June 4 (DM) While the LTTE is blamed for carrying out 30 years of terror in Sri Lanka, the question that needs to be answered is who actually created this group, why was it created, for how long was it meant to exist and to what extent did the creators have actual control over their creation? India must now answer and India must now apologize for the thousands of people whose lives it has helped kill by aiding a terrorist organization. When India originated the idea to start more..

June 4 (DM) �I say Ooty,� remarked Tommo, the pussycat who was glancing through his employer�s copy of the Daily Dodger newspaper. �Our governors� lokkas have started a new thing. They want the boyos and girlos who have got into campus to follow a course in leadership and some other things. Whether they like it or not, thousands of would-be grads are supposed to take their tooth brushes, towels, and slippers to Army training centres. The Daily Dodger carries the whole thing.� more..

June 4 (BL) Today, the brilliantly refreshing and colourful picture of development, encompassing Sri Lanka�s once war ravaged North-East, is such that once the bullet and mine riddled dusty streets when scores of human lives were claimed by LTTE terrorism, paints a contrastingly beautiful sight; of peace, freedom and men and machines at work. Significantly, there is a higher utilisation of assets. Land is being cultivated at rapid pace, more..

June 4 (LG) The difference between Prof. G.L. Peiris and Rohan Gunaratne is that the former plays down his vast intellect for whatever reasons and stoops low to manipulations by political powers he adheres to whenever it suits him and the latter inflates his minimal cerebral capacity to the fullest and now stands on par with intellectuals. Is Gunaratne a genius or what? Paucity of credible and authentic speakers at the military conference enabled former Sun more..

June 4 (LB) As a possible aftermath to the many conflicts the Minister of Higher Education has been having with numerous agents of the university student bodies since assuming duties in his portfolio, the government has now decided that it should play its hand at enhancing the �leadership qualities� of undergraduate entrants. From what is known, the relevant governmental proxies / authorities are in the process of formulating a �pre-orientation programme� more..

June 4 (GV) 1st June marked the 30th anniversary of the burning of the Jaffna Public Library. An eye witness account was delivered at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies by Mr Silan Kadirgamar,former senior lecturer University of Jaffna, former President of Movement for Inter-Racial Justice and Equality, Jaffna branch and Founding member of Jaffna Citizen�s Committee(1981). The speaker recounted the events that contributed to more..

June 4 (GV) Admirably, the Government was kind and open enough to provide a live web feed of the proceedings of the three day Defeating Terrorism: Sri Lankan Experience seminar, held in Colombo. This allowed for non-invitees and non-participants like us to monitor the saccharine presentations via the web, flagging inconsistencies as well as inconvenient truths that were unsurprisingly left out or marginalised in the proceedings. more..

June 4 (LG) President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently appointed several Heads of Missions who are due to take up their overseas assignments shortly. Among them are senior Foreign Service Officers and other distinguished personalities from various fields and services. The details are as follows: List of New Heads of Missions: Admiral Tissara Samarasinghe High Commissioner-designate Australia. Mr. A. L. A. Azeez Ambassador-designate Austria. Mr. B.G.R. Uyangoda Ambassador-designate China more..

June 4 (LG) 12. Army Commander wanted to take the Eastern and the Northern theaters in peace meal and cleared eastern province in one year. In the eastern province, it was only an Infantry Brigade together with about two Commando or Special Forces battalions, which were deployed at any stage of the operation. The Commander of the Army personally drew out even the tactical plans of Batticaloa west and Thoppigala Operation and the more..

June 4 (Island) Most diplomats are sick, cynics say. Envoys of the developing countries like Sri Lanka are afflicted with what has come to be termed 'ambassadorial disease', which causes them to lose self-esteem and think and speak like the leaders of their host countries. They cannot say boo to a goose! Most ambassadors of the developed countries in this part of the world have a mental condition which causes hubris and aggressiveness towards their host governments. more..

June 4 (DM) Whatever is happening to the report of the experts� panel appointed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to advise him on accountability issues in Sri Lanka, whether the Rajapaksa regime accepts it or not, responds to it or not, May 2009 is now part of our history. However since then opposition critics and independent analysts locally and internationally ask whether the government has genuinely worked towards reconciliation with the minority communities and more..

June 4 (SL) On Friday May 27, Sri Lanka marked two years since the end of the 30 year civil war by holding a Victory Day parade at Galle Face Green. To date an infamous dictator and two notorious terrorist leaders who massacred civilians around the world are dead as a result of the ongoing �war on terrorism�. Two years have passed since the death of the infamous Velupillai Prabhakaran at the hands of the Sri Lankan armed forces. With his death came the end of a more..

June 4 (LB) We have a beautiful new hospital with modern equipment and helpful staff. Badulla Provincial Hospital provides treatment free to all. Private, paid consultations are carried out in another building, a hell-hole reminiscent of the Black Hole of Calcutta. On our most recent visit to this private clinic, access and egress were particularly difficult because the main road outside was being re-made. Whatever about that, access is always difficult. There is only a small forecourt, more..

June 4 (Island) The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is planning to develop the under utilized Trincomalee port and the lands in the vicinity to carry out businesses. "Nearly 5,000 acres of land in the vicinity of the Trinco harbour will be used for new business ventures," Trinco Port Resident Manager, J. A. Chandrarathne said. The land will be utilized for three different types of businesses. "The lands surrounding the port will be used for port related business ventures and more..

June 4 (DN) The government will write off the Rs 1.8 billion bank debt of co-operative societies, Minister Johnston Fernando said. The minister addressing the gathering at the official ceremony to grant 300 new memberships for the employees of the State Printing Corporation to set up co-operative societies in their institutions said that the cooperative movement highly facilitated the lives of the people during the last 100 years. more..

June 4 (CI) Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka's batting coach, admitted his bowlers had lost their grip after a flying start to the second Test at Lord's, but backed his rejigged attack to fight back in a crucial first hour on the second day. After winning the toss under cloudless skies, Sri Lanka's captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, sprang something of a surprise when he elected to bowl first, but his faith in his seamers was immediately justified as England slipped to 22 for 3 inside more..

June 4 (CI) When good sides have bad days, they find a way to muddle through. "Just find a way", in fact, was the motto that Shane Warne - the best player in the greatest side of modern times - passed down to Chris Tremlett during his days as Hampshire's captain. Although Tremlett will have to wait until the weekend to reacquaint himself with Sri Lanka's batsmen, that message was not lost on his England team-mates, who endured their worst day of Test batting since the more..

June 4 (CI) The opening day at Lord's, under glorious sunshine, was not the one-sided affair it might have been but England took the honours by reaching 342 for 6 having been put in and recovered impressively from losing three early wickets. Alastair Cook couldn't quite make it three consecutive Test hundreds, falling for 96, and Eoin Morgan departed for a confident 79, but Matt Prior was unbeaten at the close on a fluent 73. more..

June 4 (DM) The Minister of Road Development, Power, Housing Construction and Fisheries, North Western Province, Sanath Nishantha Perera said prawn farming, which is one of the main sources of income in the Puttalam District has declined due to the haphazard activities of fisherfolk. Addressing the inaugural meeting of the Prawn Farmers� Association in Puttalam he said that discipline among prawn farmers should be better if the present decline in the industry is to be arrested. more..

June 4 (DM) Govt has decided to grant duty free vehicle permits to officials in the Medical Administrative service as well as specialist doctors. Cabinet had approved the cabinet memorandum submitted by the Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne. Accordingly, a new circular will be issued to include amendments to the present circular No.22/99 which contains directions for providing official transport services to Govt Officers, Judicial Officers and officers of corporations and statutory Boards. more..

June 4 (Island) The Czechoslovakian Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Thomas Dub, pledged a loan of 30 million Euros for the development of the north eastern transmission network when he met Minister Champika Ranawaka in Colombo. The discussion focusing on the importance of renewable energy sources took place yesterday. Renewable energy sources in the country will be further developed with the setting up of new grid sub stations in Monaragala, more..

June 4 (CI) On paper, when England and Sri Lanka met for the first time in England at Lord's in the late summer of 1984, there should have only been one winner. Since their first Test two-and-a-half years earlier, Sri Lanka had lost eight and drawn three of the 11 games they had played, and had been well beaten in the only two to take place outside the subcontinent. In their only previous meeting with England - their Test debut in February 1982 - they had lost after a good first innings. more..

June 4 (BL) Sri Lanka�s listed Lion Brewery said on Friday it will sell out of Carlsberg�s Indian unit as investment needs in the home market which is looking up after the end of a 30-year war took priority. Lion Brewery had a stake in South Asian Breweries Pte Ltd since 2006 which was the holding company of Carlsberg India (Pvt) Ltd, which the firm was now selling to Carlsberg South Asia. Lion said the investment required in India was around 200 million in the near terms. more..

June 4 (MoD) "My people, my public servants, the people in Wanni are surviving and safe guarded and provided security by the government forces in Sri Lanka. Finally, I have to thank now that we are doing a very respectable resettlement program in our area. People are very happy and now we are rapidly resettling every month around 10,000 people", stated the former Govt Agent of Mullaittivu Mrs Imelda Sumkmar on Thursday. "During war time in Mullaittivu more..

June 4 (Tehelka) Last week marked two years since the end of the war in Sri Lanka, yet the country is still struggling to move on. Allegations of war crimes have not gone away. Neither have calls for a �political solution� � a package of measures to address the grievances of minority communities. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa reminded us of her uncompromising position on the issue in her first televised speech after the election results were announced, more..

June 4 (Island) The elite Special Task Force (STF) yesterday strongly denied allegations that its personnel had been involved in Monday�s clashes between the police and a large group of unruly factory workers at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (EPZ). STF Commandant DIG R.W.M.C. Ranawana said that there was no basis for the allegation. An irate STF Chief emphasized that police commandos hadn�t been at the scene at the time clashes erupted following an unprovoked attack by more..

June 4 (DM) Hundreds of student monks marched to Temple Trees yesterday to protest the government�s suppression of people�s fundamental and democratic rights. The protest march which began at the Vihara Maha Devi Park continued right up to Temple Trees without being stopped by security personnel unlike on previous instances. The barriers placed at the Kollupitiya Junction were removed, providing free passage for the monks. more..

June 4 (DN) Roshen Shanaka�s brother called on all political parties to refrain from �selling his brother�s remains for opportunistic political needs.� �Don�t sell my brother Roshen Shanaka�s remains for opportunistic political needs�, Madushan Rathnasekara, a student at the Medical Faculty told all political parties. Roshen Shanaka died following gun shot injuries during a clash on Monday. Rathnasekara said that one of his family members had died and more..

June 4 (Island) President Mahinda Rajapaksa offered �Gilanpasa� to bhikkhu undergraduates staging a protest opposite Temple Trees yesterday, demanding a presidential inquiry into the recent deaths of undergraduate Katukende Sunanda thero and Roshen Chanaka, who succumbed to his injuries received at the hands of police at Katunayake on Monday. Though the Temple Tress authorities had sent Gilanpasa the protesting monks of the pro-JVP IUBF, refused it and more..

June 4 (DM) All private buses operating along the Galle road have joined the strike today after the relevant officials failed to take action against the perpetrators who assaulted the private bus driver on Thursday, President of Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association Gemunu Wijeratne said. He added that the relevant officials have failed to take any kind of action against the alleged assaulters and that they only ask for justice. more..

June 4 (AT) Acting High Commissioner P.M. Amza hosted a cocktail and a dinner reception in honour of the Sri Lanka Cricket team presently in the U.K for a Test and ODI series with their English counterparts, at the High Commission. London based Diplomatic corps including the High Commissioners of Test playing nations, several members of the Houses of Lords and Commons, Deputy Mayor of London and officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board were present, among others. more..

June 4 (LBO) CT Land Development, owners of the Majestic City shopping mall in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo is building three cinemas on its fifth floor which is now vacant, chairman R Selvaskandan has said. "The new cinemas would attract more customers to the Complex, especially at off peak times with the increased foot fall benefitting other tenants as well," chairman R Selvaskandan told shareholders in the annual report. "It is expected that the project would take more..

June 4 (AFP) Sri Lanka came under renewed pressure this week at the UN Human Rights Council over video footages detailing violations allegedly committed by soldiers during the country's civil war. A UN investigator authenticated some of the footage early this week, while at the end of the week, a documentary by Britain's Channel 4 detailing the serious abuses was screened at the sidelines of the Human Rights Council. more..

June 4 (Island) DIG Ravi Wijegunawardene, who was seriously injured in Monday�s, clashes at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is undergoing treatment at the Police Hospital in Narahenpita. He said on Friday (3) that he had suffered head injury and could not see in one eye. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had also visited him in hospital. Wijegunawardene said that he had been set upon by a combat ready group of thugs in shorts. more..

June 4 (DM) The Nampamunuwa Murder trial took a new turn after the State Counsel�s revelation that the fourth accused in the case, who had been absconding court was killed in an accident at Pusselawa on May 24. Senior State Counsel Dileepa Pieris made this revelation before the High Court Judge Ms. Kumudini Wickramasinge at the outset of the trial against Former UPFA MP Chandana Kathriarachchi and three others, who were indicted on three counts of unlawful assembly more..

June 4 (Island) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed BoI Chairman Jayampathy Bandaranayake to pay one million rupees to the family of the Katunayake Export Processing Zone employee who died on Wednesday (1) due to gunshot injuries sustained when Police opened fire on a group of workers protesting against the Private Sector Pensions Scheme at Katunayake on Monday (May 30). more..

June 4 (DN) The govt will open the tallest self supporting transmission tower in South East Asia - the Kokavil Transmission tower in Mullaitivu District on June 6, TRC�s Director General Anusha Pelpita said. The TRChas spent Rs. 330 million to construct the 174 metre multi purpose transmission tower. He said that the tower will provide the people of the North with better access to radio, TV and internet facilities after 30 years. more..

June 4 (Island) Although Sri Lanka�s liaison with Israel over the past three decades has been primarily influenced by Sri Lanka�s heavy dependence on the Jewish State for armaments, the conclusion of the war in May, two years ago, will now allow the two countries to cooperate in other fields. Israel believes Sri Lanka can immensely benefit from its expertise in the fields of technology and agriculture. more..

June 4 (DM) Major trade unions said yesterday they were ready for talks with the govt and present proposals for a much needed private sector pension scheme but they were emphatic that it should not be similar to the controversial Bill that was presented to parliament earlier and withdrawn this week. The JTUA said it would submit proposals for a new pension scheme after the funeral of free trade zone employee Roshen Chanaka. more..

June 4 (DM) The FUTA yesterday vowed to further strengthen its trade union action, disappointed by the no-show of the President and relevant officials at the discussions held at Temple Trees yesterday evening. "We expected relevant officials especially from the Treasury and the Salaries and Cadres Commission to be present at the discussions. But the only key official present at the discussion was the Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne," more..