Aug 2 (SO) The paddy production in 2010 was 2.92 MT which exceeded the country�s annual requirement. The production of essential food items has sharply increased during the past few years due to the agriculture-friendly policies of the present government, said Agriculture Ministry Secretary K.E. Karunatileke. In an interview with Sunday Observer on the �6th National Farmers Week� to be held in Vavuniya from August 1 to 5. Excerpts of the interview: more..

Aug 2 (DM) Reports that the number of parliamentary seats in the Jaffna District would expectedly go down from nine to five should be a cause for concern for the Tamil population, their polity in particular. The TNA has said it would take up the issue with the Govt at their on-going talks. It is a responsible way to do it. The Govt should consider the current situation with equal responsibility and should be open to suggestions. It is a unique situation in the country, more..

Aug 2 (LG) The ethnic civil war between the Tamil and Sinhalese communities that ravaged Sri Lanka in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries and which ended in May 2009 has attracted great interest from scholars of ethnic identity. Both the Tamil and Sinhalese ethnic groups employ language�Tamil and Sinhalese�as their primary ethnic marker to support their distinct ethnic formations. As for the Muslims, while the vast majority living in the north and east share many things with more..

Aug 2 (SL) Pattani Razeek disappeared under strange circumstances on February 11, 2010. On a field visit for his organisation in Polonnaruwa, Razeek voluntarily got into an unknown vehicle. Ransom calls followed to family and friends. Posters appeared in Puttalam attempting to tarnish his character. Then, after two months, all was silent. Family and friends never heard from Razeek again. Eighteen Months later, on 25 July 2011, a body believed to be that of more..

Aug 2 (TC) The road to Black July (and the long Eelam War it rendered unstoppable) was paved with avoidable errors and needless crimes. Amongst this litany, arguably one of the most poignant is the fate of the inaugural political initiative of the newly formed Tamil United Front�s (TUF). The 6-point proposal presented to the United Front government by the TUF in 1972 was a model of moderation. Yet, neither Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike nor her left (LSSP and CP) more..

Aug 2 (TC) Prof. Karthigesu Sivathamby, an academic par excellence died on July 6, 2011 at the age of 79 years. He was duly recognized in Sri Lanka and overseas, particularly in South India where he was well respected. Many accolades were showered on him, but his close connections with Zahira College, Colombo and its Principal, late Dr. A.M.A. Azeez, have not been highlighted as they are not known to many. Prof. Sivathamby delivered the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Oration in 2000. more..

Aug 2 (ST) It was a night of pride for print media journalists in the country when the best in the field were feted at the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence, organized jointly by The Editors� Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Institute. The awards night, a much looked forward to event of the journalistic fraternity was held last Tuesday at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The top award of the night, the Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year was won by more..

Aug 2 (GV) Whether it be fleshing out Sangakkara�s �modern, pluralist worldview of unity in diversity�, the intersection of identity and race relations, the identity crises facing young generations of mixed parentage, or the vital facets of a Sri Lankan identity, the Groundviews contributors have done an exemplary job of critiquing the vision of a �Sri Lankan� identity no longer tied to caste, culture, ethnicity, language, or religion. While I would have liked to stay out of more..

Aug 2 (SL) Here, if you make it �idiot proof�, someone will make a better idiot� goes a one-liner, in a book of jokes. But that wouldn�t sound a joke here: seems much like a pay-off line for a govt project, instead. That, in fact, is how this govt and its polity works with each other. That, in fact, is how some try to explain the continued popularity of this govt, despite its inability to answer any of the issues it has to, and its arrogance in taking decisions. more..

Aug 2 (LB) Writing from Kilinochchi just a few hours before the LG elections I said that one of the biggest questions of Northern politics in recent times - �has the govt done enough to challenge the TNA dominance in Jaffna and the Vanni?� would most probably be answered by Sunday. The answer to that question was a convincing �NO,� despite the efforts of the president, his eldest son and an assortment of ministers to win the hearts and minds of the people. more..

Aug 2 (Island) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has, we are told, ordered the IGP to probe Friday's goon attack on G. Kuganathan, the news editor of the Uthayan newspaper, in Jaffna. (Are we to gather that the Police Chief paid with public funds would not have done his job but for a presidential intervention?) This, we have heard umpteen times for the past so many years under successive govts and experience tells us that nothing will come of the promised investigation eventually. more..

Aug 2 (DM) Decades ago a prophetic social analyst � often a voice in the wilderness � warned that the world was hurtling into a hell of a horror � where less than half the population, mainly the rich and ruling elite would watch on television or other social media, the rest of the population dying without adequate food or water. That prophecy is now becoming horridly and terribly true with one of the worst ever humanitarian catastrophes in Somalia and other parts of more..

Aug 2 (FT) The crisis caused by the shortage of cement is expected to ease off towards the end of this week as four fresh shipments arrive in Colombo from Pakistan. However, industry officials insist that imports will need to increase to meet demand of one million tonnes of cement every month. Sri Lanka�s Rs.250 billion building industry was choking under a cement shortage last week with some projects having to be halted. more..

Aug 2 (DN) Locating elephants for the Kandy Esala Perahera has become a problem, Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara said. �The tame elephant population had decreased to around a 100. About half this number is over 50 years. Around 10 tame elephants had died in the past two years. A few out of the existing animals are ill. The government is donating some elephants to the private sector and temples. We expect that around 20 elephants will join more..

Aug 2 (Island) The CMC�s Public Health Department has appealed to offices, which get their lunch for the staff from outside, to inform it of details of the supplier. Chief of the Public Health Department Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said that this was to ensure the hygienic quality of the food supplied to them. He said that certain offices had unofficial contracts with food suppliers. However, the hygienic quality of the places and the way the food is prepared is questionable. more..

Aug 2 (PTI) Embarrassed over AIADMK members shouting slogans against a visiting Parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka, Speaker Meira Kumar today expressed anguish against the incident and offered "sincere apologies" to it. "She expressed anguish and offered sincere apologies over slogan shouting by some Members of Parliament in the House when the visiting delegation were witnessing the proceedings of the Lok Sabha," more..

Aug 2 (DN) Over 1,000 complaints have been received within the past 10 months regarding various illegal acts carried out by persons using Facebook, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team�s (SLCERT) senior information security engineer Rohana Palliyaguru said. A majority of complaints are regarding fake Facebook accounts. Fake Facebook accounts are made by certain persons while using others� information without their knowledge. It has become a main threat to the society,� more..

Aug 2 (DM) Four suspects were arrested yesterday by the police while they were treasure hunting in an archaeological site in the Aluthwalakapitiya area in Samanthurai. The Ampara Division Anti Vice Squad arrived at the scene following a tip off received from area residents about nefarious activities in the area and made the arrest. Detectives found sharp implements used to break stones as well as equipment to be used to excavate the treasures once they were found. more..

Aug 2 (DM) India has proposed that Sri Lanka�s exclusive economic zone be shared as a measure to resolve the Indo-Lanka fishing crisis, which has now turned out to be a diplomatic issue, Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He said that it would be one of the subjects discussed when India�s Agriculture Minister -Sharad Pawar, who is in charge of the fisheries sector, visits Sri Lanka soon. Mr. Pawar was expected to participate at last week�s more..

Aug 2 (TH) The local elections in Sri Lanka have proved to be the litmus test for President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a clear message to him that military action can give him some relief, but cannot provide lasting solution to the political demands made by the Tamil community since several decades. The TNA, which represents the ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka, was previously controlled by the LTTE, an outfit demanding a separate Eelam (state) for the Tamils, has succeeded in winning 15 out of 20 local Councils more..

Aug 2 (PTI) India's two Youth World Champions in women's boxing - Sarjubala Devi (48kg) and Minu Basumatary (64kg) -along with 17 other pugilists and two coaches, on Monday left for a training-cum-competition tour of Sri Lanka. Indian youth women boxers performed exceptionally well earlier this year at the inaugural edition of AIBA Women's Youth and Junior World Championships in Turkey, where the pugilists bagged two gold and two bronze medals. Seven of the eight-member team, more..

Aug 2 (Island) Consumers who use more than 120 units of electricity have been paying the same charges from last year. There have been no additional charges yet. If there are any complaints regarding electricity bills, consumers could contact the PUCSL on 011 2392607. A Ministry spokesman said that in comparison to the 2010 electricity tariffs, consumers who are utilising less than 120 units per month have not had their charges increased in 2011. more..

Aug 2 (LBO) Ceylon Tobacco Company, a unit of British American Tobacco said profits for the June 2011 quarter rose 62 percent to 1.8 billion rupees from a year earlier, buoyed by higher tourist arrivals and sales in former war torn areas. Revenues rose 17 percent to 19.0 billion rupees. In the six months to June revenues rose to 37 billion rupees from 30 billion rupees a year earlier. Taxes to the state had risen by 4.6 billion rupees over the period to 28.8 billion rupees. more..

Aug 2 (DM) Amid the fresh leadership crisis in the UNP, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara who agitated for radical political reforms said yesterday he did not want to be identified as a loyalist of either Ranil Wickremesinghe or Sajith Premadasa. Mr. Jayasekara said he was only interested in taking measures to bring the once formidable UNP to office. �I am not taking anyone�s side. I am only with ordinary party supporters. They have basic demands. They need a very strong opposition. more..

Aug 2 (Island) Article 35 (1) of Sri Lanka�s Constitution confirms absolute legal immunity to the President during his tenure of office, in official or private capacity, Counsel Sanjeewa Jayewardene told the Court of Appeal yesterday. He called upon the Court to give effect to that Constitutional provision. He said the Court of Appeal had, in respect of Writ Application 350/2010, dismissed the application filed by General Fonseka, more..

Aug 2 (PTI) DMK MP Tiruchi Siva on Monday staged a walkout from a meeting in honour of visiting Lankan MPs convened by Vice President Hamid Ansari, in protest against the "violence and human rights violations" by the Sri Lankan govt against ethnic Tamils. Siva, a Rajya Sabha member, alleged that the Sri Lankan government "employed military force ruthlessly in the name of tackling civil war". "All promises made by the incumbent govt have not been implemented. more..

Aug 2 (DM) Proficiency in English in every stratum, ethnic and social divide is the best weapon to fight class division and social discrimination, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga observed. Mr. Weeratunga made these observations when he addressed a gathering in Colombo to mark the signing of an agreement between the Vocational Training Institute of Sri Lanka (VTISL) that functions under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry and more..

Aug 2 (DM) United National Party (UNP) Chairman Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said yesterday the crisis within the party would be resolved before the next parliamentary sessions on August 9. Mr. Perera said the two factions would meet party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya when they returned from abroad. Mr. Wickremesinghe was expected to return last night while Mr. Jayasuirya was expected to be back on Thursday. more..

Aug 2 (Island) India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group has been formed in the 15th Lok Sabha. The announcement coincides with the bilateral visit to India by the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa, with a group of parliamentarians comprising Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, W.D.J. Senewiratne and Risad Badhiutheen and MPs Muthu Sivalingam, Rajiva Wijesinha, Malini Fonseka, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and D.M. Swaminandan. more..

Aug 2 (DN) The first ever early warning system for a disease in Sri Lanka is to be set up soon. The early warning system for dengue fever will be setup with the assistance of the European Union (EU). The EU will assist in this project responding to a request made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. A special team from EU visited Sri Lanka last week in connection with setting up of the early warning system for dengue fever and held discussions with the Health Ministry officials more..

Aug 2 (DM) The number of deaths from dengue has risen to a staggering 112 while 13,975 dengue cases have been reported in the first seven months of the year. It said the worst affected districts were Colombo with 5,454 cases of dengue and 51 deaths; Gampaha 2.031 cases and 16 deaths; Kalutara 767 cases and six deaths; Kandy 461 cases and two deaths; Galle 453 cases and one death; Matara 298 cases and four deaths; Batticaloa 651 cases and nine deaths; more..

Aug 2 (DM) The UNP reformists� faction is planning to propose resolutions at the party�s district level organizations calling for a new leadership, MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday. He said the process would take at least two months, but the reformists led by MP Sajith Premadasa were seriously considering such a move. Mr. Bandara said the reformists did not consider the present UNP working committee (WC) as legally entitled to make appointments. more..

Aug 2 (Island) A special committee had been appointed to closely monitor systematic leasing of railway land by the Transport Ministry as the previous procedure was obsolete, Minister Kumara Welgama announced. He said the Special Committee headed by him would also gather information on the matter for easy reference at any time. There were great obstacles to the optimistic mission to develop the country launched by the govt, because some high ranking and minor public servants were more..

Aug 2 (LBO) Petroleum products imported into Sri Lanka are unloaded and distributed only after they are tested and meet the required standards, a government statement said. "Petrol, diesel, and kerosene are unloaded from the tanker only after carrying out tests and verified by independent surveyors prior to distribution," Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL), a common user storage facility, said. more..

Aug 2 (LB) Though the University Lecturers Union (ULU) decided to call off their strike which had gone on for some months reports now emerge that there is a possibility that the lecturers will be forced to resort strike once again since the Ministry of Higher Education has not shown any interest in solving issues pertaining to their salary anomalies. The strike by the university lecturers crippled the country�s higher education sector for more..

Aug 2 (Island) Many patients attending clinics in Anuradhapura hospitals were severely affected yesterday because of a boycott by doctors. Doctors attached to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) kept away accusing the Health Ministry of not investigating the alleged financial scandal that was said to have taken place in the construction of the new building complex. more..

Aug 2 (Island) Sri Lanka warned Asia-Pacific nations against the possibility of developed countries adopting further protectionist measures as they are confronted with the problem of slow and sluggish economic growth. Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama was addressing over 50 nations from this region at the launch of the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report for 2011 prepared by the Bangkok-based ESCAP, the largest regional arm of the United Nations system. more..

Aug 2 (SMH) Former Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss expects his former charges to provide stiff opposition to Australia in their upcoming tour. Australia begins its two Twenty20, five one-day international and three-Test stint in Sri Lanka with a T20 in Kandy on Saturday night and Bayliss feels the tourists will have to do well to enjoy success. "Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka - they've got a very, very good record," more..

Aug 2 (AT) The King of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustav, was today invited to visit Sri Lanka as a special guest of the centenary celebration of the Sri Lanka scouts and the Asia Pacific Scout Jamboree to be held in Dambulla next April. Scout contingent, who attends the 22nd World Scout Jamboree currently in progress in Sweden presented the letter of Invitation by the Sri Lanka Scouts movement to the King when he visited the Jamboree yesterday. more..

Aug 2 (Rediff) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced a monthly old age dole of Rs 1000 to 5,544 Lankan Tamils living in refugee camps in the state. An order to this effect has been issued by the chief minister. "The chief minister is concerned about the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamils staying in refugee camps in the state and, therefore, more..