Dec 16 (AD) The DPF says that Sri Lanka is the most appropriate country in the world today to discuss the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela and that his history has many similarities with the Sri Lankan Tamils� struggle. We need Nelson Mandela�s policies and principals to guide us more than any other country in the world, DPF leader Mano Ganesan said. He stated that this is also the most appropriate time as Sri Lanka, more..

Dec 16 (Island) President Rajapaksa hosted journalists and editors to a black coffee and �halapa� breakfast monthly at the Presidential Secretariat, but if there were any wrongdoing or mistakes they would not hesitate to print and publicise them in the following morning�s papers, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. "This shows their independence and the extent of media freedom in the country. Though the opposition cries that we are indulging the journalists to praise us, more..

Dec 16 (DM) The properties and belongings of the Bogambara Prisons in Kandy were expected to be to be handed over to President Rajapaksa on Jan 1, Commissioner General of Prisons Chandrarathne Pallegama said. Prisoners of the Bogambora complex are being transferred to the new Prison complex in Pallekele. �We are panning to hand over complex to the President on Jan 1. We are hoping to transfer all the prisoners to the new prison complex in Pallekele by the end of this year,� more..

Dec 16 (CG) The Sri Lankan Govt has called for dialogue and cooperation amongst all parties concerned over the situation which had developed in Thailand. A statement by the External Affairs Ministry said that the Sri Lankan Govt is observing the developments taking place in Thailand. �SL encourages dialogue and cooperation amongst all parties concerned in finding a solution by adhering to democratic principles, more..

Dec 16 (BelTA) House of Representatives ratified the agreement between the Govt of Belarus and the Govt of Sri Lanka on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion with respect to taxes on income. The agreement gives each party the right to tax certain types of income that natural persons and legal entities of one country get in the other country. The document aims to eliminate double taxation and to promote economic relations between the two countries. more..

Dec 16 (PTI) The Madras High Court today directed to implead the Defence Secretary, Secretary of External Affairs and Deputy Director General of Indian Coast Guard as respondents on a petition seeking to cancel the proposed sale of two war ships to Sri Lanka. Justice V Sudhakar and Justice S Vaidhyanathan of Madurai Bench also posted the case for hearing to January 7 next year. Earlier the court had ordered the Cabinet Secretary, Govt of India, to respond to three queries on more..

Dec 16 (Xinhua) Tension between Sri Lanka and India has spiraled as both sides arrest fishermen crossing into each other's maritime boundaries with arrests increasing to hundreds on both sides and triggering calls for diplomatic intervention. Just last week the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 140 fishermen and 23 boats within just two days. India, not to be outdone, arrested 98 Sri Lankan fishermen in just 13 days in Dec more..

Dec 16 (Xinhua) Visiting Pakistani Naval Chief had discussions with his local counterparts on improving security relations between the two countries over the weekend, the official navy website said here on Monday. Pakistani Naval Chief Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, visited Sri Lankan Naval Headquarters for the discussions, the report said. Admiral Sandila was received by Commander Sri Lankan Navy, vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage upon his arrival at Navy Headquarters in Colombo. more..

Dec 16 (AN) Sri Lanka "must nurture the values ​​of forgiveness and reconciliation" as exemplified and promoted by Nelson Mandela, said Buddhist, Catholic, Christian and Hindu leaders from the Inter-Religious Peace Foundation (IRPF) at a special ceremony held last Wednesday in honour of the late leader and first post-Apartheid president of South Africa. The event was held at the South African High Commission (Embassy) in Colombo and was Sri Lanka's way to pay tribute to Mandela. more..

Dec 17 (NS) PM D. M. Jayaratne and the govt ran into a storm of controversy this week over the alleged involvement of the Premier�s coordinating secretary at the Ministry of Buddha Sasana in a heroin smuggling racket. The secretary is alleged to have issued a letter to the Customs requesting the release of a container which was found to contain heroin. In perhaps the harshest criticism of the government yet, its coalition partner JHU demanded that Premier either resign or be arrested. more..

Dec 17 (NS) It was indeed an honor to be addressing emerging leaders of Commonwealth nations hailing from four of the world�s inhabited continents. What was an even greater privilege is to be invited to present at the first-ever international youth conference to be held in Sri Lanka, my country, my home. It was equally heartening to have among the 25 Sri Lankan delegates at the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013, a former combatant, a youth from the indigenous more..

Dec 17 (SO) The role of the military in any country changes from time to time. The Security Forces of Sri Lanka, which played a leading role during the era of terrorism, are now playing a different role in the North and the East, which are being developed with renewed vigour in the post-terrorism scenario. Kilinochchi, where the high tempo battles were fought in defeating the LTTE, is now facing the same reality. more..

Dec 17 (CT) Although Commonwealth is an insignificant and inconsequential organization, the Sri Lankan govt organized the 2013 Summit in Colombo with great expectations which involved political, economic as well as personal designs. The govt expected the Summit to: (1) facilitate greater foreign capital investment in the country, and (2) help mitigate the Western isolation caused by allegations of serious human rights violations during the last phase of the war in 2009. more..

Dec 17 (Island) For any system of govt to work it requires an acknowledgement and respect for each other�s role. Trust and goodwill are also important to have between those who hold key decision making positions within the system. When the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) was established following democratic elections in September, it seemed that a giant step forward had been taken in terms of arriving at a political solution to the ethnic conflict that gave rise to protracted war. more..

Dec 17 (GV) Mr Akashi was absolutely right when he urged flexibility and reform on the Sri Lankan govt and sounded the alarm of serious consequences in Geneva March 2014 (that�s 75 days away) if it failed to shift in the right direction. He did get one thing wrong though. There is neither a �Central govt� nor a �Northern provincial govt� in SL. Those categories and that terminology pertain to a federal system such as that of India. more..

Dec 17 (CT) It was reported in the media that a police constable and his wife were killed by unidentified persons in the Southern Province. It was also reported later that one of the suspects of that crime nabbed by the police when taken in handcuffed to recover some productions was shot dead by the police when he allegedly picked a bomb and tried to hurl it towards the police officers. A fourth and the last suspect Ketayam Chinthaka also died under same circumstances, more..

Dec 17 (CT) It is a rhetorical fashion for politicians to talk about corruption. Often it is a hard ball thrown at the govt by the opposition. Infrequently, nonfigurative acknowledgements adorn ceremonial speeches from the high echelons of the govt. Regrettably, these well-meant statements so far have seen a gloomy light or rather no light at all, at the end of the tunnel of fighting corruption. Thus, it formulates a legitimate question from the people�s point of view. How can we make people more..

Dec 17 (CT) Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva says stories about him being with a woman at Diyawanna Oya in the night were fabricated by Victor Ivan and Lasantha Wickramatunga. Excerpts of the interview: Q: Where is your hometown? A: Katana. Q: How old are you? A: 69. Q: Are you a person defeated in love? A: (Smiling) Naturally, one who becomes a slave of love may probably lose. I too was victim of it. It was because of the more..

Dec 17 (Island) Situated in the resettled village of Veheratenna, 20 kms interior off Kebethigollawa, this Community Pre-School will serve nearly 136 little children. It will be constructed by the Sri Lanka Army�s 62 Division on a voluntary basis. The little village of Veheratenna houses 500 farmer families who suffered many hardships during war. They have now returned to their former farming lands yet eke out an existence amid great physical and financial hardships. more..

Dec 17 (DBS) Ever since I saw innovative director Jayantha Chandrasiri�s fancifully named �Butterfly Symphony�, the recurring sentiment I associate with it is �beauty�. As it happens, beauty, truth and goodness were the three values secular-minded undergraduates of our time (1950s) fashionably professed to pursue. Butterfly Symphony is a beautiful film. Its rich music composed and conducted by up-and-coming young musician Darshana Ruwan Disanayaka more..

Dec 17 (FT) The UNP has challenged the Govt to get its 2014 Budget passed in Parliament by enforcing a secret ballot, saying the UPFA was losing Budget votes at local councils all over the country because elected representatives were voting without fear of reprisals. Opposition MP Eran Wickremaratne said that the Govt was losing votes at MCs, UCs and PSs all over the country even though it theoretically has a majority. more..

Dec 17 (Island) Last week�s Sri Lanka Army Athletics felicitation ceremony which honoured numerous stakeholders of athletics was praised by many including Prema Pinnawala, the incumbent secretary of the Sri Lanka Athletics Association and Sunil Gunawardena, a former president of the SLAA as a unique gesture and a long overdue appreciation which should have been undertaken by the Sri Lanka Athletics Association. From Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe to more..

Dec 17 (FT) Specialist in plantations and SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe has joined the Board of Horana Plantations Plc as an Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 11 December. The appointment of Wickremasinghe into Horana Plantations, a subsidiary of Lanka Ceramics, is now under the control of Dhammika Perera, follows the resignation of L.J. Rubera with effect from 10 Dec. Wickremasinghe is no stranger to plantations industry, more..

Dec 17 (CI) Sixteen months ago Kumar Sangakkara refused to place himself alongside the triumvirate of batting's modern greats, when he won the Test Cricketer and Cricketer of the Year awards for his previous year's work. "Sachin, Ponting and Lara dominated attacks," he said, "and they were great to watch. I'm much more of a steady worker, and I graft for my runs." Sangakkara often makes it a point to be more..

Dec 17 (Island) There seems to be no end in sight to the burning issue of illegal fishing in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. It has obviously got out of hand as the TN politicians are aggravating it. Some experts are of the opinion that the arrest and prosecution of fishers who cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) won�t help solve the problem. They have recommended a bilateral agreement between Sri Lanka and India in keeping with the International Plan of Action to more..

Dec 17 (ENS) The Sri Lankan govt is set to order 2,200 buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) at a cost of LKR 5 billion from Lanka Ashok Leyland, a Joint Venture between Ashok Leyland of India and the Sri Lankan govt. Transport Minister, Kumara Welgama said, the govt was negotiating with Lanka Ashok Leyland PLC for supplier�s credit. On its part, the govt will give the SLTB, LKR 1 million a year for five years. The SLTB will have to bear the rest of the cost. more..

Dec 17 (ST) With the aim of creating a better tomorrow for Sri Lanka�s small-time barbers, a special benevolent fund was launched at the inaugural general meeting of SL Barbers Association at the BMICH on Monday. Around 120 barbers attended the launch of the association aimed at providing benefits for 50,000 practicing barbers spread across the country with the largest concentration of about 15,000 more..

Dec 17 (FT) Abans Ltd.�s Rs. 2 billion listed debenture issue has been oversubscribed on its official opening day itself. The company issued 10 million rated, senior, listed, unsecured, redeemable debentures of Rs. 100 each with an option to issue a further equal amount in the event of an oversubscription of the original figure. Abans said it received applications for over Rs. 2 billion debentures and the issue was closed on 13 December. more..

Dec 17 (FT) Lion International President Barry J. Palmer was in Sri Lanka recently and was full of praise to the Lions of Sri Lanka for working hard towards the wellbeing of the poor. He praised the smiling people of the beautiful island Sri Lanka. All districts were able to collect about Rs. 15 million at the function for various projects throughout the country. President Lions Club West Lion Alhaj Thassim JP handed over a cheque for Rs. 100,000 to Lion International President more..

Dec 17 (CT) A panic situation prevailed among the residents in Wellawatte yesterday, when Grama Niladharis suddenly walked into their houses and requested the original deed of their property, stating it was for the purpose of �census.� CMC member representing the DPF, S. Baskara, said that such a survey conducted by the Grama Niladaris had led to panic among the residents, and several residents had complained to him more..

Dec 17 (TOI) The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Monday ordered issue of notice to officials on an application seeking to restore the demolished compound wall and park at the Mullivaaikal Memorial in Thanjavur district. Days after its inauguration, officials in November demolished the compound wall and removed a park at the memorial, built in honour of Tamil martyrs in the war in Sri Lanka, alleging that these were constructed on encroached highway land. more..

Dec 17 (FT) The annual Sri Pada pilgrim season began yesterday coinciding with the Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day. A series of religious activities to mark the beginning of the season were held at the Sri Pada temple in Galpoththaawala, Ratnapura on Saturday. The Perahara, carrying the sacred casket of Relics of the Buddha and the statue of God Saman from the Temple to the Sri Pada maluwa at the summit of the peak, was held Sunday. All arrangements have been made to more..

Dec 17 (DM) Two vehicle shipments are stuck in the port as the importers have declined to clear them as a result of the reduced import tax concessions poposed by the govt in this year�s budget. Vehicle Importers� Association (VIA) President Mahinda Sarathchandra said vehicle importers had not cleared the consignments as the govt had failed to restore the import duty concessions given to used vehicles. more..

Dec 17 (Island) The Negombo Magistrate yesterday remanded UPFA Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Milroy Perera, till Dec 18, for sexually harassing an 18-year-old student of a leading school in Colombo. SSP Ajith Rohana told The Island that the middle-aged suspect had attended a get-together on December 10 where he had hugged and kissed the young girl while being under the influence of liquor. The victim had lodged a complaint on the same day with the Kandana police. more..

Dec 17 (Hindu) The Puducherry unit of AIADMK on Monday slammed the Central government for failing to secure the release of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal fishermen from Sri Lanka. A. Anbazhagan, the unit secretary, told reporters here that about 277 fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were languishing in Sri Lankan jails for several days. Of them, 32 fishermen were from Karaikal, who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy for fishing in the traditional waters. more..

Dec 17 (CT) President Rajapaksa chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting at Temple Trees last night, soon after his arrival from Kenya, to ascertain why the UPFA had suffered a string of budget defeats at local govt level. The meeting was held at the request of the President himself, in the wake of the budgets of 16 local bodies ruled by the UPFA, being defeated. However, they said there was no discussion at all on the fate of the PM, more..

Dec 17 (Hindu) Fishermen of Nagapattinam taluk on Sunday launched an indefinite strike demanding the release of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. About 700 fibre boats of Nagapattinam taluk did not venture out. Last week, 111 fishermen from Nagapattinam and 8 from Jagadapattinam were arrested for allegedly fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. Twenty-three boats, including eight, from Jagadapattinam were seized. According to Thiruvaraiselvan, panchayatar, more..

Dec 17 (Island) Due to the non-availability of a consultant transfer policy, many a Consultant was bent on abusing the consultant transfer scheme, the Govt Medical Officers� Association (GMOA) said. GMOA president Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya pointed out that there were about 30 medical disciplines. In fairly recent times the medical leave scheme of the consultants had been violated, because some consultants were in the habit of taking leave without informing the officers concerned. more..

Dec 17 (Hindu) Bharti Airtel is close to selling its operations in Sri Lanka to UAE-based telecom company Etisalat. The two companies have been negotiating for over five months now and have agreed on the broad contours of the deal. Manoj Kohli, Managing Director and in-charge of the company�s operations in Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, declined to comment. Sources close to the company, however, said Kohli is set to return to India in January more..