Apr 5 (LG) At 8.30 p.m. on Sunday I received a call from Mr.Satchithanandan in Jaffna stating that his life is in danger and that he was threatened and summoned to Jaffna by the EPDP to handover some files. He said he was taken by a pick up van. He worked in the office of a Militant Leader and left recently as he was mistreated and assaulted. He was warded at Nawaloka Hospital and was later discharged. more..

Apr 5 (LG) Amidst all the frenetic political activity now going in Mother Lanka, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources with true scientific detachment is calmly going ahead with the scientific tasks entrusted to it. The Butterfly Experts Group of the Ministry two weeks ago went ahead and identified a particular species as the National Butterfly � commonly known as the Broad Wing butterfly and described it in zoological nomenclature as more..

Apr 5 (LG) The people have ensured massive victories for President Mahinda Rajapaksa at all provincial council elections held so far and the presidential election, ignoring the short comings of the government, as he successfully defeated terrorists and united the country in spite of all the support they received from the western countries. more..

Apr 5 (TC) The first Chief Minister of the North-Eastern Provincial Council instituted under the two controversial arrangements, Indo-Lanka Accord and 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Varadharaja Perumal is in Sri Lanka after a long lapse of time. His visit would not have been a subject matter for a newspaper discussion unless he had spoken his mind on the very piece of legislation that brought him fame and defame within a short period of time. more..

Apr 5 (LT) The policy the government is following regarding Gen. Sarath Fonseka leads to suspicion that the government is attempting to let Gen. Sarath Fonseka die a natural death says Ms. Anoma Fonseka. Speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the DNA Ms. Fonseka said, �The condition of my husband now is very grave. His condition has deteriorated since the 31st. more..

Apr 5 (LG) When Sanath Jayasuriya burst unto the international cricketing scene in 1996 as an explosive opening batsman , he presented major problems for opposing opening bowlers.More recently he has been presenting problems to the Sri Lankan cricket selectors and Lankan cricket buffs. Jayasuriya is now everyone�s dilemma. To coin a pun out of the drama in Hamlet, �to Jayasuriya �.. or not Jayasuriya� is one of the plays of the day. more..

Apr 5 (wsws) The central thrust of the government�s campaign in the April 8 general election in Sri Lanka is for a two-thirds parliamentary majority and the ability to change the constitution. The ruling coalition claims that it wants �a strong government� to create economic prosperity. The Socialist Equality Party warns that the government is seeking to entrench a police state to ram through a devastating assault on the living standards of working people. more..

Apr 5 (TN) The young family man from Veala�nai in the islets of Jaffna gone missing since 30 March has been abducted for a ransom of 300,000 rupees, according to a complaint lodged with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office by his family members Sunday. Unknown persons had phoned the neighbours of the family and demanded the money. Attempts to contact the callers on the number of the cell phone used had failed, according to the complaint. more..

Apr 5 (LG) These are days when Buddhists are called upon to be �Real Buddhists�, i.e. they are asked to conduct their affairs with the kind of tolerance advocated in the sathara brahma viharana; kindness, compassion, equanimity and being joyful about another�s joy. Buddhists are supposed to be �tolerant� in all matters, including the ways they respond to acts that knowingly or unknowingly (to give some people the benefit of the doubt they do not deserve, more..

Apr 5 (MoD) Police Special Task Force held a special function recently to help the family members of their comrades in arms who had sacrificed their lives on duty at the STF headquarters by presenting gifts for the Sinhala and Hindu New Year season. It was organized by the Welfare Association of the STF under the guidance of STF Commandant DIG KML Sarathchandra. more..

Apr 5 (MoD) The Government will grant a Rs. 20 million soft loan to 20 small scale entrepreneurs to start and improve Palmyrah products in the Jaffna Peninsula. Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri said as part of the Uthuru Vasanthaya program (Northern Spring project) the Government will improve the livelihood of people in Jaffna and develop their local business, particularly Palmyrah products. more..

Apr 5 (LP) The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Matara Hospital was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (04). The unit is equipped with modern technology and the latest medical equipment. The new ICU unit was built at a cost of Rs 50 million. The significance of the newly constructed unit is that hat patients in other hospitals can be treated via internet consultation by Doctors at the Matara hospital. more..

Apr 5 (LT) The only way her husband could be released is to vote for the �Trophy� said Ms. Anoma Fonseka. Speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) at Royal Avenue she asked the masses to vote for the �Trophy� and do justice for her husband who brought peace to the Motherland after a 30 year old savage war. more..

Apr 5 (LG) Kalana Senaratne wrote a thoughtful essay last week on the issue of the singer Akon�s show being cancelled after protests that include throwing stones at the MTV/MBC office. It was carried on one of online journals under the title �Aroused by Akon�s Sexy Bitch: the Rise of Sinhala-Buddhist Fundamentalism?�It was also published in the Sunday Leader a few days ago under the title �The Surge of Sinhala-Buddhist Fundamentalism�. more..

Apr 5 (LP) Today some politicians talk of democracy and women�s rights to come before the people and deceive them into fales promises. Those who betrayed the country to the terrorists and tarnished the image of the motherland in the presence of the International Community now come before the people in masked attire mentioned President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a UPFA rally at in Maratuwa yesterday (03). more..

Apr 5 (LNP) Despite the economic downturn, Brandix group had a 20 percent growth last year and performed well in the first two months of this year. Brandix Lanka exports 30 percent of its production to the EU while 60 percent is for the USA. It has started exploring new markets. Japan was recognized as the new market to where exports have started, Brandix Lanka, Director A.J. Johnpillai said. more..

Apr 5 (LT) Child Protection Authority states the tendency to hand over children by parents to probationary authorities has increased and reveals that there are 18,000 children under its protection. The Statistical officer of the Authority Ms. Malkanthi Tillekeratne says parents hand over their children to the authority as they are unable to look after them due to extreme poverty. more..

Apr 5 (GV) In Jumma: The last bastion of the boys, (Groundviews, 26 March 2010) Nazeeya Faarooq wrote: ��most of the Jumma sermons are totally irrelevant. Firstly they are given in a language they don�t quite understand��. Presumably the language is Arabic. Such an enforced linguistic barrier between us and our God(s) is common: Latin and Sanskrit are other examples. I think it is done to give a power base to the priests, but there may well be other ingenious explanations. more..

Apr 5 (UNP) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing an election meeting in Kandy has made hooting a national phenomenon in SL by disallowing the people to oppose him fairly and openly. The media which expresses the truth, the rivals of the President who contest him at elections, the people and opposition who oppose him are all attacked, jailed or more..

Apr 5 (LNP) Royal College and Mahinda College Galle were declared as joint champions when their Munchee inter-school under 19 knock-out limited overs cricket tournament final encounter ended in a no result at the CCC ground in Maitland Crescent due to bad weather yesterday. Royal College put into bat hit up a formidable 244 for 8 from their reduced 45 overs following a brief interruption mid way in their innings. more..

Apr 5 (LNP) In this era of neo-colonialism, invaders do not land brandishing blood stained sabres and dreadful muskets. They approach their targets, flashing saccharin smiles and flaunting cheque books. Musketeers and swordsmen have given way to Economic Hit Men who facilitate the use of aid as an effective weapon. In the days of colonialism, courageous nations that rebelled against colonial plunderers were put to the sword straight away but more..

Apr 5 (DN) Complaints relating to human and fundamental rights violations received by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka represent a steep drop in their number, Commission Secretary Chandra Ellawala said. �We have observed that there is a significant drop in the number of human rights violation complaints received by us for the past two years up to the first quarter of this year,� Ellawala said. more..

Apr 5 (DN) Sri Lanka should have its own unique model of development based on its strengths and resources, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a massive public rally at Kirillawela, Mahara yesterday held in support of Gampaha district UPFA candidates contesting the Parliamentary polls. �We successfully defeated the scourge of terrorism. Now it is our responsibility to develop the country, President Rajapaksa said more..

Apr 5 (DN) The capability of Sri Lankan exporters is outstanding, but only few have understood it and are using it practically. It is remarkable how Sri Lankan exporters have performed resiliently to record a reasonable export growth during the past two years, although exporters had to face several setbacks in international markets due to the global economic downturn and pressure exerted by buyers demanding lower prices, more..

Apr 5 (DN) I had the pleasure of associating with the H L de Silva, instructing him in our Firm�s Court cases since the time he reverted to the unofficial Bar in 1970, in the year which I was admitted to practice as a Supreme Court Proctor. In fact, when he reverted back to the unofficial Bar in 1970, his first brief was from our Firm as V Murugesu my Senior, had encouraged his good friend H L de Silva to join the private bar and more..

Apr 5 (CT) A young supporter of the UPFA died in a shooting incident in Kurunegala last night (Apr. 04), police said. The victim was travelling in a cab, along with several others, when gunmen in another cab blocked the path and opened fire at them at Mawathagama around 11.30 pm. The driver of the stricken cab had driven the vehicle straight to the nearest police station, where the youth was found dead. more..

Apr 5 (Island) The next Parliament must enact legislation to ban political parties promoting separatism and terrorism, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said at a meeting of the Sangha convened by the Kandy District UPFA candidate and Tourism Promotion Minister Faizer Mustapha at the Queen�s Hotel, Kandy. There were still certain elements talking of homeland, federalism and separatism. more..

Apr 5 (Island) The UNP in statement yesterday said that its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had again urged the Moneragala electors to vote for only those recommended by him. The names and the numbers announced by the UNP leader are as follows: Nihal Chandrasiri (01) K. Sumathipala (08), Ranjith Abeyratne (06) and Keerthi Shantha Samarasinghe (04). more..

Apr 5 (LBO) Sri Lanka will issue a new ten rupee coin from April 05, to replace a note of a similar denomination now in circulation, the Central Bank said Monday. The nickel plated coin has a diameter of 26.4 millimetres. The obverse has the armorial ensign of Sri Lanka with a petal design on periphery. The reverse has a number 10, ten rupees and Sri Lanka in English, Sinhalese and Tamil languages. more..

Apr 5 (DM) The Catholic Bishops� conference in Sri Lanka has been quite vocal for some time about the undesirable elements that are trying to pit Buddhists against Catholics. The accusing finger has long been pointed at some new churches and prayer centres which observe anti-Buddhist practices that amount to sacrilege thereby provoking the Buddhists. Due to a variety of reasons, mostly due to stiff resistance the frequency of more..

Apr 5 (DM) The hectic 39 day general election campaign marred not by inter-party violence as usual but by home and home rivalry comes to an end at 12.00 midnight today, amidst police warnings that strict legal action will be taken against individuals who possess illegal fire arms. �Strict legal action will be taken against individuals who possess illegal fire arms. The police have already commenced investigations to more..

Apr 5 (DM) The Election Secretariat has introduced a special pen instead of the usual pencil for voters to mark their ballot papers at the general election on April 8, officials say. An election official said the election authorities had taken this decision following a request by political parties and independent groups contesting the poll. The parties were concerned about the possibility of ballot papers marked with a pencil being erased for �election fraud�. more..

Apr 5 (LBO) Sri Lanka's investment promotion agency said it has set up an office in the former war zone of northern Jaffna to handle foreign investments especially from Tamils who migrated to avoid the conflict. The Board of Investment said in a statement staff at its new Jaffna branch are all Tamil speaking and familiar with the modalities needed for investors to establish projects. more..

Apr 5 (Island) An ongoing inquiry has revealed financial irregularities and mismanagement in a Army Seva Vanitha project aimed at helping disabled children of soldiers. Army headquarters is probing what a senior security forces official called financial irregularities in a special welfare project launched by Anoma Fonseka during her tenure as Chairperson of the Army Seva Vanitha unit. more..

Apr 5 (IPS) Elephant Pass conjures up images of the deadliest battles in Sri Lanka�s conflict with the Tamil Tigers. But today, tens of thousands of local visitors have been to visit the former war zone. Elephant Pass was always a hotbed of confrontation between the military and Tiger rebels during the two and a half decades of separatist conflict that ended in this South Asian island nation in May 2009. more..

Apr 5 (LBO) Sri Lanka's economy will bounce back from the effects of war and global recession with 6.5 percent growth this year, and maintain 7-8 percent growth in the medium term. Gross domestic product growth of 7.5 percent is anticipated next year and eight percent in 2012. The economy grew 3.5 percent in 2009, down from six percent in 2008, as the ethnic war and global recession took their toll. more..

Apr 5 (AFP) Sri Lanka's military announced a fivefold increase in troops deployed on UN peacekeeping duties around the world, boosting its commitment to 5,000 soldiers. Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said the defeat of Tamil Tiger separatists last May meant more troops could be sent on UN missions. Sri Lanka has had a deployment of 950 soldiers working with the UN in Haiti since 2004, when government troops were observing a truce with Tiger rebels more..

Apr 5 (DM) The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) said yesterday that they would file a Contempt of Court case if their leader Retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka was taken before the second court martial tomorrow. DNA spokesman Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a news conference yesterday that the government could not have the second court martial according to the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal. more..

Apr 5 (Island) Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma says LTTE sympathisers went to the extent of enticing some members of the ruling coalition with highly paid foreign sex workers in a bid to win them ahead of third reading of budget debate in 2007 and 2008. He says a defeat for the SLFP-led coalition would have caused the collapse of Sri Lanka�s successful war against the LTTE. more..