Jan 18 (MoD) The certificate awarding ceremony of the first ever 'life saving' course conducted by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard lifesaving training school at Balapitiya for school leavers in Balapitiya area took place today (17) at the Coast Guard lifesaving training center with the participation of the Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne. Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of the President attended the function as the Guest of Honour more..

Jan 18 (AD) The Colombo District Court today issued an interim injunction against TNL and Shan Wickremasinghe preventing them from publishing any defamatory article on Dilith Jayaweera. An enjoining order was initially issued on Nov 16, 2011 preventing TNL TV and Isira Radio, and its chairman Shan Wickremasinghe from causing any defamatory publications against Jayaweera. It was given consequent to an action instituted by Jayaweera at the District Court of Colombo. more..

Jan 18 (AD) The outbound lane from Colombo on the Galle Road from Vihara Mawatha in Wellawatta to Ramakrishna Junction will be closed from 10pm today for 20 days due to repairs. A series of alternate routes have been listed for drivers to use during the 20 day period. Vehicles traveling to Galle from Colombo using the Galle Road can turn from near the W.A. Silva Mawatha junction and use Hamdeen Road, Ela road, Rajaguru Sri more..

Jan 18 (Stuff) Fonterra's Sri Lanka business collected 22 per cent more local milk last year as its suppliers continue to cash in on the New Zealand dairy giant's farmer development programme. An extra 1.5 million litres was supplied by Fonterra's 4000 farmer-suppliers, taking last year's Sri Lanka collection to a record 8.2 million litres. Fonterra and its pre-2001 legacy entity have been collecting fresh milk in Sri Lanka for more than 15 years and the New Zealand dairy industry has been more..

Jan 18 (DM) A hartal was carried out in certain areas of the Batticaloa District over a proposed move to cluster certain Tamil villages with existing Muslim villages when demarcating local govt wards. Villagers in Vakarai, Kiran, Koralaipattu, and the Oddamavadi divisions are reported to come under this proposed cluster. The protestors urged the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry to abandon the plan and to continue with the existing demarcation. more..

Jan 18 (CG) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is to submit a report on Sri Lanka at the February-March session of the Human Rights Council, focusing on the engagement of UN mechanisms in support of the accountability and reconciliation processes, her office said today. Pillay is deeply concerned that the impeachment and removal of Sri Lanka�s Chief Justice has further eroded the rule of law more..

Jan 18 (CT) The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) expressed grave concern at what appears to be the politically motivated impeachment of the CJ of Sri Lanka, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. The LSSA said in a statement: �It is a matter of grave concern when a country � and particularly a member of the Commonwealth � claims to respect the rule of law, the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and legal profession on the one hand, but appears to violate these on the other.� more..

Jan 18 (LT) Thambuththegama Police say a suspect, who had been wanted regarding several complaints since 2008 was arrested. The suspect arrested is Ajith Pushpakumara, the coordinating secretary of Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake. He had been wanted regarding threatening persons with firearms, assault and demolishing election offices of rival candidates at the 2008 elections. However, Thambuththegama Police say despite there were 12 complaints against the more..

Jan 18 (AFP) The mother of a Sri Lankan maid beheaded in Saudi Arabia for murder has rejected offers of cash from Saudi well-wishers following an outcry over the execution, a local newspaper said Friday. "I will not accept any gifts from the Saudis or the Saudi govt which murdered my daughter," Rizana Nafeek's mother, Saiyadu Farina, told the Lankadeepa newspaper according to an excerpt of an interview on its website more..

Jan 18 (OU) To settle the fishing trade controversies occurring in the Palk straits and to build awareness and to consciousness the consequence a seminar will be held on the forthcoming 21st Monday at Jaffna University geography unit. This seminar is jointly conducted by Jaffna University's Geography faculty and Ruhunu and Nederland Amsterdam universities. Jaffna Uni Vice Chancellor Prof. Vasanthi Arasaratnam would be the Chief Guest for the events held on that day from more..

Jan 18 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's rupee has gained 6 percent since the first half of 2012 said the Central Bank on Friday upbeat from last year's beginning when it dipped to record lows, at one point depreciating by as much as 16%. Significant foreign inflows have strengthened the rupee by 6% against the dollar since the first half last year, a Central Bank statement noted. "As a result of the significant foreign inflows already being witnessed, the rupee, which appreciated by 5.3% against the U.S. more..

Jan 18 (TB) Spain and Sri Lanka have topped the Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer � jointly the cheapest of 42 destinations surveyed. At �36.14 for eight items, including an evening meal with drinks, Spain and Sri Lanka�s holiday cost totals were under half those of 21 other destinations and a quarter the cost in Australia and South Korea, the most expensive countries surveyed. In the Far East, falling more..

Jan 18 (LT) The Socialist Students Union (SSU) asks students not to fall into the trap of the government that creates clashes among groups of students but to rally to defeat the government�s scheme of privatizing education and suppressing the student movement. The National Organizer of SSU Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in an announcement states: A gang of thugs that had arrived in a �Defender� vehicle yesterday night had attacked Comrade Harsha Gunawardene, more..

Jan 18 (VS) The removal of the chief justice of Sri Lanka�s Supreme Court by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sparked international outrage because it seems to many to be another firm step in his establishment of a family dictatorship. And it comes at a time when many foreign capitals feel forced to respond because Sri Lanka is to host the 54-member Commonwealth Heads Of Govt Meeting (CHOGM) later this year. Typically, the human and political rights records of more..

Jan 18 (AFP) The impeachment and sacking of Sri Lanka's CJ Shirani Bandaranayake has further eroded the rule of law in the country, the UN's human rights office lamented Friday. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was "deeply concerned" by Bandaranayake's removal, her spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva. "The removal of the chief justice through a flawed process more..

Jan 19 (DBS) All right thinking people of Sri Lanka unequivocally and unreservedly condemn the purported appointment by President Rajapaksa of Mr. Mohan Peiris as the CJ of Sri Lanka. This utterly irresponsible act of the President is in defiance of the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. It is the position of all those in Sri Lanka who believe in democracy and the rule of law that Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake is, and continues to be, the lawful Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 19 (DBS) (This Article written by the Late Ajith Samaranayake in the �Sunday Observer� of August 30th 2004 on the occasion of Fr.Tissa Balasuriya�s 80th Birthday is reproduced here as tribute to the memory of Fr. Tissa Balasuriya who passed away on 16th January 2013.) Fr. Tissa Balasuriya is 80 years old today and if that suggests the image of an elder statesman, that is not quite in keeping with the central motif which has dominated most of his life. For Fr. Balasuriya�s life has never been placid more..

Jan 19 (SO) The deadly plane crash on the Saptha Kanya range (Anjimale or the Seven Virgin Hills) in Maskeliya - Nuwara Eliya on December 4, 1974 has presented mysteries hitherto unresolved. The air crash generates a complete enigma as to what caused Dutch Pilot Hendrik Lamme to fly the plane at a lower height of two-thousand feet when the top of the Saptha Kanya range was at about four thousand and three hundred feet! more..

Jan 19 (CT) Time and again we have seen that when power is excessive, highly centralized and has no purpose, its consequences are ugly and show up in all sorts of ways. Six months short of thirty years ago, I found myself in a situation to be ashamed of being a Sri Lankan. That was July 1983 and the J.R. Jayawardane govt had decided to unleash violence on the ethnic Tamil population. Thugs roaming the streets of Colombo and elsewhere looted and burnt property, and beat up and murdered Tamils. more..

Jan 19 (CT) The most popular TNA MP is not Sampanthan, or, Sumanthiran despite serving in its front facing function. The later does not have a constituency or even a democratic mandate. Instead, a cabal of Colombo based Tamil lawyers foisted him as a national list MP on the party. Nor, does he enjoy the confidence of his TNA peers with the exception of Sampanthan. In fact, many view his intentions with deep suspicion. However, all this is irrelevant, as the discourse that more..

Jan 19 (DBS) In a significant gesture that shamed many Sri Lankan Muslim politicians the mother of Rizana Nafeek has rejected any offer of direct or indirect aid from Saudi Arabia the country in which her eldest daughter Rizana was wrongfully beheaded on Jan 9th. Despite the impoverished circumstances of the family that suffered bereavement the mother Ms. Abdul Seyyadu Fareena Nafeek has spurned direct and more..

Jan 19 (GV) Rizana Nafeek�s execution on Wednesday (9) outraged many Sri Lankans. She was convicted of murdering a baby and sentenced to death by the Dawdami High Court in Saudi Arabia. She was 17 at the time of the alleged offence. We are outraged for many reasons. Rizana was a minor at the time of the offence. Her recruitment agent falsified her documents in order to present her as older. Her conviction was secured despite the absence of a post mortem. more..

Jan 19 (GV) Sri Lanka�s descent towards an oppressive State is far from complete; however, recent actions carried out by the govt have shown that this is progressing rapidly towards such a regime. Media censorship, impeachment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and intimidation and assault of protesters by govt supporters are all signs of regime that is not willing to accept any form of opposition. On 15th Jan, the Supreme Court was the scene of what can only be more..

Jan 19 (NS) The training for university entrants on improving their leadership qualities and positive thinking continues to get mixed responses from various quarters. Training for the second batch of students has already got underway in 22 military camps islandwide. Launched by the Higher Education Ministry in 2011, the program, caused concern to parents, students and politicians as they were held in military camps. more..

Jan 19 (DN) Minister Basil Rajapaksa will initiate the construction of a fully-equipped paddy storage complex and a trading complex with all facilities at Marandagahamula, Divulapitiya on Jan 21. It is being done to develop the Marandagahamula rice market - one of Sri Lanka's leading wholesale rice markets - in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana Vision to stress the importance of the Divi Neguma programme. The work will begin on a five acre-land at Marandagahamula town. more..

Jan 19 (Island) The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (PHD-CMC) yesterday took legal action against eight night eateries after raids carried out in Union Place, Slave Island, Malay Street and Town Hall. Chief of the PHD Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said that the his department had been able to inspect over 20 eateries yesterday evening alone. He said that the situation was "quite bad" in a majority of the places that were raided as they compromised on hygiene without considering more..

Jan 19 (Island) The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) appointed selectors retained Yoshitha Rajapakshe as captain of the national rugby team for the upcoming Asian Five Nations tournament, the SLRFU announced on Friday. Rajapakshe will have Fazil Marija as his deputy. Sri Lanka has already commenced training for the four nation event (15-a-side) which is termed as the Division 1 tournament. The other countries contesting the Division 1 event along with Sri Lanka are Thailand, more..

Jan 19 (DN) Many conflicts could rise when conserving a country's heritage, even though protecting the heritage is a duty of every citizen. But it is very unfortunate that the community is unaware of the value of one's heritage said, Dr. Gamini Wijesundara Project Manager Sites Unit of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Prosperity, Italy. Addressing those present in the Archaeological Department Dr Wijesundara said, more..

Jan 19 (NS) The Halaal certificate issued by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) is at the heart of a controversy with both Muslims and non-Muslims alike complaining. Halaal, an Arabic word which means �permissible�, is applied in the issue at hand - in the certification of �permissible foods� prepared in accordance with Islamic law. JHU leader Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera is said to have alleged that the ACJU earns Rs.7,000 million more..

Jan 19 (Island) There are two types of workers in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC)�the �Army� and the �Navy�. Those who belong to the �Army��pun is on the homophonic Sinhala word, aami which roughly means �come��report for work, disappear, collect their salaries and pay part thereof to corrupt supervisors involved in the racket. The members of the �Navy��pun is on the Sinhala homophone, nevi, which roughly means �won�t come��do not come to work at all but collect their salaries, more..

Jan 19 (Island) Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne yesterday requested all concerned to create awareness amongst the general public on the importance of the country�s National anthem and flag when the 65th Independence Day is celebrated at Fort Fredrick, in Trincomalee, on February 4. President Rajapaksa is scheduled to preside over this year�s Independence Day celebrations. The senior Minister, who arrived in Trincomalee by air yesterday morning, accompanied by IGP more..

Jan 19 (DN) The Jaffna International Trade Fair (JIFT) has opened up new vistas for the Northern entrepreneurs said V. Mahalingam Consul General of India in Jaffna. Speaking at the opening of the three day fair yesterday Mahalingam said that it has helped the northern businessmen to find new partners not only from the South but even from overseas he said. He also stated that the Indian govt is also involved in assigning the more..

Jan 19 (DN) The ground-breaking and cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Army's proposed third wellness resort, 'Abimansala - 3' under the 'Brave Hearts' project of the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) for 50 dependent War Heroes of the North Western Province will take place on Tuesday at Pangolla in Ibbagamuwa. Tuesday's ceremony will be headed by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya and SVAB president Manjulika Jayasuriya, who spearheads 'Brave Hearts' more..

Jan 19 (Island) The Editor of The Island got it right last Wednesday when he editorially wrote about Sri Lanka�s guilt trip. He was referring to the hypocritical tears that were being shed for the tragic fate of young Rizana Nafeek under Saudi Arabia�s flawed criminal justice system. The External Affairs Ministry announced here that they were recalling the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Riyadh; and even a minute�s silence was observed in Parliament. But Nafeek spent over sixty months on death row. more..

Jan 19 (TOI) Local people who've recently travelled into Sri Lanka's killing fields, where an estimated 40,000 people perished in 2009, say skulls and human bones have risen to the surface after this year's flooding and abandoned belongings are strewn all over the landscape. "It is a horrible scene," said one visitor, "there are still bunkers visible with saris, kid's clothing and suitcases left open under the bushes; more..

Jan 19 (ST) Sri Lanka will host the inaugural International Cycling Championship for South Asian Countries will be held from April 5 to 7 according to the Ministry of Sports. This will be the first of its kind international event organised by the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation (SLCF) despite local cyclists competing at international events held in other countries. �Local cyclists who competed at international races have come with good results on par with other more..

Jan 19 (Sportal) Australia were bowled out for the embarrassing total of 74, with Nulan Kulasekara (5-22) completely bamboozling the top-order with a spell of swing bowling. The Sri Lankans stuttered in the chase, losing six wickets along the way, but still managed to surpass the total with 30 overs to spare. After losing the Test series 3-0, then losing heavily to Australia in the first one-dayer in Melbourne, Sri Lanka have shown great resolve to turn the tables on their opponents in Adelaide and Brisbane, more..

Jan 19 (CT) A three-member high profile delegation from the United States of America is expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks, on the directive of US President Barack Obama, in the aftermath of the ouster of CJ Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake through an impeachment process, diplomatic sources said. The delegation will comprise three deputy assistant secretaries, who function under Assistant Secretary of State more..

Jan 19 (Island) The gang who forcibly stopped the performance of �Verlvi Pooja�. at the Munneshwaram Kovil, has succumbed to the curse of Goddess Kali. Minister Mervin Silva has been forced to resign his chief organizer�s post. His private secretary has been arrested on allegations of murder. Hasitha Madawala, who swung closed the door of the temple, has been murdered. The Goddess has not spared even the person who passed the injunction order on the pooja. more..