Feb 14 (SM) Northwestern province chief minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today the parents were to be mainly blamed for the death of 15-year-old Venusha Imandi, a Kurunegala schoolgirl who had committed suicide recently. The CM asked parents to be vigilant of what their children do with the computer. Speaking at a function at Kosdeniya Maha Vidyalaya in Panduwasnuwara, he said children spend most of the time of the day with their parents. It was the fault of the parents that more..

Feb 14 (CI) Mashrafe Mortaza's first tilt at captaincy started and finished by falling at the crease in 2009 and 2010. As a stopgap captain in place of Mushfiqur Rahim, he has made the most imaginative attempt by a Bangladeshi captain. With only 120 runs to defend, Mashrafe rotated his bowlers wisely, but in the end, Farhad Reza let him down. Sachitra smacked the last ball from which two was required, off a short delivery. more..

Feb 14 (Island) Colombo�s UNP Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil has not been invited by the party�s two Colombo Central Electoral Organisers, Mujibur Rahaman and Mohammed Fairooz for the inaugural WPC elections meeting at Bodhiraja Mawatha on Wednesday. Muzammil said that they were against his wife Feroza being nominated for the Colombo District from the UNP together with another influential Colombo District MP. He said that he had yet to make up his mind whether to more..

Feb 14 (IANS) Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka seemed to be unstoppable in round three of the PGTI Eagleburg Open as he carded a splendid eight-under-64 to build a massive six-stroke lead here Friday. Perera's total stood at 21-under-195 after the penultimate day's action at the Eagleton Golf Resort while local favourite Anirban Lahiri was a distant second at 15-under-201 after his third round effort of four-under-68. Perera (65-66-64), the overnight leader by two shots, more..

Feb 14 (Island) Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) promised to take positive step to increase the share of the solar and wind power in the country, despite the CEB restricting the solar power to 80MW and wind power to 220 MW last year due to "technical issues". SEA Renewable Energy Director Vimal Nadeera said that plans were underway to revise the CEB decision by March 31. He said that studies were continuing more..

Feb 14 (GDI) Japanese ambassador Nobuhito Hobo and Ms. Megumi Kuwana, Program Unit Chief of Civic Force signed the grant contract for a project entitled �Capacity Building project on community-based disaster risk reduction� on Thursday at the Ambassador�s Residence in Colombo. The project amounts to US$291,005 and is to be implemented for 1 year under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects, a grant funding program of Japan�s Official Development Assistance (ODA). more..

Feb 14 (Island) The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council on Wednesday said that several boxes containing a well-known brand of chocolate cake had been submitted to the City Analyst and Microbiologist for testing for possible bacterial contamination. The Acting Food Inspector, Lal Kumara said that the cakes were of a well-known brand and had been detected in a supermarket in Kotahena during inspections by a team of the Department�s Public Health Inspectors. more..

Feb 14 (ENS) Indian Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid has said that the Indian parliamentary elections this year will cast a shadow on India�s stand on the Sri Lankan human rights issue at the March session of the UNHRC. �We are in an election mood. In election time it is not always easy to explain to people. There is no time and no willingness to listen to things. And lots of people get excited and sometimes get upset,� more..

Feb 14 (GDI) President Rajapaksa addressing 600 new entrants to the People's Bank staff from all provinces except the southern and western Provinces said "we created the atmosphere for everyone to live, move without fear ending the 30 year war and that is why all of you from all corners of the country are here together to attend this ceremony." The President was the Chief Guest at the presentation of appointment letters to the newly recruited Customer Service Assistants more..

Feb 14 (CI) Team spirit is top of the zeitgeist this year. England were depicted as a divided side during their Ashes whitewash and togetherness and playing for the team have been key phrases behind England's rebuilding blueprint and the purpose of dismissing Kevin Pietersen. Greed is not good. But England Lions are one happy band of brothers, all sweating in the Sri Lankan dust in the quest of international cricket and improving the national game. They must be. more..

Feb 14 (LR) Ceylon and Canada forged close relations during the Suez Crisis of 1956, which split opinion among Commonwealth nations. Ceylon PM SWRD Bandaranaike was impressed by the brilliant Canadian diplomat Lester B. Pearson who masterminded a solution to end the English-French-Isreali conflict with Egypt over the Suez Canal. Ceylon, India and Pakistan feared an all-out world war as the Soviet Union more..

Feb 14 (Island) Around 2% of the population at Dimbulagala in the Polonnaruwa district, especially farmers was detected to be suffering from chronic kidney failure, the Health Ministry said. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said that at the Dimbulagala Divisional Secretariat the chronic kidney disease was quietly overwhelming the farming community there. Apart from Dimbulagala, the CKD had been spreading throughout the length and breadth of the country. more..

Feb 14 (LT) The Commissioner does not receive any support from the ruling party despite he is making an attempt to make the PC elections free and fair says the General Secretary of JVP Tilvin Silva. He said the police too was making an effort to protect law and order but those who are in power act as if there is no law in this country. He said as a result of the ruling UPFA acts in a manner ignoring instructions given by the Commissioner of Elections and the police, no one could expect more..

Feb 14 (LT) JVP compiled �Our Vision�, the policy framework, to build and develop this country said the Leader of JVP Anura Dissanayaka. �Our Vision�, the policy framework of the JVP was presented to the President of the Bar Association of SL Upul Jayasooriya today by the new Leader of JVP Anura Dissanayaka. Upul Jaysooriya speaking at the occasion said an atrocious militarization is being carried out in the country. more..

Feb 15 (CT) I write to contradict the assertions of Lakshman Kiriella, Senior VP of the UNP, as reported in the lead story of The Island of Feb 11th, with regard to the UNHRC special session of May 2009 in Geneva and the needless yet impending catastrophe we face there today. Mr. Kiriella is quoted as saying that �A series of blunders has led to the country being crucified at international forums. It all began shortly after the war with the LTTE ended on May 19, 2009. more..

Feb 15 (NS) Although it may sound a bit surprising, it can be said without doubt that there is a clear parallel between the so-called Geneva resolution regarding Sri Lankan humanitarian operation over LTTE and Murali�s world record of 800 wickets! Sunday July 25, 2010, the article written by Paul Lewis (the sport editor of the New Zealand Herald at that time) mentioned the caption as �That �but� spoils 800 benchmark�. In this article, he was even criticizing ICC as �Faced with having to more..

Feb 15 (NS) In the years after World War II, several nations threw off the mantle of colonial dominion and achieved self-rule under the guise of parliamentary democracies. Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, was no exception. Last week we celebrated 66 years of breaking free from the last shackles of colonial rule. Kegalle was all �tarted� up to host the big occasion with the usual military pageants and panache reserved for Freedom Day. more..

Feb 15 (CT) �The cause of all these evils was the lust for power, arising from greed and ambition�The leaders in the cities, each provided with the fairest professions, on the one side with the cry of political equality of the people and on the other of a moderate aristocracy, sought prizes for themselves in those public interests which they pretended to cherish. Recoiling from no means in their struggle for ascendancy, they engaged in the direst excesses. more..

Feb 15 (NS) Sri Lanka commemorated World Leprosy Day on January 26 with the aim of creating awareness of the presence of the disease and educating the public on treatment available. A revelation perhaps for many citizens, Sri Lanka is not yet free of Leprosy. In fact the country has seen a modest rise in recent times according to the Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Sarath Amunugama. However the Ministry of Health along with the Anti-Leprosy Campaign has put more..

Feb 15 (SO) They say that a gold mine is hidden in those trees. Just two days ago, two people were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport for trying to smuggle out 16 kilograms of bark parts of this tree. To the scientific world this plant is known as 'Gyrinops walla' and to the villagers as walla patta. 'Patta' is a Sinhala word used for the parts that are taken from the tree bark to be used in place of string or cord for more..

Feb 15 (Island) Third President of the US, Thomas Jefferson, famously declared that if it were left to him to decide whether America should have a govt without newspapers or newspapers without a govt he should not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter. Such was the value the founding fathers of America placed on media freedom. But, the Jeffersonian principles have apparently ceased to be cherished by the present-day American leaders. On the 44th US President�s watch, that country more..

Feb 15 (CT) On Wednesday, Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, met with a delegation of Sri Lankan journalists, including this columnist at the South Bloc. After a customary brief speech on bilateral relations, conversation soon switched to Colombo's predicament at the UNHRC in Geneva. India's position as per the forthcoming resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC was the central question. Would New Delhi stand by Sri Lanka? Would it serve as a go-between to bring more..

Feb 15 (CT) For a small country like Sri Lanka, meeting the challenge of a superpower like the US is an uphill task. There is no comparison at all. Sri Lanka does not have the economic resources that Iran has, or what Libya had under Col. Gaddafi, to hit back at the US as they once did in their own way � occupation of the US Embassy, and the bombing of the Pan-Am plane, respectively. Nor does Sri Lanka have the missiles or the few nuclear warheads as North Korea possesses, more..

Feb 15 (ST) An international trade exhibition in southern Sri Lanka would help expand trade and investment opportunities to the regions, says Imran Hassan, Managing Director of CDC Events and Travels (PVT) LTD. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Southern International Trade Exhibition (SITE) 2014 at the BMICH on Wednesday, he said, �While the country is experiencing vast infrastructure development, investment opportunities and trade exhibitions more..

Feb 15 (FT) UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake who recently created a stir in the party by resigning from the Nomination Board says there is no hidden agenda behind his move. �Nobody should be taken for granted,� he said. �We are not convenient whipping boys for everything that is done in the district. People who have done this must meet the ramifications that flow for unilateral, arbitrary and whimsical decisions that have been taken.� more..

Feb 15 (CI) Lasith Malinga dropped Shamsur Rahman off the third ball of the match to a difficult chance over his head at short fine-leg. Tillakaratne Dilshan had bowled a poor delivery which the opener swept, but he could only manage a leading edge. Malinga got a hand to the ball, but was ultimately very cross with himself for dropping it. Still, no one would have known that Sri Lanka would make up for that failed chance with three superb catches. Nuwan Kulasekara was at mid-on more..

Feb 15 (Island) Sri Lanka Under-19 cruised to a 49 run victory over New Zealand Under-19 as skipper Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama set the stage for the triumph with half centuries in their opening encounter of the ICC Youth World Cup in Sharjah yesterday. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 275 for nine with Mendis� 91 coming off 107 balls and included 11 boundaries while Samarawickrama belted six boundaries in an 81-ball innings. Two batsmen put on 97 runs for the 2nd wicket. more..

Feb 15 (CI) Captain Dinesh Chandimal has said his team gathered a lot of information about Chittagong, their World Twenty20 venue in the first round, during their 2-0 series win over Bangladesh. Having fought tenaciously in both Twenty20s, Bangladesh will also take a lot from these matches as they try to build momentum for the three-ODI series and for the rest of the season. "I am really happy at the way we played," more..

Feb 15 (FT) The second stage of the establishment of a biodiversity park was inaugurated at Rajagiriya Sri Sudharmarama temple on 9 February. The park is being developed in the five acre land surrounding the temple with the blessings of Ven. Dharshanapathy Rajakeeya Panditha Wathuruwila Sujatha thero, the Chief Incumbent of the temple, and with the initiative and sponsorship of SoilTech Ltd that specialises in geotechnical and environmental projects. more..

Feb 15 (Island) Florists were taken aback by the sudden rush for roses in the past few days, much, much more that in recent years, due to the sudden demand for the flowers from politicians. There are some reports, still unconfirmed, of security guards and supporters of rival politicos clashing with florists over the sale of roses; in some instances the candidates are said to have warned florists they would not be in business for long if their demand for rose were not met. more..

Feb 15 (FT) High in Sri Lanka�s hill country, Kandy has what must rank as one of the world�s most scenic airports. Ringed on both sides by lush jungle, it is pleasingly quiet as I wait by the patch of grass that acts as its main departure gate. Groups of schoolchildren hang around nearby, hopefully scanning the horizon. And in front of us lies the blue waters of Polgolla reservoir: the runway for today�s flight, which is due shortly to more..

Feb 15 (Island) Emerging from the fusion of the elements, life is born anew to fulfill the dreams of those who wish to embrace it. Pure in form and perfect in spirit, "The Elements by Fairway" is a celebration of eternal life in perfect harmony. By bringing the meaning of the four elements together and backed by a proven track record in developing luxury residencies, Fairway Holdings creates yet another powerful symbol of luxury vertical living - �The Elements� by Fairway more..

Feb 15 (CT) In a move to prevent Ogodapola Maha Vidyalaya from being downgraded to a primary school under the 1,000 schools development programme, students of the school, along with their parents, launched a protest campaign recently. Earlier, the education authorities had taken a decision to downgrade the school, which currently is the only one available for children in the area to obtain higher education. Ogodapola Maha Vidyalaya in the Ibbagamuwa Educational Zone, more..

Feb 15 (DM) Following is the inaugural speech by Arjuna Herath as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, delivered at the 22nd President�s Induction ceremony of the Institute held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. It is with a sense of nostalgia that I look back at my career of 23 years as a Chartered Accountant leading to this coveted position to lead the accounting professionals in this country. more..

Feb 15 (AT) 66th National Day of Sri Lanka was celebrated in Islamabad, Pakistan by the Sri Lankan community and friends of Sri Lanka in Pakistan as well as the representatives of the diplomatic corps, Govt, business and academia on 04th Feb 2014. An official ceremony took place in the chancery with the hoisting of the national flag and the singing of national anthem in the early morning of 4th Feb. This was followed by the religious observances from the religious leaders representing more..

Feb 15 (Island) Contrary to the decision taken earlier, the Prison authorities have decided to destroy the 4,800 mobile phones confiscated from Welikade prison inmates, instead of auctioning them. Commissioner General of Prisons C. Pallegama said the phones and SIM cards had been used by prisoners, in some cases with the knowledge of some unscrupulous prison officers. They were detected hidden inside their cells as well as in other places. more..

Feb 15 (Island) 'Although the govt aimed at making Sri Lanka the regional hub for education there were internal forces that resisted these moves. For instance, the GMOA has continuously resisted every move in this direction, Ministry of Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Navaratne said. Speaking at the launch of the Adyapana educational fair, he said that it was the govt's aim to establish more and more seats of higher learning here. more..

Feb 15 (Island) Govt Medical Officers� Association (GMOA) urged doctors and the public not to be duped by the group which claimed to represent medical administrators. GMOA Spokesman Dr. Naveen de Soyza alleged that there was no legality in the forum which claimed to stand for the rights of medical administrators. GMOA represented administrators and grade medical officers whereas the group which had appointed themselves as representatives for Medical Administrators more..

Feb 15 (Island) Amidst accusations that the CEB was making profits at the expense of the consumer by using up most of the water in the reservoirs to generate electricity, the govt has decided that their primary purpose was to supply drinking water. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that if the CEB continued to rely mainly on hydro power generation, then it would have to bear the costs. The primary objective of maintaining reservoirs was to supply drinking water to the people. more..