Mar 5 (Island) UNP MP Harsha de Silva alleged that his telephone was being tapped by the State Intelligence Service(SIS). "You and I are both being listened to by the SIS. This is the type of democracy that the Rajapaksa regime boasts of", De Silva said when he was contacted over developments pertaining to the on going WPC Election campaign. Asked why his phone was being monitored, he replied, "I made a public more..

Mar 5 (Stuff) Priyani De Silva-Currie's parents came from Sri Lanka to New Zealand 39 years ago, seeking "a better life, a safer life, freedom from persecution, all those things that New Zealanders have in abundance and take for granted", she says. She was just 4 when she moved with her father, an accountant, and mother, a nurse. Her experience in New Zealand has been a happy one. Grateful for the opportunities afforded her, she has a strong desire to give something back to the country, more..

Mar 5 (CT) The interim executive board of the Education Cooperative Society (ECS) has defrauded approximately Rs 1 billion from the ECS funds, the Ceylon Teachers' Service Union (CTSU) charged yesterday. CTSU General Secretary, Mahinda Jayasinghe, called for elections to appoint permanent officials to the ECS board. He claimed that the current board is guilty of committing numerous fraudulent activities, and added that the executive board itself is not legal. more..

Mar 5 (IANS) Even as the SL Navy arrested 32 more Indian fishermen, PM Manmohan Singh raised the issue with the neighbouring country's president, Rajapaksa, here Tuesday, calling for a humane approach to the issue. Meeting on the margins of the BIMSTEC Summit, the two leaders also spoke about the upcoming US-led resolution at the UNHRC, the text of which was released to member countries late Monday. more..

Mar 5 (Island) Skeletal remains exhumed from Mannar recently could be of those who had died in the Malaria epidemic that ravaged the country during the period 1936-37, spokesman of the Health Ministry said. Over 500,000 persons had been affected by the disease that spread all over the country, killing about 80,000, he said. According to the spokesman, of those who died of malaria very high numbers had been reported from the districts of Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya, more..

Mar 5 (LR) Lynne Yelich, Minister of State leading a high-level Canadian delegation to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva says Sri Lanka has unfulfilled their previous internal mechanisms on human rights and called for an �international inquiry mechanism�. �In Sri Lanka, we regret the unwillingness of the [Sri Lankan] govt to engage constructively on the substance of various reports or to take genuine steps for reconciliation and accountability. more..

Mar 5 (TOI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday met Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa, but didn't disclose which way New Delhi would vote on the UN resolution seeking an international probe into human rights violations during the war against LTTE. Any substantive aspect of the sensitive issue was not discussed as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit here, a day after more..

Mar 5 (FT) The March 2014 Geneva season kicked off in earnest yesterday as pro-Govt protestors, led by prominent Buddhist monks marched to the UN Headquarters at Thummulla to hand over a petition to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, against the US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC this month. The monks, led by Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero and others claimed to represent the National Rights Organisation, handed over the petition to UN staff in Colombo. more..

Mar 5 (AP) Human rights groups in Sri Lanka on Tuesday asked the United Nations to carry out an international investigation of alleged war crimes and other rights violations during the country's civil war. Twenty-four local rights groups signed a memorandum to the UNHRC saying they believe the govt is not sincerely investigating the allegations. The call coincides UNHRC session in Geneva where member countries will review Sri Lanka's progress in investigating abuses. more..

Mar 5 (AFP) A US-led resolution calling for an international probe into allegations that 40,000 civilians were killed at the end of Sri Lanka's separatist war has been filed with the UN's top rights body. In a draft resolution posted on the UNHRC's website on Tuesday, the United States endorses UN human rights chief Navi Pillay's call for an external investigation into alleged war crimes in the final stages of Sri Lanka's Tamil civil war more..

Mar 5 (DM) After the abrogation of the 17th Amendment with its provisions for the setting up of an Independent Elections Commission and the enactment of the 18th Amendment, there has been much criticism regarding the manner in which elections are conducted. The campaign for the March 29 elections to the Western and Southern PCs has already recorded several instances of violence and violation of election laws. However, this may seem trivial when compared with more..

Mar 5 (DM) The political analysts in Sri Lanka advance a theory that our 1978 Constitution has homegrown roots from our own soil and not imported from any other country. Some of them are so proud to claim that the entire fabric of the Constitution is adumbrated with the principle of constitutional autochthony. It is strongly aired in the media that 13th Amendment to the Constitution is not autochthony. Even the Opinion Poll of the public conducted by several electronic and print more..

Mar 5 (ST) Sitting under a shade to shield himself from the harsh mid-day sun after tending to his garden plot, Kumara in Ampara told us he had a difficult decision to make as to what proportion of his harvest he should sell this season. If the drought continues into the next season he would not be able to farm the four acres of land he cultivated this time. In such asituation he would not have enough rice to feed his family. more..

Mar 5 (DN) Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said that the resolution adopted by Parliament to set up a Special Commission to Investigate human rights violations committed by the LTTE, arising from the adjournment motion moved by UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer will be submitted to President Rajapaksa on his return to the country from a visit to Myanmar. He made these observations in response to more..

Mar 5 (SL) Once again the rains have failed and hydro-reservoirs are drying up, severely affecting the power generation capacity. While CEB expected to remove previously slapped on fuel surcharge, in the current situation, many believe that instead of removing this fuel surcharge, electricity tariffs will be increased once again this year. Several parts of the country have also experienced unannounced power cuts during peak hours. more..

Mar 5 (CT) Chathura Gunawardena, son of Minister Bandula Gunawardena, has been arrested again by Matara Police today, in connection with an accident that had taken place on 20 Feb, as the victim had succumbed to injuries yesterday. Suspect is due to be produced before the Matara Magistrate's Court. Minister's son was involved in the accident in Gandara area, Matara, where a person had been knocked down by more..

Mar 5 (SLA) Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J) on Tuesday launched a well-coordinated drive to eradicate the spread of invasive Parthenium wild plants which has engulfed more than 747 acres of land in 10 Divisional Secretariats in the Jaffna peninsula. This plant species, botanically called, Parthenium Hysterophorus took its roots in Jaffna after it was brought here by the IPKF in 1987, more..

Mar 5 (MoD) The First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa ceremonially opened the refurbished Maths Department building of the University of Colombo participating as the Chief Guest today (3) at a function held at the University premises. Chief Guest unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion amidst the distinguished guests at the main entrance. Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya was more..

Mar 5 (CG) The Sri Lanka Army has suspended the services of all three army personnel (one officer and two soldiers), arrested and subsequently detained for alleged involvement in the robbery of cash and jewellery from a shop in Padukka. The suspects, Lieutenant M.H.A.K Rupasinghe, Private A.K.Y Sathyakumara and Private R.D.P Priyashantha, all three disabled army personnel, alleged to have robbed cash and jewellery, more..

Mar 5 (CG) The Permanent Mission of the United States to the UN in Geneva has organized a meeting today to discuss the resolution on Sri Lanka. The meeting was to take place with the co-sponsors of the draft resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. The meeting was to take place on the sidelines of the 25th session of the UNHRC underway in Geneva. more..

Mar 5 (Island) PM D. M. Jayaratne told Parliament yesterday that the govt would present all documents pertaining to Colombo City Development Project once they were ready. Responding to questions raised by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who alleged that there had been irregularities and frauds in the tender procedure, the PM said that various international organisations had come forward to assist Sri Lanka with more..

Mar 5 (ABC) Tamil groups have welcomed a US-led resolution calling for an international probe into alleged war crimes committed in the final stages SL's civil war. Draft resolution, posted on the UNHRC's website, calls for Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of military excesses. It also asks UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay to report back verbally in September this year, with a written report by March 2015. more..

Mar 5 (CT) The inaugural World Wildlife Day was commemorated in many parts of the world, Sri Lanka included, on Monday, focusing the spotlight away from man and his foibles and on what the UN describes as 'the many beautiful and varied forms of fauna and flora.' The UN General Assembly designated 3 March for World Wildlife Day to coincide with the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), more..

Mar 5 (CT) Bishop Rayappu Joseph is called the Oscar Romeiro of Mannar by the Tamils of Sri Lanka. He is known as �Kotiya� or the Tiger Bishop by the Sinhalese. A Doctorate in Canon Law from Rome, he was ordained as the second Bishop of Mannar in 1992. Since then he has become the voice of the voiceless Tamil civilians in the north, and the most hated person in the Sinhalese dominated south. Under his leadership, Mannar diocese is running homes for war orphans, more..

Mar 5 (CT) Politicians are often arrested for various crimes, but the first politician to be arrested for robbery, to raise funds for his election campaigning, is Royce Fernando, former Opposition Leader of the Negombo Urban Council. He is also a UNP candidate from the Gampaha District for the upcoming WPC election. Police suspect that Royce Fernando was the mastermind behind the Rs 15 million robbery from Jewel Lanka in more..

Mar 5 (LBO) Sri Lanka's stocks close flat Wednesday with index heavy stocks ending on thinner gains and the rupee was kept pegged at 130.60/65 preventing an appreciation, brokers and dealers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 0.19 points lower at 5,936.43. The S&P SL20 closed 4.45 points lower at 3,216.97, down 0.14%. Turnover was 281.18 million rupees, down from 371.32 million rupees a day earlier with 81 stocks closed up against 75 going down. more..

Mar 5 (Island) Responding to Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph�s call for an international war crimes probe, the Defence Ministry yesterday accused the priest of working closely with the LTTE pushing for external intervention in Sri Lanka. The ministry alleged that the clergyman was most probably working with the UK headquartered Global Tamil Forum (GTF) headed by Rev. Father, S.J. Emmanuel. Had the Mannar Bishop been genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of Tamil more..

Mar 5 (Xinhua) China is deepening involvement in Sri Lanka's massive infrastructure development with state-run China Merchant's Group earmarked to build a 1 billion U.S. dollar expressway that will kick off later this year. The northern expressway is considered to be the largest highway project embarked upon by the SL govt to date, aimed at linking the former war torn north through the tourist hot spot of Kandy to Colombo. more..

Mar 5 (Reuters) The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady on Wednesday in dull trade as inward remittances offset mild importer dollar demand and buying of the greenback by state banks, dealers said. The spot rupee ended flat at 130.60/65 per dollar. The currency has risen 0.34 percent in the last five sessions, data showed. "The two state banks bought dollars at 130.60. We are surprised to see the sudden change in the trend," a currency dealer said on condition of anonymity. more..

Mar 5 (Island) The motion filed by the chairman of the Homagama Pradeshya Sabha A.D. Kumarasiri, requesting for a clarification of the Supreme Court order dated Jan 31, 2014 stating that the status quo should remain in the Pradeshiya Sabha Until March 31, was called before the Court yesterday and listed for support on March 31, 2014. The motion has complained to the Court that despite the Court order dated Jan 31, 2014, the members of the Pradeshiya Sabha, did not permit Kumarasiri, more..

Mar 5 (TOI) Joining issue with CM J Jayalalithaa for criticizing the Congress-led UPA govt the Centre, TN Congress Committee chief B S Gnanadesikan on Wednesday refuted her allegations that the national party had acted against Tamils. PM Manmohan Singh-led UPA govt came under sharp attack from Jayalalithaa during her Lok Sabha election campaign on Monday and Tuesday. AIADMK leader listed out nine areas where more..

Mar 5 (LT) What exists now is �Mahinda Chinthanaya� and �Jayaratna Chinthanaya� that levies fines and taxes and levies taxes on fines as well says JVP MP Vijitha Herath. He said, �15 containers of betel nuts have been imported illegally. It is said that the consignment of betel nuts from Indonesia has been brought by a minister. This consignment of betel nuts has been brought not to chew betel. Were 15 containers of betel nuts brought to make �Babul�? A powerful minister more..

Mar 5 (DM) Lord Indarjit Singh of UK�s House of Lords said that Britain should support for an open, independent inquiry into the massacre or genocide of Sikh community at golden temple in India in 1984 in the same way that they are backing a UN-led inquiry into the alleged killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka�s north. Speaking during a debate on the Sikh community in UK�s Parliament, he said, �against this, all offers of govt (UK) assistance and offers to talk to Sikhs pale into an unnecessary distraction.� more..

Mar 5 (Island) 49 students of the Gampaha Bandaranaike College who rioted on Monday morning demanding the removal of the school principal, caused damage to school property and assaulted journalists, parents, and old boys who rushed to the school on hearing of the disturbance would be arrested soon, the police said. In the meantime six teachers of the school have been transferred out with immediate effect by more..

Mar 5 (Island) A 45-year-old officer attached to Puttalam Excise Department, a divorced woman and her younger brother were arrested on Monday night by a police team led by the OIC of the Mundalama police, while they were packing cannabis in the woman�s house close to the police station. Suspects had been nabbed with 246 grammes of ganja on a tip-off. The woman has told the police that she stopped the illegal business she had been engaged in earlier but due to pressure from more..

Mar 5 (CI) Afghanistan's batting, apart from a match-winning partnership against Bangladesh, has been ordinary, particularly against spin. In a dead rubber against India, and in what was also their last chance to make an impression on this trip, Afghanistan's batsmen collapsed at the first sighting of turn. Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets in his first over, and then added two more to run through a middle order that was clueless against India's spin trio. 3 of them - Jadeja, Mishra and Ashwin more..

Mar 5 (PTI) Taking a serious view of the latest arrest of 32 fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy ahead of talks over contentious fishing rights in Palk Strait, TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today sought the intervention of PM Manmohan Singh in securing the release of all 153 fishermen detained in the island nation. In a letter to Dr Singh, she said the March 3 arrest of the 32 fishermen, including two from Karaikal in Puducherry, must be seen as more..

Mar 5 (Island) About 50% of school children are suffering from iron deficiency in Sri Lanka. Health Ministry has decided to add iron to common salt to prevent iron deficiency and it has already discussed plan with salt producing companies. In addition, iron tablets will also be given to schoolchildren found to be anaemic. Director General Health Services Dr. Palitha Maheepala said that an extensive survey conducted by the Ministry had revealed that about 50% of student schoolchildren more..

Mar 5 (Island) Livestock and Rural Community Development Deputy Minister HR Mithrapala told Parliament yesterday that the ongoing Opposition-led campaign against consumption of meat was meant to hinder the development drive. Participating in the debate on Regulations under the Imports & Exports (Control) Act, he said that a vicious two-pronged attack backed by pro-Opposition media would undermine livestock industry and cause malnutrition among children. more..

Mar 5 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate today allowed former CJ Shirani Bandaranayke to examine the computers at the NDB branch in Colombo to ensure the data tendered as evidence against Mrs. Bandaranayake before the Colombo Chief Magistrate�s Court was credible. Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya made this order to the defence on considering the submissions made by President�s Counsel Nalin Laddwahetty more..