Feb 19 (LG) The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, which has the distinction of being the world�s first orphanage for elephants of the wild and considered a landmark in ex-situ elephant conservation, is today severely under threat. It has also the distinction of being one of the most successful breeding centres for domestic elephants. In fact the beginnings of the misuse of this unique institution began several years ago with the frequent gifting of elephants from it to temples and devales, by presidents, prime ministers and others. more..

Feb 19 (AP) Sri Lankan soldiers captured a line of strategic rebel bunkers after a battle Monday that killed 10 rebels and one soldier, the military said. Backed by mortar and artillery fire, army troops captured a 650-yard line of bunkers in northern Mannar district following a two-hour battle that also injured four soldiers. Though small, the stretch will help the military in its push to take rebel-held territories in Mannar district, more..

Feb 19 (AA) India on Monday made it clear that it would not supply "lethal" arms to Sri Lanka as there was a conflict raging in that country. "We have supplied non-lethal arms to Sri Lanka but not lethal arms since there is a conflict raging there," minister of state for defence production Rao Inderjit Singh said. Mr Singh said that the Indian Government�s policy of arms-export stipulated that there should be no conflict in the country to which arms was being exported. more..

Feb 19 (CP) A UN Development Project discloses that all the countries in the world will be able to emit only 1456 gigatons of carbon during this century. Thus one person will be able to emit only 2220 kilograms of carbon whereas generally a person could emit the maximum of about 4500 kilograms. A Sri Lankan emits only 700 kilo grams. Accordingly in 2032, overheads of carbon will be over, said Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Champika Ranawake, more..

Feb 19 (CP) The Maragama town and the surrounding municipal residents face numerous difficulties due to the improper maintanence of roads and the poor garbage disposal system. The town situated on the main High Level (A4) Road is a highly populated and commercial centre about 15 kilometres from Colombo. Many inner roads of Maharaga are not maintained properly and become muddy pools during the rainy days. more..

Feb 19 (CP) The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said Dr. Mervyn Silva�s proclamation that he was a descendant of King Dutugemunu - one of the most revered kings in Sri Lankan history - cannot be disputed as this is a democratic country. "Dr. Silva has the right to express anything he likes since this is a free country. But that does not mean that we accept whatever he says or claims," Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka said yesterday. more..

Feb 19 (CP) Media freedom is supposedly at its lowest ebb in Sri Lanka with several international media watchdogs branding the country as being dangerous for journalists. Sri Lanka has been ranked as the third deadliest place for journalists in 2007 by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), a Paris based global organisation which defends and promotes media freedom world-wide. more..

Feb 19 (GV) True sub-continental cricket is a freak phenomenon that hits Australia�s shores once every two or three years. I deliberately use the word �freak� because I can�t explain it � in truth, I don�t think anybody is able to explain it. A certain magic permeates the atmosphere as we crowd the family television set in the company of friends and family. We hang-off each delivery that Muttiah runs into bowl; more..

Feb 19 (LG) In 1982, I was in charge of Welikada prisons. one day, during the latter part of the year, Hr. L.P. Delgoda, Commissioner of Prisons, telephoned at about 12.30 p.m. and told me that he was coming to my office. When he came, he informed me that Vijaya Kumaratunga, who was classified as a detainee, would be brought, by the Army, to be held at the Welikada prison and was to be kept incommunicado. He was not to be allowed to communicate with other prisoners. more..

Feb 19 (LBO) Sri Lanka's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms have called for more investment to improve English standards and reduce education costs to get the required number of qualified people for the growing sector. "If we tackle English, we may have a much larger pool of people who are employable in the BPO industry," says Ravi Abeysuriya, managing director of Amba Research, a high end investment research outsourcing (IRO) for overseas clients including Wall Street. more..

Feb 19 (LBO) The big question in almost everybody's minds now is how Sri Lanka's so-called floating rupee is going to behave now that the central bank seems to have resigned itself to inflating the economy by double digits this year. However, let us hope that the central bank is actually too cautious in the light of determined efforts it has made in the last two months not to print money. more..

Feb 19 (LNP) Sri Lanka s criminal law makes forcible recruitment and deployment of children in armed conflict an offence punishable by 30 years imprisonment, a Government-appointed committee has stressed following a fact finding mission to Batticaloa where there have been persistent allegations of such activities being carried out by the TMVP and the LTTE. In a report submitted to Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasingha yesterday, also stressed the need to obtain accurate statistics and more..

Feb 19 (LNP) The government is to establish a gateway for an expected mass exodus of civilians from the Wanni and facilitate the process by creating a no war zone , while challenging the LTTE to leave civilians out of the ongoing conflict. The military said if the LTTE was really concerned about the welfare of civilians in the Wanni it should allow residents in the area to freely crossover to cleared areas. more..

Feb 19 (LNP) A severe shortage of essential drugs at the Colombo National Hospital has led to doctors directing over 4,500 patients who visit the hospital daily to purchase their prescribed drugs from private sector pharmacies. About 15 essential drugs, including those needed for cardiac by-pass operation patients, diabetic patients and post-surgical patients, are out of stock. The Government Medical Officers Association has instructed all OPD doctors to prescribe drugs that can be purchased from pharmacies. more..

Feb 19 (LNP) The EPRLF (Vartharajah) faction which is also contesting the local government elections in the East has raised concerns about TMVP cadres carrying weapons in the run up to the poll.The newly formed party, Pathmanabha Eelam People s Liberation Front commonly known as the EPRLF (Vartharajah) faction, is fielding candidates for the March election in alliance with the EPDP and PLOTE. more..

Feb 19 (GDI) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday requested Singapore to consider Sri Lanka as a "source country" for recruiting foreign staff for the upcoming integrated resorts in Singapore. Minister Bogollagama made this request yesterday (18th) while apprising the Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo of the current political situation in Sri Lanka and outlined the developments in relation to the termination of the Ceasefire Agreement. more..

Feb 19 (GDI) According to the election sources for the Local Government elections for East, the initial stages of the pre-election campaign to be proceeding in relative calm, quite contrary to predictions by some quarters that the election would be ridden by violence and that the situation is not conducive for polls. According to OIC Sanath Ranjith attached to the special election monitoring branch of the Batticaloa Police, only 19 election related incidents have been reported so far of which 13 have already been resolved. more..

Feb 19 (LG) Senior member of the LTTE and official photographer of Prabahkaran a leader of the LTTE , Lieutenant Colonel Thava killed at the battlefront on Sunday afternoon, while training battlefront camera crews. Lieutenant Colonel Thava, originally from Trincomalee, joined the LTTE in the early 1980s. For more than two decades he has been an instrumental member of the Nitharsanam Studious, the visual media division of the LTTE. more..

Feb 19 (LG) Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing a rally at the opening of the Branch Office at Uva Paranagama, Badulla district said UNP is promulgating a National policy in March aimed at ridding the country of the inordinate corruption now prevailing in the country. This policy which will be formulated taking into account the view of all parties will primarily aim at eliminating the policies of this Govt. which is hankering only after building wealth and power selfishly for itself. more..

Feb 19 (LeN) Civillians of Vavunia signed a petition today requesting President to withdraw the decision made by the Security Forces not to allow all the vehicles to go through Medawachchiya Boarder Check Point. Under the leadership of Mr. Shantha Kumara Punchihewa, District Organiser of the UNP, this petition was signed by most of the civillians in Vavuniya, belongs to various political parties and races, in front of the Vavuniya market. more..

Feb 19 (LeN) An electric transformer was blasted this morning at Mangalaeliya, 20 KM off Chilaw. The loss to Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is estimated around five million rupees. About 1500 households are interrupted electricity temporarily. Several houses close to the transformer were damaged in the explosion. Negambo Superintendent of Police Roshan Fernando said that the two workers on duty to protect this transformer were taken into custody for interrogation. more..

Feb 19 (LD) The Ministry of Finance has taken over a housing bank for medium and low income categories that had been under Minister of Housing and Common Amenities Ferial Ashraff. When contacted, Minister Ashraff told �Lanka Dissent� that the bank should come under her purview, and not under the Ministry of Finance. The housing bank in question has been tasked with disbursing loans among medium and low income families to build houses. more..

Feb 19 (LD) The President has ordered the immediate transfer of Piyasena Ranasinghe, Director General of the Bribery Commission, to the Presidential Secretariat. Ranasinghe, a member of the Sri Lanka judicial service, had been in the position since November 2001. Meanwhile, in a statement, Transparency International - Sri Lanka branch Executive Director J.C. Weliamuna says he is shocked to learn that the president had transferred the DG of the Bribery Commission. more..

Feb 19 (LD) The JVP has accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of having adopted a delaying tactic against appointing a head to the Constitutional Council, in an apparent attempt to politicize all its appointments. If the president puts off picking a chairman to the CC, the JVP will take strong measures, the party�s Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa told parliament today (Feb. 19th). more..

Feb 19 (LD) The JVP has accepted a challenge by Minister of Agriculture Maithripala Sirisena for a �political battle�, and also dared him to answer the allegations of corruption that will be raised by the party against his ministry. Speaking to the media in Colombo today, JVP Politburo member Anura Kumara Dissanayake touched on the party�s claims against Minister Sirisena, including irregularities at a fertilizer company under him. more..

Feb 19 (LD) The Court of Appeal today (Feb.18th) issued an interim injunction against the training of ophthalmologists for state hospitals by an Australian NGO and opening private vision clinics at state hospitals. The CA was considering a petition filed by the Sri Lanka Association of Pediatric Ophthalmologists. It cites 31 respondents including Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Health Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage, the Sri Lanka Medical Council and the International Centre for Healthcare Education. more..

Feb 19 (LD) Scholarship winner Nethmi Lavanya, who had earlier been denied her education at Visaka Vidyalaya, Colombo, has now been admitted to the school. Lavanya, who came second in Colombo district at the Year Five Scholarship Examination, got admitted to the school, but had subsequently been rejected due to her ethnicity, by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha at the instigation of certain groups. more..

Feb 19 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Film Corporation Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa and other relevant officials to construct a housing complex with all modern facilities for artists. Accordingly, the construction work will begin as soon as possible on a two acre land belonging to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in Depanama, Pannipitiya. The coordination of the UDA and the Film Corporation for the success of this great venture, had also come-up for discussion. more..

Feb 19 (LBO) Sri Lanka's central bank says it has strengthened an anti-money laundering and warns the public against engaging in illegal transactions. "The Central Bank warns the public to be aware of the dangers of getting involved in unlawful financial transactions that are detrimental to public or national interest and the country�s security situation at large," the bank said in a statement. more..

Feb 19 (AT) V. Anandasangaree, President � TULF in another letter to V.Prabakaran has pointed out the seriousness of his policies which caused death and destruction over a quarter of a century in Sri Lanka. The TULF leader has rendered his advice to give up his demand for separation of the country and urged to agree for a reasonable solution based on the Indian Model for which the International Community will give you full backing. more..

Feb 19 (SAMN) The National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) is fully equipped to provide information on locations of large fish population. This has been made possible through satellite technology for the benefit of the fishing community, NARA Chairman K. Saputhanthri said. Information has been released to Fisheries Corporation vessels which had netted in a large catch during the last two months, he added. more..

Feb 19 (SAMN) Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge has called for a report from officials at the National Zoological Gardens regarding the mysterious deaths of several animals in the zoo. Among the dead animals were six Sri Lankan spotted deer, a lechwe (South African antelope), a jaguar and a cheetah. Minister Lokuge said that he had called for a report on the deaths of animals on the February 7 and the 11. more..

Feb 19 (DN) The Government yesterday established the State Trading Wholesale Company Ltd at a cost of US$ 10 million to purchase essential commodities directly from the national and international markets and distribute them through co-operatives and Sathosa outlets at low prices to the consumers. Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperative Service and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardana opened the new state establishment at the Ministry premises yesterday. more..

Feb 19 (DN) The media should change the way and style of presenting news considering the global trends to cater to the desire of the people, Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday. He said "Media Secretaries should present news to the international media organisations in a more attractive manner which gives the right picture, using the right language and camera work. Presenting accurate and up to date news will grab the attention of the world." more..

Feb 19 (Island) Despite stiff opposition from the Private Bus Owners Association, the National Transport Commission (NTC) has called for tenders to operate eight new routes. Bus owners want route permits given to them without calling for tenders. The NTC also imposed 19 conditions for successful tenderers to abide by. Chairman NTC Prof. Amal Kumarage said fines ranging from Rs 2,000 to 15,000 would be imposed on bus owners who violate the conditions and more..

Feb 19 (Island) The Revenue license fee for motor cycles, three wheelers and buses in the Western Province have been reduced with effect from last week, Deputy Motor Commissioner Western Province A. K. R. Alawatte said. The licence fee for all types of vehicles was increased from January 2008. Three wheel and motor cycle licences were increased from Rs 275 to Rs 500 and bus licences from Rs 80 to Rs 100 per seat. more..

Feb 19 (DM) The granting of bail to a government medical officer who was arrested for allegedly carrying out abortions would send out a wrong message to society, stated the Anuradhapura Magistrate refusing bail for a doctor who was arrested by the Anuradhapura police yesterday. Magistrate and Additional District Judge, Ruchira Weliwatta, made this observation when remanding a government medical officer who was arrested for allegedly running an illegal abortion clinic at Buddhagaya Mawatha, Anuradhapura. more..

Feb 19 (DM) The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said yesterday the poor conditions of Colombo schools have contributed to the current outbreak of Hepatitis in the city. Dr. Kariyawasam said most of the small schools in the city lack basic sanitation facilities and the toilets were in very poor condition and lacked water supply. Some schools were found without proper drinking water facilities according to him. more..

Feb 19 (KT) AS HILLARY Clinton and Barack Obama take not only the Americans but also the rest of the world interested in US politics on a nail-biting minute-by-minute drama at every Democratic Party primary or caucus, the campaign assumes significance for different reasons in Sri Lanka. The Mahinda Rajapaksa government which is fighting the LTTE, a group branded a terrorist organisation by the United States, is not so interested in the battle within the Democratic Party. more..

Feb 19 (AN) A young Protestant clergyman is the latest man of the cloth to be killed in Sri Lanka, where civil war and the lack of a neutral human rights monitoring agency allow all sorts of violence. Rev Neil Samson died on Sunday in Ampara, in eastern Sri Lanka, from gunshot wounds inflicted by two men on a motorbike in front of his wife, who was injured, and their son, who fell into shock. more..

Feb 19 (CI) Two months into his Australian holiday, Yuvraj Singh finally showed up for work with a blistering 76 that set up India's chase before Mahendra Singh Dhoni survived a tense finish to guide them to a two-wicket win. The result was particularly disappointing for Kumar Sangakkara, who spent nearly the entire match on the field - much of it batting in 38-degree heat - and posted a gutsy and exhausting 128 as Sri Lanka set India 239 for victory. more..

Feb 19 (PTI) Sri Lanka has said a proposal for providing a safe haven for elusive LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has been there "for sometime" but felt he would be apprehended by India the moment he leaves the island country. "Yes, that is his problem. If he (Prabhakaran) leaves Killinochchi, then India will get him for sure," Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told online 'Asian Tribune'. more..

Feb 20 (F2F) Sri Lanka�s top apparel exporter Brandix has implemented the first stage of a visionary plan to take the apparel solutions provider beyond the manufacture and export of apparel to becoming a massive knowledge-based company that could �in-source� the business processing requirements of top international retail brands. The company last week formally inaugurated Brandix Mercury, a sophisticated Shared Services Centre (SSC) at the World Trade Centre in Colombo to more..

Feb 20 (IANS) Dinesh Subasinghe, a rising star on the Sri Lankan rock and fusion music horizon, has a new and daring passion - to popularise ravanahatha, a violin-like instrument that Lanka king Ravana had devised and played about 5,000 years ago. The ravanahatha is a crude violin made of coconut shell and bamboo, with horsehair or a natural fibre serving as the string. Goat and sheep gut and coconut wood are also used. more..

Feb 20 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene, whose 153-run third-wicket partnership with Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka post a competitive 238, believed the team had themselves to blame for the loss. "We still couldn't get the finish I intended, losing wickets in the end," a visibly disappointed Jayawardene said. At 3 for 161 after 38 overs, they had an excellent launching pad, but only scored 77 in the last 12 despite having plenty of wickets in hand. more..

Feb 20 (LBO) Natural causes and clearance of coconut land have decreased production of coconuts in Sri Lanka, sending the price of nuts sky high, a government minister said. "Low rainfall and scarcity of water affect coconut crops and over 200,000 acres of coconut trees have been felled," Salinda Dissanayake, minister of coconut development and nation building, told reporters. "That is the reason for lower production." more..

Feb 20 (LBO) Talks with India's Aditya Birla group to revive a cement in Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsular is progressing towards a proposal which will be submitted to the cabinet of ministers for approval, construction minister Rajitha Senaratne said. The construction ministry and the industrial development ministry, under which the plant comes, are preparing a joint cabinet memorandum incorporating the proposed deal with Birla, Senaratne said. more..

Feb 20 (LD) Renowned author, critic and novelist Prof. Somaratne Balasuriya has been removed as Chairman of the Public Performance Board. A decision taken by Balasuriya regarding �Aksharaya�, a film by Asoka Handagama, prompted the move, Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs G.L.W. Amarasinghe said. Attorney Ashoka Serasinghe, former Chairman of the State Film Corporation will be the new head of the PPB, according to Amarasinghe. more..

Feb 20 (BBC) The only way to resolve Sri Lanka's national question is devolving power to the regions, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said. Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya on the 20 anniversary of the assassination of her husband, Vijaya Kumaratunga, she insisted that there is no military solution for the conflict. "The best tribute for Vijaya is to help finding a lasting political solution based on devolution of power," Mrs. Kumaratunga said. more..

Feb 20 (CI) Sri Lanka's selectors recalled bowlers Rangana Herath and Thilan Thushara and batsman Malinda Warnapura, and included fast bowler Ishara Amerasinghe for the two-Test series in the Caribbean next month. Following the retirement of Sanath Jayasuriya from Tests last year, left-hand batsman Upul Tharanga was expected to fill in the vacant slot, but his poor form sees Warnapura being picked to open the batting with Michael Vandort. more..