish industry. The activists cautioned the move would lead to the extinction of already threatened varieties in Sri Lanka while the rivals in ornamental fish industry, like Malaysia and Thailand would stand to gain by Sri Lanka's loss. more..

Jan 17 (CT) Unbelievable? May be in the civilised world but certainly not in the Wonder of Asia! The primary duty of a law-enforcement officer is to act forthwith to prevent a breach of the peace, almost at any cost. It is said that �Good habits die hard�. To prevent, what in his esteemed opinion was an imminent breach of the peace, the Speaker, a distinguished Police Officer of yester year, relying on the considerable legal knowledge he had acquired over the years boldly delivered more..

Jan 17 (CT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has acted swiftly after the impeachment of CJ Shirani Bandaranayake by Parliament to issue a Presidential decree that removes her from office. This letter has been delivered to the CJ. However, there is considerable support from the legal fraternity that she remains Chief Justice regardless of the Presidential letter. This is on account of a Supreme Court ruling that the impeachment process was not in conformity with the law. more..

Jan 17 (CT) Rizana Nafik was beheaded at 11.40 am on 9th January 2013. Two hours later, at 1.40 pm, Minister Dilan Perera informed the parliament that �the govt has done everything to save Rizana and she will be released soon�. That bizarre development was not an anomaly; it was an expression of the way the Rizana Nafik case was handled by the Rajapaksa administration. Just five days before Ms. Nafik�s judicial murder, more..

Jan 17 (CT) Two events occurred during the second week of January 2013 shocked the Sri Lankan as well as the international community. Both events were related two Sri Lankan daughters. One was an under educated minor, from a poor, rural background of Muttur, Trincomalee who was sent to do domestic service in Saudi Arabia and other hailed from Kurunegala, educated at Anuradhapura, Colombo and London was the 4th citizen of Sri Lanka, destined to become the first woman more..

Jan 17 (CT) Hon. CJ, just disregard the disgraceful disinformation campaign launched by the Rajapaksa corrupt regime. Simply concentrate your constitutional obligation to the people in a broader perspective i.e. to respect and uphold the rule of law and the will of the people, that is being ridiculed and insulted by the Rajapaksa regime that effectively made Sri Lanka a FAILED STATE in the eyes of the international community. Informed individuals of this country are fully aware of the circumstances more..