Jan 1 (NS) As the crisis on the impeachment motion on Chief Justice, Dr Shirani Bandaranayake deepens in the �land of the living�, former President J.R. Jayewardene, the architect of the 1978 Constitution that provided space to impeach a judge, summoned a special meeting of his party stalwarts in the �land of no return� last week. Senior UNP stalwarts of the caliber of D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotalawala and W. Dahanayake were not invited and they more..

Jan 1 (NS) Political patronage to criminal gangs in the Southern Province is the main reason for proliferation of crimes creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among legitimate business community and even ordinary law abiding citizens. The local politician, who had reached notorious proportions by leading and harboring a large number of criminals, is more a godfather of the criminal elements of the south than a politician. In November last year the proprietress of a hotel, more..

Jan 1 (NS) A private tuition teacher has been apprehended by the CID on charges of leaking questions in 2012 GCE O/L Science paper. Having leaked 19 out of 40 multiple choice questions to his students, the tuition teacher had reportedly boasted about his capabilities and years of experience in coaching students for relevant exams. On the request of the Commissioner of Examinations, having taken a few individuals more..

Jan 1 (LB) Some people are angry that no real protest develops in the streets of Lanka. The incidents that have taken place thus far ought to have awakened the just wrath of the people, they say. Enough has taken place to rouse the masses to practical actions against tyranny. Some go to the edge of pessimism and say that Lankans have rulers of this nature at the helm, because they deserve them. Others, alienated from the suffering of the people, wait patiently, fiddling and smacking more..

Jan 1 (CT) All Sri Lankans hailed you as the greatest leader that citizens had witnessed when you brought a certain era of our land to a close in May 2009. When I say a certain era, it was no doubt an era of unnecessary violence and great unhappiness, a great period of stress and uncertainty, which was brought upon the people of this country especially those in the North and East who bore the brunt of a long drawn civil war. This war had many architects on both sides of more..

Jan 1 (SO) Hikkaduwa, on the South Coast, has again become a much sought after destination of international divers. There are several diving centres of international standard at Hikkaduwa, catering to all requirements of divers. The diving centres are fully equipped with diving gear and comprise experienced and qualified divers having PADI licence conducting theoretical and practical lessons on diving for foreign and more..

Jan 1 (CT) The anti-impeachment mobilisation consists of three, not two conceptual orientations. First there are those who hold that CJ Bandaranayake (CJ-B) is not guilty of any form of turpitude and is a victim of a frame-up. Second there are those who reserve judgement on that matter, but declare that process infringed natural justice (2a) and/or is in violation of the constitution (2b); these are two variants within the second camp. Most of those who reject the Rajapakse witch-hunt more..

Jan 1 (LB) The to-be undergraduates from the A/L batch of 2011 will commence their �leadership training� programme at chosen military facilities on December 27. This training programme � a Ministry of Higher Education prerogative � has been in force for two years now, drawing varied responses from different quarters. While some see this as a positive installment of �progressive values� in the would-be undergraduate, many other quarters including academics and educationists feel more..

Jan 1 (DBS) Nov 27th this year marked an important milestone in the different phases of ethnic relations in this country. For those of us who still retain the memory of the events of 40 years ago, it was like Deja vu. Students of the Jaffna University observed the Heroes� Day within the University premises. The security forces invaded a female hostel, beat several students who protested the next day and the TID of the Sri Lanka Police more..

Jan 1 (Island) Fortunately or unfortunately, the world did not end last month and it continues to spin madly on. Either the Mayan prophesy went wrong or we got their cryptic calendar wrong. So, we think the Earth is likely to go on wobbling on its axis at least for twelve more months��of course, giant asteroids that dart across the universe at the speed of private buses, dreadful solar storms, irresponsible big powers with nuclear arsenals at their disposal etc permitting. Therefore, we are left with no more..

Jan 1 (BR) Meezan Bank conducted comprehensive 3-day training on Islamic Banking products for the management team of Amana Bank, Sri Lanka. The training session held at the Amana Bank head office in Colombo, covered 24 products for financing, liability, treasury, trade finance as well as other Shariah-compliant products. Meezan Bank's representatives, Ahmed Ali Siddiqui - Head of Product Development and Shariah Compliance and Asim Hameed Khan- Islamic Advisory, more..

Jan 1 (Island) Karapitiya Hospital Director Dr. Shelton Perera is allegedly keeping the key to a room reserved for the Acting Director Dr. Priyantha Jeewaratne. Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Maheepala has instructed Dr. Perera to allow Dr. Jeewaratne to work until the formal inquiry into his appointment is completed.In accordance with the Health Ministry Act, two Deputy Directors have been appointed to the hospital but an acting Director to cover duties could be more..

Jan 1 (Island) The lead up to the Boxing Day Test match was huge. Sri Lanka had not played at the MCG on Boxing Day for 17 years and when 67,000 ardent fans turned up to witness the opening day�s play, the tourists� performance was abysmal. Over the next two days, the spectator turnout was 33,000 and 35,000, but Sri Lanka were terrible throughout the game as the Test match ended well inside three days, with Australia securing an innings and 201 run win, their second biggest win since the more..

Jan 1 (FT) The Govt must stop utilising money taken from the people to maintain one family, a huge Cabinet and political friends, UNP MP, Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday. Referring to the Govt�s latest decision to increase fees for the registration of marriages from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 if it was performed outside the office of a registrar of marriages, in a hotel or reception hall, Jayasuriya said that the increase was a major blow for more..

Jan 1 (FT) The rubber industry bids adieu to 2012 on a quiet note, maintaining steady levels in pricing at an average Rs. 380-400, making 2012 a highly profitable year for producers. Quantities of rubber auctioned however have dropped by 1.47 million tons this year from the previous year due to lower prices and the not-so-kind weather pattern that prevailed throughout the year. While 2011 was deemed a good year with rubber fetching approximately Rs. 500 and more..

Jan 1 (FT) Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel said yesterday it has launched the country�s first mobile 4G/LTE network to provide enhanced services to the public. Mobitel�s latest addition to the technology portfolio is the natural successor of the telecommunication evolution of the world. With the latest addition, Mobitel will be one of the most decorated and equipped operators in the world in the technology front which includes FD LTE, HSPA+ DC, HSPA, UMTS and 2G services. more..

Jan 1 (Island) MTI Consulting�s CEO Business Outlook Survey 2013 highlights lower confidence levels for 2013 amidst concerns over the economy and governance. The 2013 survey covered 150 CEOs, up from the 100 that was covered in the 2012 Business Outlook Survey. Approx. 40% of the sample comprised CEOs of the top 100 CSE listed companies, with 35% comprising non-listed / privately held companies of comparable size more..

Jan 1 (Island) A number of star class hotels have come up to provide better facilities for the rising number of tourists arriving in Sri Lanka, giving a further boost to Sri Lanka�s rapidly developing tourism industry. In 2012 alone one million tourists arrived in the country. Sri Lanka expects to increase this number to two million by 2016 making the island one of the most popular tourist destinations since the end of nearly three decades of anti-terrorist war, a statement issued by more..

Jan 1 (DN) As trade between both countries topped $ 360 million, the Russian Federation, the single largest buyer of Pure Ceylon Tea, is set to significantly increase bilateral cooperation across diverse economic sectors. �We want to extend our support to Sri Lanka�s power and energy sector. To this end, a Russian nuclear power team with scientists will arrive in January to study Sri Lanka�s energy sector outlook,� said Alexander A Karchava, the new Russian envoy to Sri Lanka, more..

Jan 1 (DN) Certain foreign embassies in Sri Lanka, which had expressed their concern about the ongoing impeachment process against CJ Dr Shirani Bandaranayaka, had been apprised of the background of the impeachment and the history of impeachment trials in Sri Lanka against Chief Justices, Supreme Court judges and Court of Appeal judges, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama said more..

Jan 1 (DN) Establishing private universities in Sri Lanka is not bad since private universities of high quality are essential for the progress of both developed and developing countries. It will greatly assist in providing the best education for Sri Lankan students without the need for paying huge sums of money for foreign universities, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. �We did not fight against establishing private universities in Sri Lanka. We fought against granting the same degree of more..

Jan 1 (DN) Establishing a Buddhist marriage system in the country will help build family cohesion and trust, Kelaniya University Sanskrit Department Prof Ven Induragare Dhammarathana Thera said. The Thera was addressing an inaugural conference to introduce the book Bauddha Vivahaya -(Buddhist Marriage) by author Dhanawardana Guruge recently. The Venerable thera said Buddhists should solemnise their marriages in the temple as in the case of other religions. more..

Jan 1 (DN) Certain organizations depending on funds from international bodies conspiring against Sri Lanka are active to destroy the govt's pro-people development programmes. The time has come to make the people aware about the activities of these organizations, Minister Basil Rajapaksa said. He said organizations acting against the public are traitors. The public will rise against these organizations in the near more..

Jan 1 (OU) Hospital sources inform that the body parts of a four year old girl from Mandatheevu, who was raped and killed, had been sent to Colombo for medical experimentation. Concerning this incident so far no suspects were arrested, however investigations are continuing was stated by Kayts police. Gunasekaran Suthakini aged four years a resident of Mandatheevu, 2nd division was raped and killed. Her body was found from a garden well in the neighborhood two days back. more..

Jan 1 (Island) The Colombo Crimes Division has unearthed a mini-arsenal from the land at Dompe, where the owner of the Biyagama Village Hotel, Ebert Bernard Jayaratne, was hacked to death early this year. The lethal consignment, found securely packed and buried behind a house on the property, included two claymore mines weighing two kilos each, two grenades and several machete type large knives. One of the grenades found has been identified as the type used by the LTTE. more..

Jan 1 (DM) 74 males and 26 females belonging to a Taiwanese extortion gang operating from Colombo and the suburbs were deported to Taiwan today on Court order. They are alleged to have extorted large amounts of money from wealthy businessmen in Taiwan by threatening them that they would be reported for money laundering. The businessmen asked to deposit the funds in designated Taiwan bank accounts. more..

Jan 1 (Island) A 33-year-old mother from Akkaraipattu, who allegedly buried a new born infant with the assistance of her paramour (30) and another woman (20), was arrested and produced before the Akkaraipattu Magistrate on Dec 30 and remanded till Jan 11 along with the two accomplices. The body of the infant was recovered on Dec 29, at the 5th milestone, Palamnagar in the Akkaraipattu police area, where the mother resides. The main suspect is a mother of two children, a girl and more..

Jan 1 (LT) �The New Year that dawns demands us to learn from the experiences of the past 64 years since the so-called independence, end politics of rotating faces, colours and political parties and take a firm decision for a political struggle that would establish a new society. Hence we should come forward and struggle to cast away the aging social system that is in crisis and has proved, over and over again, that it is unable to bring any victories to the masses and build a new radiant society,� more..

Jan 1 (DN) The submissions made by Chief Justice Dr.Shirani Bandaranayake before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) relating to the purchase of a house from Trillium Residencies was totally contrary to what transpired as per the record in the Supreme Court, Minister Susil Premajayantha said. He made this observation yesterday at a press conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, organized by the more..

Jan 1 (DN) The Defence and Urban Development Ministry has drawn up a massive plan to develop 20 townships around the country in addition to the Colombo city under its 2013 Development Plan. The township development programme will be implemented on the directive of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Townships in Jaffna, Eheliyagoda, Diyathalawa, Imaduwa, Urubokka, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Narammala, Hettipola, more..

Jan 1 (CT) Mt. Lavinia Magistrate, Nirosha Fernando, ordered an investigation into an incident where a woman was allegedly ordered to strip while being questioned by the personnel at the Dehiwala Police. The Magistrate made the order after a female suspect alleged in Court yesterday that she was stripped and assaulted by the Dehiwala Police, when she was interrogated on the charges of possessing narcotics. The suspect was produced before the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate by the more..

Jan 1 (FT) With the advent of 2013, UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday fired a fresh salvo at the Central Bank, asking where the audited accounts of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) are for the year 2011. �It is disgraceful and unacceptable that as at 1 January 2013, the audited accounts of the EPF for the year 2011 have not been tabled in Parliament. It is equally disgraceful that my letter, as a member of the COPA, more..

Jan 1 (FT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his New Year message warned that the country and people were entering 2013 with unprecedented gloom. �We step into the decisive year of 2013 amidst many doubts regarding our country, its future and the way of life of our people,� said Ranil in his message, though currently holidaying in Europe. �In spite of all this, the people of this country still cling to hope of a better future, prosperity, and a society that safeguards democracy and human rights more..

Jan 1 (FT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the year dawning today will see valuable work for the progress of democracy, equality among people and important aspects of development in the motherland. �It is my belief that all communities will join in unity with the common purpose of success towards realising these goals,� he said in a New Year message. Following is the full text of the message: We step into this New Year as a country that has gained immense progress in freedom, more..

Jan 1 (Island) At least ten foreign entrepreneurs, who operated factories under the BOI, have fled the country without settling more than Rs. 5,000 million in loans obtained from the state banks. During President Jayewardene�s regime, which launched the free trade zones, there were restrictions on lending to foreigners by local banks, but such rules were relaxed over the years. Some banks did not even care to take more..

Jan 1 (DM) A New Year dawned today with the usual extravagant five-star balls while some half a million people were seriously affected by floods, earthslips or landslides in 21 districts. Most people have read about or watched the spectacular tragedy of the Titanic, but we don�t seem to have learnt the right lessons with the Colombo elite indulging in super luxuries while millions of people are suffering in different degrees of disaster, destitution and desolation. The agony and ecstasy of more..

Jan 1 (DM) Over the last two years, the Friday Forum has been engaged with the LLRC by making submissions to it, commenting on its progress, following up on its interim recommendations and welcoming and making our observations on its final report. In that spirit, and particularly given the openings for reconciliation created by the LLRC Report, the Friday Forum would like to offer constructive criticisms regarding the recently announced National Action Plan to more..

Jan 1 (ST) A man who is alleged to have blackmailed dozens of young women by threatening to post their nude pictures on the internet was arrested by undercover sleuths from the CID earlier this week. Police investigations have revealed that the man who posed of as a successful engineer was in fact an accomplished blackmailer who threatened his victims and also forced them to have sex with him. The 36-year-old suspect was arrested more..

Jan 1 (LBO) Sri Lanka's economy has responded quickly to corrective measures and is looking for stronger growth this year with the budget gap for 2012 on track and the exchange rate strengthening again, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. "This is the fastest adjustment period in our history," Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal said. "So we can look that at the New Year with a lot of confidence." Sri Lanka raised more..