Feb 17 (DN) While commending the socio-economic progress achieved since the end of the conflict in 2009, Indonesia has assured her fullest support for Sri Lanka whenever the country needs it. Indonesia gave this assurance when President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s special envoy, Minister Dilan Perera met Indonesian Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Wardana during the former�s official visit to Indonesia. more..

Feb 17 (DN) The Census and Statistics Department blamed the TNA and some NGOs for finding fault with the data in the cases of disappearances in the Northern Province stating that they have overstepped their limit and are trying to take over the responsibilities of the Department of Census and Statistics as the national statistics provider. �We have just concluded the collection and compilation of the data pertaining to more..

Feb 17 (Island) More than 14,000 Sri Lankans died of oral, esophagus, stomach, cervical and breast cancers in 2013. Major hospitals, besides the Maharagama Cancer Institute, treated 25,842 cancer patients in 2013. Maharagama alone had recorded about 5,000 deaths due to cancer. There had been a dramatic rise in the number of cancer patients in recent times. Oral, lung, esophageal and breast cancers were more..

Feb 17 (CT) Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, said Sri Lanka will fully implement the system adopted by the USA and India, to track down overstaying foreigners and deport them immediately. Speaking in this regard yesterday, the Defence Secretary said, all hotels, lodgings, holiday resorts and other places where foreign tourists stay, have been directed to obtain a copy of the passports of their foreign guests and give the same to more..

Feb 17 (ENS) The DMK has adopted 15 resolutions, among them the quick implementation of the Sethusamudram Project, priority for the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and abolition of the death penalty, while condemning the no action-taken policy for the price rise of general commodities and deterioration of law and order in the State here on Sunday. While he read out the resolutions adopted on the second and final day of the party�s more..

Feb 17 (CG) Minister G L Peiris is expected to brief SAARC members on the upcoming UNHRC session in Geneva, when he meets them on the sidelines of the 45th Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in the Maldives. Peiris will lead the Sri Lankan delegation for the meetings from 17 to 20 Feb. Foreign Ministers of the SAARC countries �Afghanistan, Bangladesh Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka more..

Feb 17 (CT) There are constant reports of wanton destruction of our forests by persons intent on making a quick buck, causing severe damage to the country as well as its citizens, thwarting all efforts made by the regulating and law enforcement agencies to check this menace. The efforts of these agencies have come to naught, as very often the offenders are persons with political patronage, compelling the law enforcing officers to turn a blind eye to the offence being committed, more..

Feb 17 (Island) In conjunction with the Singapore Air Show 2014, the SSA has organized the first Singapore International Airboree from February 11-16 at the Sarimbun Scout Camp. This event targets scouts between the ages of 15 to 20 to come together during the period of the Singapore Air Show to foster friendship and to learn more about aviation in a fun-filled environment. The participants of the Airboree will also get an exclusive visit to the air show as well as many industry/educational more..

Feb 17 (LBO) Stocks close 0.45% lower for the third straight day with diversified stocks losing ground. All Share Price Index closed 27.28 points lower at 6,056.11, down 0.45%. The S&P SL20 closed 19.52 points lower at 3,306.24, down 0.59%. Turnover was 613.42 million rupees, down from 665.01 million rupees last Thursday, with stocks of 126 firms closing in the red against 42 gainers. Nations Trust Bank closed flat at 66.00 rupees with 198.00 million rupees of off market transactions more..

Feb 17 (Island) Consumers are troubled by a severe shortage of milk power in spite of a price increase granted by the govt recently. Trade Ministry sources said the importers had asked for a price increase of Rs.250-540 per kilo, but they had been granted only an increase of Rs. 152 per kilo and Rs. 61 per 400 g in addition to a duty reduction amounting to Rs. 50 a kilo. A ministry official said they were now left with no alternative but to order the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to conduct raids on more..

Feb 17 (LBO) Sri Lanka's bank should lend more to businesses associated with ports, airports, health and information technology to make use of expanded capacity in the economy, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Govt has developed infrastructure in recent year with ports, airports and roads generating extra capacity and opportunities for business in the economy, he said. "We need to concentrate a fair amount more..

Feb 17 (Reuters) The rupee ended steady on Monday as demand for the greenback from importers helped offset exporter dollar sales after the central bank kept its key policy rate steady. The spot rupee ended at 130.83/87 per dollar, but the market expects the local rupee to be under downward pressure when credit growth picks up. Before the market opened, central bank kept policy rates steady at multi-year lows, with inflation expected to be contained throughout 2014 by more..

Feb 17 (Island) Kurungala police have arrested five suspects in connection with the killing of a hotelier during a party at a restaurant. The deceased was identified as Anuruddha Bandara (38), a businessman who ran two guesthouses at Ridigama area in Dodamgaslanda. Police searched the house of the owner of the firearm��the chief suspect in the killing��and found a live hand grenade, a micro pistol, an air rifle and a repeater gun. The party was held at the Muttettugala Restaurant on Friday more..

Feb 17 (DM) Prince of Wales, who visited at the Garrison Cemetery in Kandy, as part of his visit to Sri Lanka for the CHOGM in November, has made a personal donation towards the maintenance of the Cemetery. �I am delighted that His Royal Highness has seen fit to make this personal donation towards the maintenance of this cemetery, which is of both historic importance and a tranquil resting place for British nationals more..

Feb 17 (DM) The body of a 54-year-old man who had died falling into a goda barrel was recovered on Saturday morning when the illicit brewery in Madinnagoda, Rajagiriya was raided, the Police said. The victim, A. Jayantha, had been employed at the illicit brewery. The Police said that the team that raided the den had noticed several barrels buried underground to which the illicit brew was flowing through a pipe line from the distilling place located about forty meters away. more..

Feb 17 (Island) Postal voting for March 29 Western and Southern PC elections would take place on March 13 and 14, the Elections Department (ED) sources said yesterday. The deadline for accepting postal vote applications had ended on February 10 and those unable to cast their postal votes on those two days allocated would be able to do so on March 20 through their respective divisional secretariats, the ED said . Polling cards would be distributed from March 04 to March 16 more..

Feb 17 (CI) Sri Lanka have announced a tried-and-tested squad for next month's World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. The only selection resembling something of a surprise was the inclusion of batting allrounder Chaturanga de Silva as a standby in case Rangana Herath doesn't recover in time for the tournament. Chaturanga also features in Sri Lanka's Asia Cup squad, though as a confirmed member and not a back-up. more..

Feb 17 (CT) The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an alleged �secret-plan� by Jewish leaders for world domination, took the occident by storm in the early 20th Century. Even after it was exposed as a forgery perpetrated by the Tsarist secret police (a sham culled from two works of literature � a French satire and a German novel), it continued to excite the fanatical imagination of anti-Semitics and became a major influence on Adolf Hitler. An �us vs. them� metanarrative is more..

Feb 17 (DM) Civil Aviation Authority said today the �Pilot License Conversion� exams have resumed in the wake of suspected exam irregularities, which are currently being investigated. �Yes we resumed the conversion exams from last week. There have been five to six applicants, who sat the exam though I cannot confirm the exact number,� Director General H.C. Nimalasiri said. He said the exams were conducted with a different system installed. "We are using a completely different system more..

Feb 17 (CT) The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has assured the Conservative Friends of Sri Lanka (CFSL), a group of Sri Lankans living in Britain, that no draft resolution had been formulated to be presented at the forthcoming UNHRC meeting in Geneva, billed for March 2014. "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office agreed and indeed acknowledged that Sri Lanka had made some progress on the implementation of more..

Feb 17 (LT) If the govt doesn't take measures to solve the issue of pension anomalies, all organizations of pensioners would be convened to Colombo for a massive agitation that would make the govt take notice of the grievances of pensioners says JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi. Speaking at the meeting of Avissawella Bala Mandalaya of the JVP he said, �The issue of pensioners has become a burning issue in the society. However, no attention has been paid to this issue. more..

Feb 17 (LT) �The ordinary members of the UNP like a country without theft or corruption. We tell them to rally with the JVP if they like such a country. We propose to them to build a people�s govt at the next general election. We ask Mahinda and Maithripala whether they could take a decision to recover money that has been earned by illegal methods. If they love the country they could take this decision today. They brag about building a righteous country for the children. more..

Feb 17 (DM) Amid speculations about a possible UNHRC call for an international investigation, the UNP said it would be advisable to avert such a situation by conducting an internal investigation into human rights allegations. UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said that an international investigation would eventually result in individuals being found guilty on flimsy evidence. According to him, suspects could even be found guilty more..

Feb 17 (Island) Undergraduates of the Students� Council of the Rajarata University will file an appeal before Anuradhpaura High Court today against the Magistrate Court�s order preventing them from staging a satyagraha and to seek the release of their colleagues arrested by the Mihintale police on Feb. 13. A delegation of the Students� Council met legal experts to draft the petition yesterday evening. The satyagraha mounted by the undergraduates of the Rajarata University asking the authorities to more..

Feb 17 (AD) It has been uncovered that the National Identity Card (NIC) numbers of 16 persons provided in the nominations list of the NSSP for the upcoming WPC election are incorrect. The NIC numbers of 9 individuals, named in the list of NSSP candidates contesting from the Gampaha District, are said to be NIC numbers which have not been issued by the Department of Registration of Persons while the NIC numbers provided by 4 candidates belong to different people. more..

Feb 17 (SM) Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, David Daly, accompanied by senior representatives from the European Union Headquarters including Jorge de la Caballeria, head of Unit for Asia and Central Asia division, will visit EU funded projects this week in the Eastern Province and explore cooperation possibilities in Uva and Central Provinces. The aim of the visit is to assess how EU funded more..

Feb 17 (CI) Mushfiqur Rahim took a baffling decision to keep Shakib Al Hasan out of the attack for much of Thisara Perera and Sachitra Senanayake's 14-over stand. The pair blasted 82 runs in the interim, with none of the spinners or Rubel Hossain finding a way to break the partnership. Shakib had bowled just four overs, and was waiting for his turn, and had also gone close to ending the stand with a fine diving effort from short midwicket. He eventually made a breakthrough by more..

Feb 17 (AD) UNP accused the Elections Commissioner of continuing to remain silent regarding the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s involvement in the election campaign of the ruling UPFA. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake says that despite media reports publicizing the Defence Secretary�s participation at the launch of UPFA District Leader of Colombo Udaya Gammanpila�s election campaign recently, no action has been taken by the more..

Feb 17 (DM) UNP Leadership Council in a written complaint today urged Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya to stop high profile public servants from participating at political meetings. Mr. Jauasuriya who handed over the complaint said a high level public servant was participating at UPFA political meetings and was thus violating the Constitution and election laws. He said some public servants were even being unduly influenced more..

Feb 17 (DM) The JVP today charged that there were moves to arrest those who reacted angrily to the presence of Defence Ministry Monitoring MP Duminda Silva at a protest by Wanathamulla residents. JVP candidate Sunil Watagala, who is contesting the elections to the Western Provincial Council, told a news conference that government politicians should think twice before getting involved with an angry crowd carrying out a justifiable protest over the abduction of one of the residents. more..

Feb 17 (AD) Working Committee of the UNP has decided to appoint MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa to the party�s Leadership Council, to fill the position initially offered to MP Thalatha Athukorala. The position in the Leadership Council offered to MP Sajith Premadasa still remains open for him to accept, UNP Chairman and Leadership Council member Kabir Hashim said. Both Premadasa and Athukorala were nominated to the Leadership Council when it was established on November 4, 2013. more..

Feb 17 (CI) Two spectacular batting collapses adorned the first ODI, one more dramatic than the other, causing amusement, ridicule and fear at a half-filled Shere Bangla National Stadium. Sri Lanka first slipped to 67 for 8 in 21.3 overs, after which Thisara Perera put together a proper rescue act and gave the visitors a lifeline, a score of 180 in 40 overs. The home side fell the other way, from 114 for 2 to 167 all out, losing 53 for 8 more..

Feb 18 (NS) Some decades ago, in his long running comic strip �Doonesbury�, the graphic artist Gary Trudeau introduced a new character: Dr Janata, a �Sri Lankan� doctor wearing a distinctively Sikh turban, who said �in Sri Lanka we have no tradition of anaesthesia.� This was just two years after the dreadful Black July pogrom blackened the country�s name throughout the world � it was the first time many people had even heard of the place. �Sri Lanka� acquired a new meaning: more..

Feb 18 (NS) The carbon footprint of St Valentine�s Day would be huge. 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide is produced when we produce 100 million roses for the Western markets. The high energy cost is because almost all of them are grown in greenhouses with artificially-controlled heating and lighting. It is not just the carbon we have to worry about, but all the agro-chemicals and hormones used to grow the plants and get the flowers to bloom at the right time, and all the chemicals more..

Feb 18 (NS) Udara Rathnayake is another new face to the political arena. He was known as a budding artiste though his father was a known figure in the cinema industry. Udara a product of DS Senanayake College, graduated from the Sussex University, and later at the Uni of Colombo. Udara still in his20s says the present social system is dangerously decayed and law and order is no more there. His effort is to make a small more..

Feb 18 (Island) Last weekend during a visit to the Uda Walawe Park, I saw that Rambo was still at his old haunts along the bund of the Uda Walawe reservoir and doing well despite the attempts by the Wild Life Conservation Department (DWC) to erect a second electric fence along the edge of the water of the reservoir, to prevent him swimming across and getting on to the bund. For the past four years or so Rambo has been �patrolling� the bund and soliciting food from passers-by. more..

Feb 18 (CT) Dear President Obama, This is the same Sinhala Buddhist person who wrote you about a week ago. I am a true Sinhala Buddhist and I am truly angry that world does not want to learn anything from us even though Sri Lanka is the only island of Dharma left the world. But on reading my previous letter again along with really unpatriotic comments to it, I realized that I was wrong. I was wrong to call you �an idiot�. I am writing you to say �I am sorry.� more..

Feb 18 (SO) Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Director of the Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights, Anatoly Viktorov refuted the need for an international inquiry against Sri Lanka on war crimes saying international dialogue in the sphere of human rights was rife with politicisation and double standards. �No violation of the UN Charter or attempt to undermine norms and principles of the international law may be more..

Feb 18 (CT) The heat of the hustings is steadily growing as the polls to the Western and Southern Provincial Councils draw closer. However, the ruling UPFA has found that the Sword of Damocles hanging over the govt in Geneva, is in the way of mobilizing all resources at its disposal for the election campaign on hand. Reports last week said that the American Centre in Colombo was involved in a conspiracy to bring down the govt while the US State Department was busy directing the more..