June 3 (SL) The Govt said today that the introduction of new laws which impose sanctions on individuals or entities that have links with Taliban or Al-Qaeda is a precautionary measure. Govt Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said �The introduction of these new laws is a precautionary measure as we have to fall in line with the situation of the globe�. When queried by the Daily Mirror as to if the government believes that elements linked to these organizations exist in Sri Lanka more..

June 3 (CI) Shahid Afridi rescued a limp Pakistan innings from despair and built his team a middling total with an aggressive half-century that was pragmatically constructed. He then proceeded to tenaciously defend his hardwork, and by the time he was through with his spell, Sri Lanka had severely depleted resources to complete an arduous task. The upshot was that Pakistan left Hambantota with the series level at 1-1, more..

June 3 (SL) Consumer Welfare Minister (Senior), S. B. Nawinna says Minister Mervyn Silva is popular mainly because of his antics on the street. Nawinna said that if he and other senior ministers behaved in that manner then they could get popular and obtain ministerial posts in the next cabinet reshuffle. He said that Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva usually takes to the streets and protests against issues which makes him popular among the public and the government. more..

June 3 (SL) The fine on illegal doctorates has been increased following the amendment of the laws pertaining to issuing such illegal doctorates. UGC Chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayaka said that the fine had been increased from Rs. 250 to Rs. 100,000 after the Act was amended. He said that illegal doctorates were being issued by various institutions, most for a financial payment. Professor Samaranayaka said that issuing doctorates for a payment was illegal more..

June 4 (SL) PERHAPS, the next thing they might resort to is to put national cricketers in hijabs so as to conceal them from the media � or, on returning from the playing field, bundle the lot into a room and place a sentry at the door. And if need be, extend that surveillance to cover players� off-duty hours. Hilarious as these methods might sound, they seem to be the next set of choices before Sri Lanka Cricket in its attempt to distance players from the press � that is, more..

June 4 (SL) This column dedicated to the fulfillment of the aspirations of Sri Lankan society, turns its spotlight on some inadequacies in the Sri Lankan education system as Sri Lankan society would aspire for an efficient education system in Sri Lanka. The media reported last week that The Supreme Court refused a motion filed by the Higher Education Ministry seeking the appointment of a commission to formulate a new Z score system in respect of selecting more..

June 4 (SO) Minister Champika Ranawaka said people must rise up against power hijackers, the trade unions who hold consumers to ransom to achieve their political agendas. He said, �Lack of competition has resulted in this mess within the CEB. We saw how the banking sector reformed with the introduction of private banks. Earlier, the State banking sector was riddled with strikes. Now they do not resort to such action because if they more..

June 4 (NS) What is our reality today? A pair of leading politicians in the sub-regional neighborhood with 70 million Tamil people, call for a Tamil Eelam, a separate state carved out by dismemberment of this island. Mr Sampanthan, the most prominent local leader of the Northern Tamil community, which exists a few miles away from the sub-regional landmass, reiterates his party�s commitment to achieving with the support of the international community, the same more..

June 4 (NS) Property is almost guaranteed beef within any family. Sri Lanka is no different. Right now a few quotes seem to be driving the perennial debate, namely those from Def Sec Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (in a BBC interview) and ITAK party leader Sampanthan. Their issue? Who exactly does the North and East belong to? Here�s Gota: ��Earlier before the war, all were Sinhalese,� Mr. Rajapaksa said. Just as �a lot of� Tamil officers worked in southern districts, Sinhalese and Muslims should more..

June 4 (DBS) His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is expected to express concerns over the personal safety of most reverend Rayappu Joseph the Catholic Bishop of Mannar-Vavuniya diocese in Sri Lanka when President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls on him at the Vatican later this week. President Rajapaksa scheduled to visit Britain on June 3rd for a four day trip connected to the Diamond jubilee celebrations of her majesty Queen more..

June 4 (ST) My Dear Old Girl Lilibet, I thought I should write to you not only because you are celebrating the diamond jubilee of your coronation this week but also because your country has been in the news over here recently-and for all the wrong reasons, I dare say. But first things first, so congratulations on completing sixty years on the throne. And what a coincidence it is to have you celebrating your diamond jubilee when we, in this little newspaper of ours, more..

June 4 (ST) The current economic policy thinking in Sri Lanka is on inward looking import substitution strategies. This, despite its failure, especially in the 1970-1977 period, when the economy grew more slowly due to low productivity than during periods of liberal economic policies. Outward looking strategies, based on both efficient import substitution and export promotion founded on incentives that are uniform for both exports and imports have more..

June 4 (DN) It was 2320 years ago, Sri Lankan embraced Buddhism. This significant event took place at Missaka Pabbata, Mihintale, 13 km East of Anuradhapura, which later, became the Epic centre of Theravada Buddhism. In 247 B.C, King Devanampiyatissa, met Arahat Mahinda, son of Great Emperor Ashoka, while on a deer hunting expedition around Mihintale. He became the first official devotee of Buddhism, on the pleasant, serene Poson Full Moon Day. more..

June 4 (SO) The Fraud Bureau sleuths thwarted one of the most daring human smuggling operations recently. They nabbed 113 mostly Tamil speaking people who were bound for Australia seeking greener pastures. They were to be smuggled in a boat from the Wennappuwa beach last week. A senior police officer said another boat carrying illegal immigrants from Sri Lankan landed in the Christmas Island last week. The smugglers probably used a second boat from another more..

June 4 (CI) For four balls in the Pakistan innings, Sri Lanka unexpectedly had an additional 'fielder' stationed in an undefined position in the outfield. He wasn't dressed in blue, though. It's amazing how dogs dodge the tightest of security cordons, in this case the army. After the second ball of the seventh over, a dog gave the sponsors some free mileage by running circles around the signage behind the bowler. Play was held up for a few seconds but the creature more..

June 4 (ST) A fully electric-turbo car designed and manufactured by a youthful Sri Lankan entrepreneur-technologist � 26-year-old Nilanga Senevirathne of Kalubowila - is likely to capture not only the local market, but the international market too. The �Elca� (Electric Car) is apparently extremely economical in both purchase price and running cost and the model would be universally acceptable as the car is totally environmentally friendly. more..

June 4 (ST) State level meetings with Sri Lanka Tourism are single-handedly dominated much to the irritation of tourism officials and industry persons who say they are unable to raise any issues. �It is very apparent that the entire tourism arena works in different groups because we cannot thrash out the problems and the truth is suppressed,� official sources said. This comes in the wake of last Tuesday�s 5-page statement issued by the Economic Development more..

June 4 (Island) First came the rule to have two balls per innings in ODI cricket and a year after that, the ICC Cricket Committee has recommended two bouncers per over in ODIs and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene feels it puts some teams with better pace attacks at an advantage. The new recommendations will be ratified by the ICC Board when they meet later this year, in Kuala Lumpur. "In ODI cricket, a lot has changed in the last eight years. more..

June 4 (GDI) The teachings of the Buddha are relevant today as they were twenty six centuries ago. If the leaders of our modern world are to embrace this advice, many of today�s conflicts, both domestic and international, could be resolved for the benefit of mankind, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations, in Bangkok. �Justice and the Rule of Law are not alien concepts for more..

June 4 (CNA) Police have arrested four men from Sri Lanka suspected of stealing from a jewellery shop at Dunlop Street, in Little India. Police said at about 7.30pm on May 30, a 58-year-old saleswoman of the shop was attending to a customer when he made off with seven pieces of gold chains she was holding. Her colleagues chased him but lost him in the crowd. The stolen gold chains are worth about S$53,000. Police arrested the first suspect at about 7pm on June 1, after he was detained in Syed Alwi Road by more..

June 4 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy constructed a special relics observation dais at the historic Buddhangala Raja Maha Viharaya. It will be ceremonially declared open by Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on the Poson Poya Day, 04th June 2012. MP Rear Admiral (Rtd) Sarath Weerasekera and Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake will also attend the event. The sturdy relics observation dais with a safety railing has been constructed with more..

June 4 (GDI) On a proposal made by President Rajapaksa, Cabinet of Ministers decided to obtain a loan of Rs 750 million from the Bank of Ceylon expand the post graduate facilities of the Sir John Kotalawela Defence University (JKDU). This was initially established as an academy in 1981 later elevated to University status and now it has the full membership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the UK. more..

June 4 (DN) The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd�s (ANCL) 50th Poson Mihinthale Aloka Pooja began on a grand scale yesterday. M/S Abans Ltd is sponsoring the Mihinthale Aloka Pooja for the seventh consecutive year at a cost of Rs 2.5 million. ANCL also opened a well-equipped Children�s Park (Sellam Midula) for Pathiraja Tennakoon Primary School in Mihinthale. The opening ceremony was held yesterday. The Children�s Park was donated on the request of Pathiraja more..

June 4 (Island) UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday accused the govt of depriving more than 3000 diploma holders from the Colleges of Education countrywide their teaching appointments for nearly one and a half years. He told The Island that about 3500 students who received the teacher training had passed out from 17 Colleges of Education in Feb 2011. "The National Institute of Education sent those results to the Education Ministry only on May 20," more..

June 4 (Hindu) The Tamil Eelam Supporters Association (TESO) conference slated for August 5 in Villupuram should help create a separate Eelam for Tamils in Sri Lanka, TESO chairman and DMK president M. Karunanidhi said. Addressing a public meeting in connection with his 88 birthday, he said that Tamils were discriminated against in Sri Lanka and living without self-respect in their country. more..

June 4 (Island) Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that fraud, corruption, and malpractice from top to bottom had been rampant in the SLTB. Those people were always seeking self-aggrandizement instead of the progress of the SLTB. Some employees in the SLTB depots had launched strikes demanding to expel trade union leaders. Those wild-cat strikes had been a major stumbling-block to the progress of the SLTB, he said at a handing over ceremony of more..

June 4 (DN) The 'India Show' will be held in Colombo in August, Indian High Commission officials said. The High Commission's Commercial and Economic Counsellor M Manish said with the support of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the Confederation of Indian Industry will be organising the �India Show� in Colombo from August 3 to 5 at the BMICH. The 'India Show' will coincide with the visit of Indian Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma. more..

June 4 (DM) The Police department yesterday denied allegations that tortures on suspects take place within Police stations as a practice. The Police denied any form of torture being used on suspects to gain confessions or information from them. Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said on the issue of torture prevailing in Police stations said that �Generally as a practice torture never takes place in Lankan Police stations.� more..

June 4 (Island) Over four hundred passengers were greatly inconvenienced when a Kandy bound inter-city express train from Colombo got stuck inside a tunnel at Balana in Kadugannawa which extended their journey by more than five hours yesterday. The train left Colombo Fort around 7 a.m. and was scheduled to reach Kandy Station around 9:30 a.m. According to passengers, prior to the breakdown at Balana there had been several stoppings at more..

June 4 (DN) �Lassana Hakmana� National Poson Zone will be held in Hakmana, Matara from June 5 to 9 under the patronage of Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane. Addressing media yesterday at the Hakmana Divisional Secretariat, Minister Abeywardane said under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, development has reached the villages. As a developing city, the people of Hakmana have benefited from the massive development drive in the country. more..

June 4 (Island) Minister Wimal Weerawansa says that the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) should conduct a comprehensive study on the recovery of gold particles from the Kelani River. He said that soon after the discovery of gold fragments, the GSMP had issued licences to those interested in prospecting for gold. more..

June 4 (DN) Value addition to solid waste collected from local government authorities could be promoted as a substantial income source, which would in turn contribute for the environmental friendly disposal of solid waste, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Green Job Project National Project Coordinator Shyama Salgado said. She said waste separation needed to be given high priority to allow value addition to the solid waste such as making compost and more..

June 4 (SL) The article with the headline Different Strokes from Additional Secretary Transport, published in your paper in page 7 on Sunday, 27th May 2012 is totally inaccurate and misleading. Your reporter had been misled by interested parties who have provided misinformation resulting in a one-sided article. Following are the vital facts which have not been reported. 1. Our company has not been rejected by Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) at any stage. Originally, the CSC accepted us as one of the brokers to offer vessels for more..

June 4 (ST) Minister A.H.M. Fowzie is to lodge a protest with the Govt over a move by the CID to visit the Muslim Affairs Department and collect information on religious centres and mosques. He that a CID team which visited the Muslim Affairs Department at Maradana had collected details of the registered mosques, prayer centres and personal details of the trustees. �If the Govt wants such information it should collect more..

June 4 (Island) The police are on the trail of a teenager who severed the hand of a 17-year-old student last Friday at the victim�s residence. Officer-in-charge of the Panadura Police Station Chief Inspector Mahesh Perera said the 19-year-old attacker notorious for getting into scrapes had so far evaded arrest. Victim Sakin Rajeewa had his right arm which was hanging by the skin after the attack re-attached by a team of plastic surgeons after a ten hour surgery more..

June 4 (ST) A team from the CID has left for China to assist in investigations in a case where 17 Chinese and a Sri Lankan allegedly hacked into websites and carried out frauds. The 17 Chinese suspects that included 6 women who were arrested on May 24 in Colombo by the Cyber Crime Division of the CID within three weeks after they received complaints from China, were deported to China where they face charges. The suspects allegedly hacked into data bases of more..

June 4 (CT) Sri Lanka paid nearly US$ 1 billion in external debt repayments last year, a recently released report by the govt said. The total external debt service payment in 2011 amounted to US$ 987.5 million, which included the principal of US$ 629.6 million and US$ 357.9 million in interest payments. Earlier this year that the external debt repayment for 2012 would also reach � or exceed � the US$ 1 billion mark. more..

June 4 (Island) A tornado caused minor damages to four houses in the Dehiwela area yesterday morning. DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said that there were no incidents reported from elsewhere in the country while experiencing pre monsoon thundershowers, but the DMC was on alert. Meteorology Department warned more rains with the on set of the South West monsoon. Duty Weather Forecaster Chaminda Silva said that showers and thundershowers could be expected in more..

June 4 (Island) The Joint third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the National, Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) implementing agencies and second coordination meeting of Govt of Sri Lanka stakeholders in preparation for the Universal periodic Review of Sri Lanka (to be held in November 2012) was presided over by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe on Thursday. He stressed that the National Report must be transmitted to the UNHRC in Geneva, by 23 July 2012. more..