July 7 (NS) On Friday, President Rajapaksa issued a proclamation to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya to conduct the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections in keeping with his pledge, made several times, that the NPC elections will be held in September 2013. However, now the ball is in the Department of Election�s court and they are expected to announce a date for elections. The date for the nominations is yet to be announced and Department sources said that more..

July 7 (SL) Regardless of the many unresolved issues faced by the country, the Rajapaksa govt has been efficient in one aspect � coming up with deviating tactics to temporarily avoid being held accountable for its failures. The operative word in this scenario is �temporary.� The Rajapaksa govt has thus far followed a mechanism where it has managed to utter bald faced lies to the people as well as the international community to find temporary respite whenever the going has got tough. more..

July 7 (SL) JVP MP Vijitha Herath says that corruption has become a norm in the country with people feeling that bribes are the way to get things done. �The country�s political and economic systems have paved the way for such a situation,� he said. Herath noted that the key to address the situation is to build a strong voice against corruption from within the society and that the opposition has the responsibility to give strength to more..

July 7 (ST) Was it accident or design that the president�s historic proclamation on holding the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) election came at the same time that the Minister Basil Rajapaksa was in New Delhi as the president�s special envoy, to hold talks with India�s top officials? A statement from the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi couched in typically bland diplomatic language said India�s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid �welcomed the proclamation more..

July 7 (ST) Tucked away in a small corner of Sri Lanka�s daily newspapers this Saturday was a govt announcement on the arrest of twelve personnel of the Special Task Force (STF) including an assistant superintendant of police (ASP), allegedly responsible for the extra-judicial execution of five students in Trincomalee in 2006. The arrests had been made on �evidence available�, as we were informed. The alleged perpetrators were remanded until the next court date. more..

July 7 (SL) The Sunday Leader attempted to speak to the Minister Susil Premajayantha about state level corruption. He, instead, cunningly avoided the issue altogether and decided to talk about how companies like CPC incurred huge losses. Q: What do you think is the reason for corruption in Sri Lanka, especially in the state sector? A: I am one of the members of the COPE committee and I chaired one sub-committee, more..

July 7 (SO) The Higher Education Ministry has formulated a National Higher Education Strategic Management Plan for Sri Lanka as a Mid Term Plan covering years 2012 to 2015 to make Sri Lanka an international hub of excellence in higher education by 2020. The aim of the Ministry is to turn Sri Lanka into a key higher education hub similar to countries such as Singapore, Malaysia or Australia by 2020. This is why the Ministry invites foreign students to Sri Lanka for their higher studies more..

July 7 (ST) The 35,000 foot question is whether Sri Lanka Cricket selectors will go ahead and retain Ramith Rambukwella for the Under 23 final squad to take part in the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Team�s Cup tournament in Singapore from August 17 to 25. The Lankan selectors in mid-June selected an initial 18-member preliminary squad to prepare for this tournament which all leading members of the Asian Cricket Council � Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh � will take part alongside more..

July 7 (ST) SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa says the latest ICC tournament list where Sri Lanka has been denied an opportunity to host any events for the next ten years is subject to review. He said the agenda was a rushed one and it had drawn criticism from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the other major player who was overlooked for ICC events. �When the meeting ended on that day, there was a backlog. more..

July 7 (ST) The former Customs preventive Chief Ranjan Kanagasabai accused of obtaining a bribe has been directed to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on Thursday to record a statement regarding his declaration of assets and liabilities from 2004 onwards, Bribery Commission officials said. Mr. Kanagasabai has been served with a fresh letter sent by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to declare details of more..

July 7 (ST) Ceylan Energy, Sri Lanka�s only oil and gas exploration and production company, will be making a bid for an oil exploration licence when the second round of licences is announced. �Yes we will be bidding by forming partnerships with major oil and gas operators,� noted company chairman Harry Kulasinghe. Currently global oil player, Cairns has an exploratory drilling license off Sri Lanka�s shores. He is the son of renowned engineer, the late Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe, has over 30 years of more..

July 7 (ST) The world�s largest trade association representing and serving the airline industry is threatening to pull out its programme from Sri Lanka over a payments dispute involving local travel agents and the govt that has been brewing for months, officials said. The threat came after Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) H.M.C. Nimalsiri stepped up pressure on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) through a more..

July 7 (CI) West Indies' horror of a match against India on Friday has not only been an eye opener for them, but has also opened up the tournament. India's chances of qualifying for the final looked bleak after two consecutive defeats, but they trounced the hosts by a big enough margin to pick up a bonus point. West Indies are still on top with nine points and a game to play, and a win against Sri Lanka on Sunday will guarantee their spot in the final. A defeat will still give them more..

July 7 (SL) A referendum is likely to be held sometime after the elections for the three provinces scheduled for September, the JVP said. This was indicated to JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe when he met a govt Minister last week. Amarasinghe had met the Minister at an event hosted by the US Embassy to mark America�s Independence Day celebrations. Minister, who was not named, had told the JVP leader that talk of a referendum was discussed by the Cabinet. more..

July 7 (NS) The total outstanding external debt of the Govt of Sri Lanka as at the end of April 2013 was US$20.0 billion or Rs.2, 542.2 billion, the Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report disclosed. Accordingly, total debt service payment from January to April 2013 amounted to Rs.71,828.1 million of which, Rs.43,574.7 million was for principal payments and the balance Rs.28,253.4 million was for the interest payments. more..

July 7 (DM) Nominations for the upcoming provincial council polls in Northern, Central and North Western provinces will be called only after the supplementary voter register created to provide voting rights to displaced persons of the North are completed and certified, official said. The official said that a meeting was held at the Elections Department to discuss the progress of the supplementary register and added they are planning to complete the certification process by mid-week. more..

July 7 (CT) The ruling UPFA kicked off its first NPC election campaign with a rally in Jaffna yesterday amidst a mass gathering of civilians who were prevented from entering the Myliddy area in the Valikamam North region. Among those on the stage was former LTTE spokesman, Daya Master, M. Siras, and M. Remedius, the TNA member of the Jaffna MC, who recently crossed over to the UPFA. Daya Master said, he is the only former LTTE member contesting in the NPC polls, more..

July 7 (NS) UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara quashed speculation of an imminent crossover to the UPFA. It was earlier reported that Jayasekara was considering defection if guaranteed the Chief Ministerial post in the North Western (Wayamba) Provincial Council in the event the ruling UPFA won the election scheduled for September. Jayasekara, one of the most vocal members in the opposition, has fallen out of favor with his more..

July 7 (NZH) Three Sri Lankan sisters face deportation after seven years building lives in New Zealand. Nipuni Fernando, 16, and sisters Sachini, 13, and Ruwani, 8, have been told they will have to leave the country after a visa application by their father Geegam Fernando was declined. The family had applied for permanent residency but that was also rejected because Geegam had a previous kidney problem and a cyst on the brain. Recent scans and medical exams had given him a more..

July 7 (ST) More than 100 perches of prime land in Colombo Fort were acquired by the Urban Development Authority through a special Gazette notification on Monday for a multistoried car park complex. The UDA confirmed yesterday that the proposed car park and other facilities were to be built on the 100-perch land bordering Bristol Street, Chatham Street and York Street. But UDA officials declined to identify the investors, saying the matter was at the discussion stage but more..

July 7 (CT) Making an about-face from an earlier decision to banish from the Party, former North-Western Provincial (NWP) Councillor, Ananda Sarath Kumara, who created a nationwide scandal after he allegedly forced a female school teacher to kneel before him, the SLFP has now decided to issue nominations to the errant provincial politico, to contest in the forthcoming NWP election. The SLFP earlier banned him from the Party and more..

July 7 (NS) Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that India has welcomed the decision to hold elections for the Northern Provincial Council. Rajapaksa was referring to discussions held with top ranking Indian officials during his visit to Delhi last week. �Delhi considers the holding of election as a landmark in the democratizing process following the end of the 30-year long conflict,� he said. Rajapaksa met with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, the National Security Advisor and the Foreign more..

July 7 (ST) The government has received another Chinese loan of Rs. 52 billion to develop �B� grade roads and rural roads, Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman R.W. Premasiri said. The loan was being provided by the China Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance would be in charge of allocating the required funds for the projects, he said. Mr. Premasiri said the main purpose was to improve the rural road network to link with the main roads which were being developed. more..

July 7 (ST) In his first remarks since returning from New Delhi, Minister Basil Rajapaksa pointedly refused to say whether the Indian Govt insists on Sri Lanka consulting it before changing the 13th Amendment. He maintained, instead, that some things must necessarily remain secret � as they would be between �husband and wife�. He said that was how problems were sorted out. He was asked if the govt had abandoned its urgent bill more..

July 7 (SO) Officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) who stepped up their raids on illegal consumer items on the direction of Minister Johnston Fernando have found a new injection used by drug addicts who use pain killers for 'kicks' and as an aphrodisiac. "They use morphine sulphate tablets which are administered to cancer patients as pain killers. This is a very dangerous trend as these tablets are meant to be ingested and not injected into one's body", an inspector of the CAA, more..

July 7 (ST) A highly influential Sri Lankan official holding key positions in public and private companies is in the dock over alleged pay-offs in a mega mixed development project. Authorities are investigating the amount of commissions this official is alleged to have taken in ensuring the project, in the heart of Colombo�s business district, is approved without a fuss. The project owners are yet to settle the full rental payment to the govt for leasing the land. UDA officials were summoned by the more..

July 7 (ST) Since state takeover beginning in the post 1971 insurgency period, most tea plantations have been running at colossal losses mainly due to seething corruption and mismanagement. That the industry once brought name and fame to SL, then Ceylon, is well known. Equally well known now is how some of the men tasked to run these properties became fat cats acquiring lucrative private businesses. more..

July 7 (SO) The opening ceremony of the Mount Lavinia Coastguard Lifesaving Post took place at the Mount Lavinia beach with the participation of Coastguard Director General, Rear Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne on Thursday. Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa attended the function as guest of honour and declared open the Lifesaving Post constructed by Coastguard personnel. The newly constructed Lifesaving Post will remain as an important safety feature available on the more..

July 7 (ST) The case compelling the IGP to take criminal action against the former DIG Vass Gunawardena in an abduction and torture case was taken up in the Court of Appeal on Thursday. The Attorney General asked for time till August 5, to get instructions in this case against the former DIG in connection with the abduction and alleged torturing of Malabe IT student Nipuna Ramanayake in 2009. Senior State Counsel A. Navavi moved for time to consider the possibility. more..

July 7 (NS) Despite the operating loss of Sri Lanka�s state-owned low-cost carrier, Mihin Lanka more than doubling in the year 2012 to the tune of one billion rupees compared to 2011, Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B. Jayasundera says the airline�s operations should be continued as one should look at the operations from a service-oriented perspective rather than a commercial note alone. Answering questions in the �Derana 360 more..

July 7 (ST) On June 24, Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister flew to Moscow. His mission was to sign a MoU with Rostatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation. It is to centre on managing nuclear and radiation safety issues and development of infrastructure related to nuclear technology. On the same day, a Gazette extraordinary was issued, removing the subject of �Atomic Energy� more..

July 7 (ST) The National Savings Bank (NSB) has put its controversial US $ 1 billion bond on hold. �The lead managers (HSBC) to this bond issue has advised them not to proceed with the roadshow abroad ahead of raising this bond as the current interest rates aren�t favourable,� a source said, noting that the roadshow was planned for mid this year. NSB was the first state bank to plan to raise a dollar bond of this magnitude. more..

July 7 (NS) The Ministry of Power and Energy has started investigating into the death of a cleaning service employee, the victim who died of electrocution from an unprotected transmission unit in Borella last Friday, Police official said. The accident has reportedly taken place at around 1.00pm, as the 62-year-old woman employee of a cleaning firm has reached to clean the respective transmission unit while on duty. more..

July 7 (ST) Two years of alleged sexual and physical abuse have led to the killing of a businessman from Nugegoda, court was told in a confession by a woman. Indrajith Pradeep Narayana (40), of 805, High Level Road, Gangodawila was found strangled to death in his car in the early hours of July 7. The vehicle was found around 3.30 a.m. parked near the Salgado Bakery in Panadura on the Sri Maha Vihara Road. more..

July 7 (CT) The TNA yesterday accused the Army of 'selecting candidates' and canvassing for the ruling UPFA in the North. TNA MP Suresh Premachandran called for the need for independent international monitoring, to ensure free and fair elections. However, Security Forces Commander in Jaffna, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, denied the allegations. "We don't have time to do politics," he said, adding more..

July 7 (SL) Startling revelations have been unearthed by The Sunday Leader Investigations Desk on the use of Singapore-registered companies by the Ceylinco Group. Self-proclaimed Founder, �mentor� Chairman Lalith Kotelawala who headed the failed Golden Key Credit Card scheme business, is listed as an officer of no less than fourteen companies. Many mirror the activities of the Group�s businesses in Sri Lanka. more..

July 7 (CT) The govt warned that it would enforce stringent background checking for the foreign press corps, who intend to cover the forthcoming CHOGM in Sri Lanka in November. Around 700 foreign journalists are expected to cover CHOGM. With the local media, the entire media contingent for CHOGM is expected to be nearly 1,000. Calling for visa applications and visa processing for foreign media personnel would begin next week. more..

July 7 (AT) At least 38 UPFA MPs, including ministers, are opposed to any changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, a Cabinet minister said. �I have collected the signatures of 38 MPs who say that the 13th Amendment should remain intact,� Minister and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda said. He was talking on Friday to a selected group of journalists on matters related to the NPC elections more..

July 7 (AFP) Indian police reported multiple low-intensity blasts at the Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple complex on Sunday, saying two people had been wounded but the temple was safe. Buddhists from all over the world visit the site in eastern Bihar state as it is believed to house the tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment. �The holy bodhi tree is safe and there is no damage to it,� Bihar police chief Abhayanand told AFP. more..