May 8 (MoD) The resettlement of the displaced in the Sampoor region will continue. A total of 1272 families in five Gramaniladari areas were displaced from the Sampoor area. The state will take necessary measures to resettle them in their original areas and provide them initial livelihood assistance as well. The navy camp in Sampoor will be relocated to an adjoining land where it will be permanently established with state of the art facilities. more..

May 8 (Island) Minister Champika Ranawaka has instructed the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) to permit CEB to develop 100MW wind power in Mannar. Senior CEB engineers expressed concern about the SEA for once again coming out with excuses like it had to be endorsed by AG�s Department. However, engineers had categorically pointed out that about the clause that specifies about CEB role as govt institution more..

May 8 (DN) The govt is to change the legal framework of the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) in a manner that would allow any party or individual to lodge complaints with the unit. Presently, the FCID headed by DIG Ravi Waidyalankara, can only investigate complaints referred to it by the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. The govt's new move will allow any person more..

May 8 (DM) Former President Rajapaksa rejected the claim that he had deposited US$18 billion dollars in offshore accounts and said these reports were the devious means by which false propaganda against him was being spread. �I like to inform the public once again that I, my wife, my sons or my brothers have no secret offshore accounts or illegal overseas investments in front companies,� Mr. Rajapaksa said in a statement. more..

May 8 (CT) An employee of Phoenix Duty Free Services emailed a rather feeble press release that they had carried in one of the local Sunday Newspapers titled Phoenix Responds To Media Reports on Sri Lankan Airlines Duty Free recently. What is rather shocking is that the contents in its entirety is one where Colombo Telegraph could refute each claim as with a copy of the contract in our possession and with concrete evidence in hand, it could be quite rightly stated that its more..

May 8 (CT) The Internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Muslim origin from the Northern province who have been branded as the Forgotten People during the last 25 years, continue to be intimidated and harassed by some extremist Buddhist forces and a section of the ill informed media. These Muslim IDPs who were forced out of their homes with less than 2 hours notice by the LTTE in 1990, had to leave their villages leaving behind their worldly possessions and lifetime savings. more..

May 8 (CT) The attempt to patch the rift between SLFP/UPFA leader President Sirisena and his bete noire, the immediately preceding SLFP/UPFA leader President Rajapaksa, may not be somewhat dissimilar to the rift that existed between the then UNP leader and Premier Dudley Senanayake and his Deputy, State Minister J.R. Jayewardene 48 years ago in 1967. Rajapaksa's differences with Sirisena hinge on two issues, which are personal, when considering the total range of issues more..

May 8 (CT) The BBS invited former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to join their new political party. National Organizer of the BBS Ven. Witharandeniye Nanda Thera said that while Rajapaksa had expressed his desire to enter politics, he has yet to make a final decision. Thera added that the BBS was having talks with several persons regarding the party, adding that they had discussed registration of the party and other associated matter with EC more..

May 8 (Island) SL�s former ambassador to Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga, who had been wanted in connection with a high profile probe conducted by the FCID, has contacted the Foreign Ministry, recently. Moscow based Weeratunga had been accredited to Kiev at the time he disappeared shortly after the change of govt in Sri Lanka. Ukrainian govt is also seeking to question Weeratunga regarding his alleged links with pro-Russian rebels. more..

May 8 (Island) UGC has called for, applications for University Admission for the academic year 2014/2015 based on the results of the GCE (A/L) 2014. Admissions Handbook including the rules and regulations for University Admission can be purchased from the UGC and Distributing Agent Bookshops countrywide. Candidates should fill and submit their application for university admission online; instructions to submit the online application form for university admission are more..

May 8 (AD) Mayor of the Sri J'pura Kotte, Janaka Ranawaka, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting the Opposition Leader of the Municipal Council. UNP�s Sugath Appuhamy, who has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, has filed a complaint with the police claiming he was attacked by a group including Ranawaka due to a demonstration staged yesterday against alleged corruption within the council. Appuhamy and several opposition councilors were reportedly more..

May 8 (CT) Additional Magistrate of Colombo Nishantha Peiris ordered the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday to conduct an extensive investigation into former Minister of Housing, Engineering Services and Common Amenities, Wimal Weerawansa illegally selling houses of the Haritha Kedella Housing Schemes in Mattegoda and Kahatuduwa worth more than Rs 10 million each to five of his close relatives. more..

May 8 (AM) Sri Lanka Army announced this morning that Army Presidential Security Division was dissolved with effect from April 30. Army Spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera told media that the army personnel have been sent to their respective regiments. The Army PSD had 1200 personnel during the reign of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. The total membership of PSD at that time was around 3000. President Sirisena decided to reduce number of PSD personnel. more..

May 8 (Island) Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne revealed recently that around 215 children died in road accidents annually in Sri Lanka. Around 1.3 million children were killed in road accidents annually in the world. The number is expected to reach 1.9 million by 2020, Minister said at a Road Safety awareness programme held at Ananda College, Colombo last week. Every four minutes a child died in a road accident somewhere in the world. more..

May 8 (ENS) A special aircraft, belonging to the Sri Lanka defence forces, carrying eight horses from Pakistan to Sri Lanka made an emergency landing at the Pune International Airport on Thursday due to a technical snag. Intelligence agencies and police swung into action within minutes and the horses and their Pakistani handlers were stationed at the Pune Race Course. As per the information given by sources from the Pune more..

May 8 (Island) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the term of local govt bodies scheduled to end on May 15 should be extended by one year without elections. Addressing the media at the Abayaramaya, before he left to visit former Minister Johnston Fernando in remand custody, he said that according to the new local govt election act the election should be held under a new electoral system. The delimitation process was not complete, Rajapaksa said adding that more..

May 8 (Island) Govt Medical Officers� Association (GMOA) alerted the authorities to the fact that many consultants in anaesthesiology and psychiatry were leaving for greener pastures and as a result many base hospitals in the country did not have enough anaesthetists and psychiatrists. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Nalinda Herath said that there had been an exodus of consultant anaesthetists and psychiatrists since last year as they were offered better emoluments. more..

May 8 (EN) Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 8.5% to 122,217 in April 2015, from a year earlier, driven by India and continued strong growth from China. In the first four months tourist arrivals were up 12.5% to 601,055. Arrivals from India rose 34% to 23,048 taking the total in the first four months to 87,829 up 23% from a year earlier, keeping the country as the top generating market for Sri Lanka. South Asian arrivals rose 17.7% more..

May 8 (Reuters) Shares ended little changed on Friday, hovering near their highest in over nine weeks hit in the previous session as investors awaited direction on the political front and cues from earnings, stockbrokers said. The main stock index closed 0.01% down at 7,212.47, near its highest close since March 3 hit on Thursday. It has gained 4.52% since the central bank cut key rates on April 15, while yields on t-bills have fallen 44-57 basis points since then. more..

May 8 (CT) Ceylon Teachers' Services Union (CTSU) alleges that the govt was misappropriating funds from the teachers' co-operative and had appointed an illegal interim committee to meet its own political agenda. The co-operative maintains a fund out of the money collected from its members who are teachers. The fund provides members with scholarships and loan schemes. CTSU said the Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera was to hold the presentation ceremony for granting more..

May 8 (CG) The govt said that it would not hold any discussions with India over an issue to renegotiate the Katchatheevu island which is located in the Palk Strait after a recent proposal by TN urging the Indian govt to re-discuss with its neighbours. Island which is known for its strategic importance and special significance for fishing operations in the area was ceded by India to Sri Lankan in 1974. more..

May 8 (Island) Some leading Teaching hospitals including the National Hospital, Colombo are faced with a severe scarcity of ICU beds and as a result many post-surgery as well as accident casualties cannot be provided the required intensive care. Director National Hospital of Sri Lanka Dr Anil Jasinghe said that the NHSL had twelve ICUs where critical patients were being treated, especially the patients who had undergone surgery and major accident cases. more..

May 8 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed Pakistan's full tour of the country in June and July. Two of the three Tests were originally set to be played in Colombo, but in a late change, Pallekele Stadium will now host the third Test, instead of the R Premadasa Stadium. The other Tests will be played in Galle, and at the P Sara Oval. The five-ODI series is set to begin in Dambulla on July 11, with matches also scheduled for Pallekele, Colombo and Hambantota. more..

May 8 (AD) Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has sent a letter of demand to JVP Western Provincial Councillor Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, seeking Rs 1 billion in damages over alleged malicious and defamatory remarks made by the latter against him. Rajapaksa has sent the letter of demand to Watagala, through his attorney Sanath Wijewardane. In the letter Wijewardane states that his client, Gotabaya more..

May 8 (AD) Opposition leader of the Kotte Municipal Council Sugath Appuhami has been arrested over the alleged assault on the Mayor of the Kotte MC. Earlier today the Mayor of the Sri J'pura Kotte, Janaka Ranawaka, was arrested for allegedly assaulting the Opposition Leader of the Municipal Council, police said. UNP�s Sugath Appuhamy, who has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, has filed a complaint with the police claiming he was attacked by a group more..

May 8 (AD) The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is currently recording a statement from the former Secretary to the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Law and Order, Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi, regarding alleged financial irregularities. He was summoned to the FCID at 10.00am this morning for questioning regarding financial irregularities which had taken place within the Ministry of Sports, during his tenure as Secretary to the ministry. more..

May 8 (EN) Head of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka said they were not against the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with India but want to ensure both sides benefit. Ajith Wattuhewa, President of the FCCISL, said they wanted to rectify shortcomings in the existing free trade deal with India before going ahead with the CEPA. �The FTA covers only goods but more..

May 8 (AM) Most Venerable Galagoda Aththadassi Thera was elected as the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Maha Nikaya. He became the 21st Chief Prelate of Asgiriya Chapter. The election was held this afternoon at the Asgiri Vihara Mangala Uposathagaraya. The office of the Mahanayake fell vacant following the passing away of Maha Nayake Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera who held the post for 15 years. more..

May 8 (CT) Polls monitors suggested that the total number of votes obtained by the defeated parties be calculated at the national level and not at district level. PAFFREL also noted that ethnicity did not necessarily denote that such would transpire to a voter base for a party allegedly purporting to represent the interests of a particular ethnicity. Minorities are politically understood to be ethnicities with a lesser population while minor parties are considered those who more..

May 8 (ENS) With the replacement of pro-Chinese Mahinda Rajapaksa by Maithripala Sirisena as President of Sri Lanka, the United States has begun weaning Lanka away from China�s maritime security net. �The United States and Sri Lanka are working together to oppose intimidation or the use of force to assert territorial or maritime claims,� the US State Department�s Deputy Spokesman, Jeff Rathke, said in Washington on Tuesday. more..

May 9 (CT) Five years ago, on the 8th of Sept, 2010, the lot fell on me to open the Debate for the Opposition on the 18th Amendment and I remember the words that I spoke then. I said, �Within six months of me coming into Parliament, I am confronted with this Bill, which was a final nail on the coffin in which democracy had been laid in this country for some time�. On that day, I did not expect that another Bill like the 19th Amendment would be presented to the same Parliament within more..

May 9 (CT) Entitled 20th Amendment, we are about to bring reforms to Chapter XIV of our Constitution concerning elections, in the larger interest of the country and its people. Every citizen of Sri Lanka who qualifies under article 88 has the right to vote and furthermore, to be entitled to vote his name shall be entered in the appropriate register of electors. We still believe everyone fulfilling both these criteria the Constitution stipulates shall afforded a hindrance-free opportunity to more..

May 9 (SO) Inspired by human technology, robonaut technology has recently invaded almost every sphere of human activitiy whether on earth of in space. Even cars are now being assembled by robots, the first digital and programmable robot used in the car industry going back to 1961 where it was used to lift pieces of hot metal from die casting machines in New Jersey by General Motors. Since then Robots have replaced humans in assisting them to perform more..

May 9 (NS) A German national who was involved in a hydro-electrical project in this country, in 1980s, said, �In Sri Lanka I see one people divided by two languages and two cultures�. As a foreigner, he could not see any difference between a Singhalese in the South and a Tamil in the North. Although he said it by chance, and his identity may not have any relevance, we cannot ignore what he said as it is the truth. Beginning of the end The peaceful transfer of power from the British Rulers resulted in more..

May 9 (NS) Psychology is the science of the mind. The psychologists say that human mind is the source of all thought and behavior. When we think about psychology, the first person recalled is usually Sigmund Freud or some other prominent Western psychologist who explained human behavior using a theory they believed. True enough, being the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud�s work, or being the father of modern psychology Wilhelm Wundt�s work were largely responsible for more..

May 9 (CT) General Secretary of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila says that the Hela Urumaya is trying to provide birth certificates for other people's children. Q: How are you going to carry out the future political work of your Alliance with the May Day Rally which was held recently. A: In reality, rather than saying our May Day Rally was successful, the words extremely successful are the words that are far more suitable. more..

May 9 (CT) The greatest asset and the strongest weapon in the armoury of the judiciary is the confidence it commands and the faith it inspires in the minds of the people. The people have always considered the judiciary as the ultimate guardian of their rights and liberties. Has the Sri Lankan judiciary lived up to the expectations of our people or for that matter, the people of any civilized society? The testing time came for the judiciary in the form of emergency regulations and more..

May 9 (CT) Some people like to see a great clash between Ranil and Maithree; for many reasons they are unhappy with the present unity between Asian democracy and liberal democracy. In the past every time such a unity arose in this country, there were enough conspiracies to undermine the situation. This time it is hard for them, but still things are going on. Several interested parties want to believe that it's Maithree who calls the shots now. It is true that Maithree was eager to remove more..