Oct 14 (Island) The government and the Opposition are on a collision course over the proposed relocation of some 65,000 squatter families in Colombo and its suburbs, with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accusing the ruling coalition of forcing poor people out of the city. The Opposition leader alleged that some of those occupying shanties could end up at government welfare camps in the North. more..

Oct 14 (DM) The Police Department yesterday launched an island wide operation to combat drug trafficking by tracking down those involved in importing, distributing and selling drugs especially heroin and ganja. Police Chief Mahinda Balasuriya said each of the 425 police stations in the country would be involved in this operation. �It will be carried out till the drug menace is wiped out. more..

Oct 14 (DM) When cross examined by defence counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty in the white flag case yesterday, Sunday Leader Editor Federica Jansz said the story based on the interview with retired General Sarath Fonseka was published without her knowledge in the city edition of December 13. She told the trial-at-bar that when she first interviewed General Fonseka on December 8 he said he had got the information from a third party. more..

Oct 14 (GDI) Free land and tax concessions for top ranking foreign universities will be offered to start branches in the Sri Lanka in a move to bring higher education institutions ranked among the top 1,000 in the world to Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Higher Education is presently having discussions with 23 institutions and of which 15 of them are very much positive. more..

Oct 14 (DM) Imprisoned former Army Commander and the leader of the DNA, Sarath Fonseka yesterday filed a writ application in the Appeal Court challenging the move by the Secretary General of Parliament to remove him from his Parliamentary seat. In his application Sarath Fonseka asked to quash the communications with the decision made by Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, more..

Oct 14 (DM) The Cabinet yesterday approved the Appropriation Bill with a defence vote of Rs.214 billion for next year. This is an increase from the Rs.201 billion allocated for this year. According to the Bill the government had apportioned Rs.75 billion for the Economic Development Ministry, Rs.62 billion for the Health Ministry and Rs.31 billion for the Education Ministry. more..

Oct 15 (LBO) Sri Lanka's poor are reliable borrowers and repay loans, offering a growth opportunity for micro-finance especially in rural areas, deputy finance minister Sarath Amunugama said. Developing countries like Sri Lanka must not rely solely on export-led growth as in the past given sluggish recovery and rising protectionism in advanced economies, he told the Asia Microfinance Forum 2010 in Colombo. more..

Oct 15 (PTI) MDMK chief Vaiko and other party activists were arrested on Thursday for staging a black flag demonstration against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Activists protesting against the visit of the Sri Lankan President burnt his effigies, police said, adding they recovered six effigies from the demonstrators. Vaiko said the party's agitation would continue till the Sri Lankan President was more..

Oct 15 (SL) UNP�s Ratnapura District parliamentarian and actor Ranjan Ramanayaka has been arrested by the police in Kandy today (14). Ramanayaka was arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in committing a financial fraud amounting to a million rupees. Central Province DIG Pujith Jayasundera has told the media that Ramanayaka had allegedly committed a fraud amounting to Rs. 1 million. more..

Oct 15 (LP) The University Authorities of the University of Peradeniya has temporarily closed the Engineering faculty due to demonstrations by students without a valid cause. The students have been asked to leave the University Hostel Premises with the help of the Police. Meanwhile 04 engineering students who have been demonstrating have been taken into custody. At the same time students of the University of Kelaniya also protested against lack of facilities of the Hostels. more..

Oct 15 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy assisted in the repatriation of twenty-five (25) Sri Lankan fishermen, who were released from the Indian custody, yesterday (13th October 2010). The fishermen and ten (10) fishing boats were handed over to SLN officials by the Indian Coast Guard Ships, ICGS Sarang and ICGS Vishwast, at the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the seas north of Kankasanthurei. more..

Oct 15 (BBC) International human rights groups have refused to appear before a Sri Lankan inquiry into the end of the country's civil war, saying the procedure is flawed and lacks credibility. They say the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) does not meet international standards. But the commission, appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, says it is a credible attempt for reconciliation. more..

Oct 15 (GDI) Purchase of Uniform Materials and other Textiles for the Institutions functioning under the Ministry of Defence: at present the textile requirements of the three Armed Forces, the Department of Police and other State Institutions are provided by the local textile manufactures through the Domestic Textile Allocation Committee established under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. With the view to expedite the purchase of textile requirements, more..

Oct 15 (SL) The IUSF today (14) stormed into the Higher Education Ministry premises calling on the authorities to release the four students from the Peradeniya University. IUSF Convener Udul Premaratne said the arrest of the university students is a revengeful act on the part of Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake. He said the minister had claimed that the university students from Peradeniya will be sent to jail even before they were presented to court. more..

Oct 15 (PRIU) Sri Lankan sitar expert Pradeep Ratnayake and ensemble performed at the European Parliament in Brussels last week to an audience which included MEPs, Parliamentary staff and officials from European Institutions and EU member states. This performance considered as the first by a Sri Lankan artist in the European Parliament, was held at the Yehudi Menuhin Auditorium in the presence of Dr. Libor Roucek, Vice-President of the European Parliament, more..

Oct 15 (AT) Sri Lanka has begun re-mapping its electorates. The re-drawn electorates will be used for the first time in the forthcoming local government elections. Sri Lanka�s District Secretariats have begun the groundwork needed to this end. The District Secretariats in Sri Lanka coordinate the admin activities of the country's Districts with that of the central government. The 13 member Delimitation Commission meanwhile announced that more..

Oct 15 (AT) The Embassy of the United States of America sponsored a seven-day biotechnology workshop from September 27 � October 5 in Colombo. The workshop was conducted by Genetech, a leading private sector biotech company, and was addressed to scientists in research agencies and universities in the country who are involved in agricultural research into genetically modified (GM) crops. more..

Oct 15 (DM) The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday issued a warrant on the Government Analyst for not submitting a report to Court in connection with a case in which three suspects are alleged to have imported 20 towels soaked in heroin. Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne directed the Police Narcotics Bureau to release the Government Analyst on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 subsequent to his warrant being executed. more..

Oct 15 (IANS) Making his first visit to India after crushing the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday enjoyed every moment of the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony where he was the guest of honour. Seated with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rajapaksa repeatedly clapped and occasionally waved his hands as artists and dancers displayed their many skills at the packed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. more..

Oct 15 (LT) A media briefing had been called by the 'Socialist Youth Union' today with the latest sitution arised in North and East areas. At this media briefing, national committee member Waruna Rajapaksa said - "a cultural progrmme named 'Film Festival on Brotherhood' has been organized by the Socialist Youth Union on October 14,15,16 in Jaffna with the objective of nurturing the harmonization among more..

Oct 15 (LG) Sri Lankans expatriates in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom held a protest last Saturday, in front of No.10 Downing Street (British prime-minister�s official residence) demanding democracy and immediate release of Gen. Sarath Fonseka. The protest was attended by a large number of people. Among them: there were lawyers, doctors, politicians and the people who supported the government at the last elections. more..

Oct 15 (DM) A newspaper posted that a section of the JVP was reconsidering support for �the general� because he had been in the forefront of suppressing their late 1980s uprising. This may not be true. But the Indian incursion that gave rise to the revolt was important in our history. Revisiting is instructive. As we were to take Vadamarchchi, President Jayewardene left with no options, buckled down to the Indians. more..

Oct 15 (LG) We previously published the article written by Frederica Janz, editor of the Sunday Leader who interviewed and published crucial comments made by the former Army Commander General (Rtd) Sarath Fonseka during the presidential election. In the interview she wrote that Fonseka stated that Gotabayaha Rajapakse, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense gave orders that any LTTE leaders attempting to surrender under white flags be shot. more..

Oct 15 (DM) In an ethical point of view it is amazing to note that the ruling UPFA that venerated the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka who spearheaded the last lap of the successful war against the LTTE, as the best Army Commander in the world is ridiculing the same person. It is similarly interesting to see the Opposition leaders who claimed that the former Army Commander did not fit to lead even the Salvation Army almost worshipping him, more..

Oct 15 (MoD) The Ministry of Defence has initiated the first ever 'Ranaviru Real Star' reality TV programme, exclusively for the members of tri-forces, with the cooperation of Dialog Axiata PLC and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. Members (male / female) of Army, Navy and Air Force are allowed to take part in the competition and both officers and other rankers will compete on the same stage towards the title. more..

Oct 15 (MoD) Sri Lankan Airlines will acquire seven aircraft by the end of 2011. They include five Airbus A320's, including three brand new aircraft, and two Twin Otter floatplanes. "We will be celebrating an important new chapter in the history of Sri Lankan Airlines with the arrival of this large number of aircraft within a short period. They will allow Sri Lankan to significantly enhance the passenger experience on board our flights, more..

Oct 15 (MoD) A felicitation ceremony for parents and families of war heroes was held Thursday, at the Police Special Task Force training center at Katukurunda- Kaluthara. The program jointly organized by the Ministry of Defence and Ranaviru Seva Authority was held under the patronage of Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa this evening. The ceremony was organized to award medals to parents, wives and next of kin's of military personnel in more..

Oct 15 (Island) On Sep. 29, pioneer Sinhala language cricket broadcaster, Palitha Perera visited Kalutara North with his wife, notably by a hired van all the way from Colombo, to pay his last respect to Meloney Abeysekera, wife of Percy, who is probably one rare personality to earn international recognition for an unusual job, cricket cheerleading. Meloney, who had been married to Percy for 42 years, passed away, aged 59, on Sep. 24, after a brief illness. more..

Oct 15 (Island) Building an organic relationship with communities requires not only re-creating and re-positioning our universities, but also re-modelling the degree programmes so that they incorporate engagement with community as a core value and an integral part of university education and research. Firstly, it is necessary to create an enabling environment for community engagement. more..

Oct 15 (UCAN) It was noon at a Hatton bus terminal when 12-year-old Shanthi, clad in a brown gown and tenderly touching her 10-year-old brother�s head, cried, �My heart is heavy with sorrow,� as crowds gathered around her. Shanthi is one of the actresses in a �street drama� in central Sri Lanka promoting awareness on child labor, child begging, domestic torture and children�s rights. Onlookers got a rare glimpse into the lives of tea estate families as more..

Oct 15 (SO) Exactly sixty-nine years ago this September, there died at Fort Alfred in South Africa, an Englishman whose name is synonymous with archaeological discoveries of Sri Lanka in the early part of the 20th century, an associate of the late Senarath Paranavithana, where he played an active role in the discoveries at Sigiriya. In the 1900s he promoted rice-growing on a large scale at Minneriya, which ultimately paved the way for more..

Oct 15 (SO) The canal network in the Colombo Metropolitan area which was rejected for over a few decades causing immense environmental and health hazards is presently being turned into public attraction spots as it is now becoming a part of the city transport network catering to the public transport needs. The boat service that was launched by the Sri Lanka Navy during the first quarter of this year with more..

Oct 15 (NF) A dictator is talking about democracy in the country while destroying the democracy in his own party. He is hanging on to the position despite repeated defeats, says MP Duminda Silva. He was addressing a meeting organised by the UPFA held at Wadugodawatta in Meetotamulla yesterday. �Just as we have ended the war, it won't take long to win the development war. That is the reason why some are croaking like frogs in the well. more..

Oct 15 (NF) Jordan has agreed to increase the minimum salaries of Sri Lankan migrant workers employed there to Rs. 20,000. The agreement was arrived at during discussions held between the countries. �Until the agreement was arrived at Sri Lanka had halted sending domestic aide workers to Jordan for around two months,� said Kingsley Ranawaka, Chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau. more..

Oct 15 (DM) The National Child Protection Authority would be introducing new regulations dealing with women with children who wish to go abroad for employment. The new laws would require women going for employment abroad to get clearance from the NCPA before leaving the country. Before giving these women the go ahead the Authority would have to be convinced that that the children of these women, more..

Oct 15 (LBO) The increase in cargo flows from India generated by accelerating economic growth will ensure business for a new container terminal that Sri Lanka's Aitken Spence is investing in, an official said. "Colombo will continue to be south Asia's maritime hub," said Parakrama Dissanayake, chairman of Aitken Spence Maritime, the conglomerate's shipping business unit. "If not Aitken Spence will not invest in the Colombo South Terminal," more..

Oct 15 (Island) Legislation has played an important role in the development of care for the mentally ill from the initiation of modern mental health care in Sri Lanka. Since introduction of the European model of mental health care to Sri Lanka about one hundred and seventy years ago there had been steady developments in the field of mental health, clinical practice and the organisation of the services. more..

Oct 15 (UCAN) Religious leaders in Sri Lanka are demanding the release of former army chief Sarath Fonseka. Fonseka was convicted for corrupt arms deals and is now serving a 30-month jail sentence. He was also charged with conspiring to topple the government after his defeat to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January�s presidential elections. Seen as the main strategist of the military success over the Tamil Tigers, more..

Oct 15 (Island) The police have declared war on narcotics. IGP Mahinda Balasuriya has vowed to go on battling the scourge until it is eradicated. Such vows are not new; we have been treated to them umpteen times under various political dispensations but narcotics are far from eradicated, if the number of daily media reports on drug related incidents is any indication. What usually happens to such highly advertised anti-narcotics campaigns is that they fizzle out with more..

Oct 15 (DM) Seventeen months into the curtain closer of war, ideally by now the Sri Lankan government, the opposition and the informed masses should have been busy debating the so called grand development strategies of the UPFA government. Instead today the country is still stuck with the war baggage � what the war time Army Commander allegedly said about an incident that took place during the last days of war. It is obvious that Sarath Fonseka�s foray into politics which more..

Oct 15 (AI) Amnesty International has declined an invitation to appear before Sri Lanka's LLRC and calls again for an international inquiry into the evidence of war crimes and other abuses during the civil war. In a joint letter released on Thursday, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group announced that they would not appear before the Commission, more..

Oct 15 (Island) The Central Environment Authority (CEA) in collaboration with the Environment Ministry will launch a national level e-waste management programme by joining both state sector and private sector dealing with e-waste. CEA Chairman Charitha Herath told The Island yesterday that under this programme all stakeholders would link together under a common logo and a theme for proper e-waste management. more..

Oct 15 (Island) In response to the allegations levelled against the GMOA, by a former Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers� Association, stating that the Union has flagrantly violated the trade union Constitution, Media Consultant and former General Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Anuraddha Padeniya, dismissing all accusations, said that they were not based on real facts. The former asst. secretary alleged that more..

Oct 15 (DM) The Power and Energy Ministry yesterday introduced a star rating system and Energy Conservation Label for electrical equipment including fluorescent bulbs, refrigerators, air-conditioners and fans in a bit to save a minimum Rs. 10 billion a year for the CEB. Minister Champika Ranawaka said the energy saving electrical equipment would be sold along with a star rating and energy conservation label to ensure more..

Oct 15 (DM) An eighteen year old woman and her mother were taken into custody in connection with the alleged sale of an eight month old infant for Rs.10,000 in Kayankarni, Vakarai. The suspects were arrested on a tip off received from the public by the Vakarai Police OIC Sumith Perera. On being questioned the woman had said that her husband had left her destitute and she had been compelled to give her child to a Muslim from Kiran area, with the help of another woman. more..

Oct 15 (TN) The unknown persons who had abducted the owner of a jewelry shop in Sea Street in Colombo Wednesday around 7:15 p.m on Green Street in Kotahena released him around midnight after his family members paid the demanded ransom of 50 million rupees, sources in Colombo said. The released jeweler is R. Mahendran, the owner of 'Ravi Jewelers' located on Sea Street. The abductors had intercepted Mahendran�s car on Green Street in Kotahena and more..

Oct 15 (ENS) Ten people turned blind after receiving eye treatment in camps organised in Jaffna by actress Asin, claimed May 17 Movement, a group for Sri Lankan Tamils. It has thus asked Asin to stop associating herself with philanthropic activities in the island country and to offer an explanation on what caused blindness in those affected. Asin had visited Sri Lanka for shooting a Hindi film �Ready� in more..

Oct 15 (CNA) Sri Lanka�s Christian Solidarity Movement has criticized a call by Sri Lankan bishops for the release of jailed ex-presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, saying that the appeal fails to recognize �the breakdown of the rule of law� in the nation. �This is one of the best examples of the crackdown on political opponents and dissenters by the government,� Ruki Fernando of the Christian Solidarity Movement told ENInews. more..

Oct 15 (G&M) A Tamil woman and her husband, who is alleged to be an owner of the migrant vessel Sun Sea, lied about and changed their names, the Immigration and Refugee Board says. The woman was undergoing her fourth round of detention review hearings at the IRB on Thursday and has been in custody because the Canada Border Services Agency has not verified her identity. The young woman�s husband is being held in segregation at more..