Apr 25 (TC) Members of Parliament of any country whatsoever are elected to look into and pass legislation to suit and benefit the people of their own country. Indian politicians, be they national politicians such as the delegation from India that visited Sri Lanka a few days back or regional politicians like M Karunanidhi who, to my mind, is by far the biggest clown of Tamil Nadu (whether literally or metaphorically). more..

Apr 25 (TC) In the aftermath of the UNHRC session in Geneva in March of this year where a special resolution on Sri Lanka was passed, Sri Lanka now faces the Universal Periodic Review that commences in October of this year. This is a mechanism that was established by the UNHRC to review the human rights records of all UN member states. This review is once every four years. Sri Lanka�s last review took place in 2008 and its next review falls due this year commencing in October. more..

Apr 25 (DBS) Today, vast factory trawlers are vacuuming every living thing off the floor of the oceans. Toxic wastes are being dumped on poor communities whose governments turn a blind eye. Millions of acres of irreplaceable primeval forest are purposely being burned every year, to make way for cattle ranches. These are crimes against the future, crimes that are happening today, in large numbers, all over the world. These are crimes that will not only injure future generations, more..

Apr 25 (ST) The unique sighting of a school of more than 100 to 150 sperm whales that marked their presence in the waters off the north western coast of Sri Lanka with the dawn of the Sinhala & Tamil New Year raised many questions for conservationists and marine biologists.First sighted approximately six km west of the �Bar Reef� off Dutch Bay in Kalpitiya on April 14, the next reported sighting was approximately 7 km west of Kandakuliya. more..

Apr 25 (ST) Trivialising economic issues and concerns is an unfortunate recent development. They detract from the serious concerns, difficulties and problems facing people. They may be indicative of a lack of knowledge and understanding of economics and also a means of distracting people from serious economic problems. Serious consideration of national economic issues is an essential prerequisite to resolving economic problems. Such trivialising is not confined to more..

Apr 25 (TC) The delegation may not be as representative as it could have been, and should have been, but the initiative goes a long way in crossing the mental and physical barriers of politicians from each country understanding the other. The communication gap, which is both unnatural and unrealistic, in bilateral relations, starting with the crucial ethnic issue, at the non-official levels, is a reality that needs bridging. A beginning was made when a team of 10 Indian MPs, more..

Apr 25 (DM) After reading a very recent article (in which the Sri Lankan episode is also minutely stated) by two former US diplomats, discussing the divergence and convergence experienced by the USA and India regarding UN involvements, I thought sharing some ideas in it could initiate revisiting our issues, created in the UN by the USA and India. To what extent my interpretations, as emanating from a �Zero-Diplomat� would be tolerated are an issue! more..

Apr 25 (DM) I simply fail to understand her statement as on 31 March2011, I attended a National Council of Elders discussion at the Ministry of Social Services on the finalisation of its Action Plan on Ageing, which had 19 strategies grouped under 4 Priority Areas: [1] Elders and Development [2] Advancing Age and Wellbeing in old age [3] Ensuring an enabling and supporting environment and [4] implementation and follow up. My Elders ID, issued on 15/10/ 2004 states that the holder should be given more..

Apr 25 (CT) �We appeal to the President, state institutions and officials, and those in the executive to take the utmost heed of this growing trend of intolerance. We strongly believe that the people of this country, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Christian and Burgher wish to live in harmony with each other. We also strongly believe that it is a minority of persons who take to violence in riding rough shod over the rights of others. We strongly urge the state to take measures more..

Apr 25 (SO) Government housing schemes along Serpentine Road, Borella, Soyzapura in Moratuwa and Maligawatte in Colombo 10 were repaired after 40 years at a cost of over Rs. 339 million. The occupants in these flats said that they received a new lease of life with these repairs and refurbishment of their houses. The Sunday Observer interviewed Minister Wimal Weerawansa and some occupants of the housing schemes in this regard. more..

Apr 25 (CT) Prime Minister D.M. Dayaratne�s order to demolish a 65 year old mosque in Dambulla and instead build a mosque in another place strikes at the very root of religious freedom .It also shocked and hurt the island�s Muslim community. Responding to the order and expressing the community�s mood Muslim Congress Secretary and parliamentarian Hassen Ali said the �community will not accept a mosque in another place even if it was built of gold�. more..

Apr 25 (Island) It was like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster. A heavy contingent of police personnel in combat gear, backed by the elite STF commandos, swooped on T20 Watte, a shanty area in Dematagoda in the wee hours of Saturday. Thirty three people including some lawbreakers on the run were arrested, we are told. The families of the suspects are still agitating against their arrest Anti-crime operations must go on in spite of resistance from some quarters. more..

Apr 25 (Island) Despite country�s highest-ranked weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage is currently serving a four-year ban, Sri Lanka could still hope for a place in London Olympics in the sport of weightlifting. That is since Commonwealth Games medallist Sudesh Peiris pushes hard for his case at the Asian Weightlifting Championships, now in progress in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The Japan-based weightlifter is currently taking part in the Asian more..

Apr 25 (CT) A delegation from the All Ceylon Union of English Teachers (ACUET) met the Chief Minister of the Western Province, Prasanna Ranatunga, and stressed the class ratio be limited to 30 students per teacher. They stated that in certain schools over 45 students are crowded into one class room and as such teaching effectively is made impossible. The ACUET also proposed a survey to be carried out to find out equal distribution of teachers of English more..

Apr 25 (Island) According to Asian Development Bank (ADB), Colombo ranked first in the city competitiveness ranking among the top cities in the region. Colombo�s top ranking was due to it being most favourable in the apparel, finance, insurance, real estate, ICT, and hospitality sectors. The future demand for commercial office space in Colombo would be closely correlated with industries which had prospects for maximum growth, the ADB said. more..

Apr 25 (DM) Despite international pressures to sudden stop the military operations when the Wanni humanitarian operations were entering a decisive phases, President Mahinda Rajapaksa �personally� instructed the military to pursue the operations as planned, the Army Commander revealed. �President Mahinda Rajapaksa was determined and did not give in to pressures of the international community to suddenly stop the military operations when the Wanni humanitarian operations more..

Apr 25 (DN) The Power and Energy Ministry says it has reduced its electricity consumption by 13 percent in March. A ministry source said they have afforded a good example to the public on how to reduce electricity consumption, and that the "Today for Tomorrow" (Ada Wenuwen Heta) programme introduced with the aim of conserving power has proved that example is better than precept. With the increase of world fuel prices the Public Utilities Commission has taken measures to more..

Apr 25 (TC) The inventions of Dr S.J.B Lenadora and Mr Dinesh Katugampala took the forefront at the �Inventions Geneva� Exhibition, winning prestigious Gold and Silver medals at the event. �Inventions Geneva � which is the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, is considered to be one of the most important in the world. Participants included large corporations such as more..

Apr 25 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday granted UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera leave to proceed with the fundamental rights violation application filed by him. Jayasekera had alleged that the District Secretary for Hambantota had given jobs to politically favoured graduates without holding interviews. He said that there were about 5,000 unemployed graduates awaiting recruitment in that area. After the politically favoured persons were employed, more..

Apr 25 (Island) All Ceylon Bank Employees Union (ACBEU), affiliated to the JVP, plans to form a joint alliance to pressure the government to win its demand for a salary hike. ACBEU President Wasantha Samarasinghe yesterday accused the Ceylon Bank Employees Union, the largest trade union in the State banking sector, of betraying them by suspending planned trade union action despite talks with the Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera failing settle the salary issue. more..

Apr 25 (Island) The UNP said yesterday that despite various obstacles placed by the govt, it would hold its May Day rally in Jaffna, with the objective of forging ethnic unity. UNP MP Tissa Attanayake said that there was an attempt to frighten them with security warnings that pro-LTTE groups were targeting opposition politicians, but their May Day rally in Jaffna would be held as scheduled, with the focus being on ethnic harmony, peace and unity. more..

Apr 25 (Island) A 38-year-old mother of two, who sent shock waves through the country and brought grief to her family, after suddenly disappearing at a Saudi Arabian airport recently, had returned home safely a few days ago, one of her sons said yesterday. He said that his mother, who was a resident of Dimbulagala, Nuwaragala, returned home a few days ago without any problem though she had got late due to a visa problem. According to what her sons earlier told more..

Apr 25 (DN) Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed health authorities to install blood pressure monitors in all main cities allowing people to get their blood pressure checked free of charge whenever they wish. This is one of the main steps to be taken by the ministry to control the rapidly increasing Non Communicable Diseases (NCD). The project will be implemented with JICA assistance. Five machines will be installed within Colombo city limits more..

Apr 25 (DM) Bail applications will be filed seeking the release of former army commander Sarath Fonseka after the jail term imposed by the Court Martial against him ends tomorrow, his family members said yesterday. Upon the completion of his jail term, he will be a normal remand prisoner and, therefore, bail applications may be filed seeking his release, they said. While he was serving the jail term imposed by the Court Martial, he was sentenced to more..

Apr 25 (FT) UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday warned of looming disharmony among the ethnic and religious groups in the country and the Govt was responsible for a speedy resolution. The following is the full text of Jayasuriya�s statement: It is sad to note that there is a situation brewing up in the country, creating mistrust, suspicion and hatred amongst the people belonging to different ethnic and religious groups; when they were expecting harmony, reconciliation more..

Apr 25 (DN) Unclaimed vehicles lying on the stretch of the final battle line in the Mullaitivu area are being fast cleared with their original owners claiming them. Brigadier K Jagath Wijetilleke, 68 division Brigade Commander said these vehicles were fraudulently brought to the North mainly from the South. �Some vehicles were stolen while number plates of others had been substituted,� he said. Some others had been �budded� or their engines changed,� he said. more..

Apr 25 (Hindu) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday that during her recent meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa she discussed devolution of powers to provinces, as envisaged in the 13th Amendment to the island nation's Constitution. Ms. Swaraj, who led an all-party parliamentary delegation to Colombo for a first-hand assessment on the post-war situation in the country, told journalists here more..

Apr 25 (Island) University teachers will stage a token strike tomorrow against the govt�s delay in granting their demands as promised. Vice President of the FUTA Ven. Dambara Amila thera said that if the govt failed to grant their demands after tomorrow�s token strike they would launch an all-out strike immediately thereafter. "The govt cheated us several times during the recent past," he said adding that the govt had broken all the promises given to them. more..

Apr 25 (Island) The Central Bank has managed the country�s external assets well in 2011 resulting in the bank making healthy profits, much different to the �unhealthy� profits made in the past where gains from domestic assets were bloated from money printing, analysts said. However, the Central Bank�s financial reporting disclosures remains weak. The Central Bank recorded a profit of Rs. 46.8 billion in 2011, up 298.76 percent from Rs. 11.7 billion the previous year. more..

Apr 25 (DN) Sri Lanka today is able to provide a robust new investment destination as a frontier country to the rest of the world, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. �All our economic sectors, agriculture, industries and services are performing well and we are today able to provide a robust new investment destination as a frontier country to the rest of the world. In that background, many investors realise that more..

Apr 25 (BBC) Iranian govt has expressed confidence in the Prime Minister to resolve the controversy on the attempts to remove a mosque from a site in Dambulla. Several International and Muslim organisations had asked the government to take action to resolve the issue. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne, the Iranian Ambassador in Colombo says that he is assured of an amicable solution. �I have the confidence that your honour in your capacity as the honourable Prime Minister & religious affairs would more..

Apr 25 (FT) Glaxo SmithKline yesterday opened its latest state-of-the-art pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing facility in Moratuwa, built at an investment of Rs. 217 million. Confirming its commitment towards strengthening its footprint in Sri Lanka, the facility is part of a Rs. 1.4 billion investment that the company will put forward this year in the area of reinforcing working capital requirement. Identified as one of the single largest investments in the country�s more..

Apr 25 (Hindu) The events seem to be a replay. It was External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna then. It is India�s Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj�s turn now. A leading newspaper in Sri Lanka has claimed that no discussion was held regarding the devolution of powers to States when the Indian MPs delegation met President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Soon after Mr. Krishna met the President in January 2012, more..

Apr 25 (LBO) Stock prices in Sri Lanka, continued to head south, as investors remained on the sidelines, while the rupee slid to a new record low before recovering Wednesday, brokers and dealers said. Colombo's All Share Price Index fell 1.52 points or 0.02 percent to 5,440.01, while the liquid Milanka Price Index lost 4.60 points of 0.09 percent to close trading on Wednesday at 4,886.80. The day's turnover of 312.8 million rupees was largely driven by bluechips and more..

Apr 25 (DM) The bankrupt Spain where the new government recently enforced tough austerity measures gave an example to the rest of the world on an issue relating to the country�s widely-respected King Juan Carlos. While tens of millions of people were without jobs and struggling for survival, the King decided to take a private holiday in the African tourist resort of Bostwana. The trip would have gone unnoticed but unfortunately or fortunately the King fell from his horse more..

Apr 25 (FT) The Court of Appeal was informed yesterday that the Homagama Magistrate is to deliver his order on the inquiry into the involuntary disappearance of freelance journalist cum cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda on 17 May where he is expected to order as to whether former Attorney General Mohan Peiris is to be summoned as a witness to give evidence. Former Attorney General and current Advisor to the Cabinet of Ministers Mohan Peiris, more..

Apr 25 (DM) The inability of the Department of Meteorology to forecast weather accurately had cost Sri Lanka millions, said Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. He said that the Dambulla Hospital had lost equipment worth Rs 80 million due to the recent floods while the damage to the Economic Centre in the same area had been estimated at Rs 200 million. He said the damage caused by natural disasters, including floods, could have been avoided in more..

Apr 25 (PTI) India should prevail upon the UN for carving out a separate Tamil Eelam from Sinhala-dominated Sri Lanka as the 'tyranny' in the Tamil areas was continuing, DMK said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, party leader T.R. Baalu said armymen were roaming around Tamil habitats in Sri Lanka and "thousands of people have been kept behind barbed wire fences". He said "tyranny is going on, it is continuing. more..

Apr 25 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's rupee fell 1.05 percent to a record low of 133.50 to the dollar on Wednesday on importer demand for the U.S. currency because of concern the rupee will weaken further if the central bank stops supplying dollars for oil bills. But the rupee ended at 131.65/132.00 against the dollar, firmer than Tuesday's close of 132.00/20 after the central bank intervened via moral suasion and selling $5 million dollars, more..