July 11 (ST) Police are cracking down on small casinos in Colombo and the suburbs, citing a 123-year-old law that deems �keeping, permitting to be kept, or managing a common gaming place� to be an offence. The Organised Crimes Division (OCD) raided the Red Star casino in Bambalapitiya on June 28, followed by the Regina Club in Slave Island on July 1, arresting 80 clients and three employees from the former, and more..

July 11 (Island) Former LTTE spokesperson Velayutham Dayanidhi, alias Daya Master, has recollected the circumstances under which the then Major General Sarath Fonseka met him at the height of the Norwegian arranged Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) between 2002-2003 at Omanthai, north of Vavuniya. Daya Master was responding to a query by Lanka Jayawardhana, of the Jaffna-based Dish Asia Network, more..

July 11 (AD) The Kaduwela Magistrate today issued a warrant for the arrest of Ravindu Gunawardena, son of former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, for not appearing before the court on a student assault case. The arrest warrant was issued after Ravindu, a suspect in the assault of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) student Nipuna Ramanayake, failed to appear at court when the case was taken up today. more..

July 11 (SL) The small-time farmer does not have an easy life; The Sunday Leader learnt when they encountered S. Indra Kumar, just one of the farmers affected by floods which devastated the Eastern coast in 2011. Apart from dealing with capricious weather, farmers like Kumar also have to depend on state subsidies to help him buy things like fertiliser, which is vital to ensure a good harvest. Yet according to some farmer�s unions, more..

July 11 (FT) From sprucing up the capital city to shelving anti-devolution plans, holding a much-delayed election and making gingerly steps towards addressing allegations of war time excesses, the Rajapaksa Administration is getting its house in order ahead of a major Commonwealth summit in November. But amidst the changes prompted by increased international attention focused on Sri Lanka as CHOGM 2013 approaches, more..

July 11 (CG) Private bus operators have decided to call off their strike which was launched early this morning, Lanka Private bus Owners Association President Gemunu Wijeyratne said. He said that several bus operators who had gone on strike today were threatened and the association subsequently decided to end the bus strike prematurely. Wijeyratne said that the strike was successful as most private buses stayed off more..

July 11 (Island) A Cabinet subcommittee comprising Ministers Keheliya Rambulwella, Basil Rajapaksa, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Dullas Alahapperuma will look into all aspects of the CHOGM, scheduled to take place here in November. Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary Dr. Charitha Herath requested all media organisations to help boost the country�s image through that biggest international event more..

July 11 (PTI) Sri Lanka has started the process of much-awaited elections in the former Tamil Tigers-held areas after a gap of 25 years, with the Elections Commission today announcing nominations for the provincial council polls. Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya announced nomination dates for the northern provincial council election. The nominations will be accepted from July 25 to August 1 and more..

July 11 (CT) 'Thousands Stranded' screamed many newspaper headlines on Tuesday, as the Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) of Railway Employees converted its threats into action and stopped all but a handful of trains from operating for more than 40 hours, beginning midnight Sunday. Just how comprehensive the strike proved to be was evidenced in the desolate mien of the railway stations for what seemed like the longest two days. Given the membership of the trade union more..

July 11 (LBO) Stocks closed up 0.77% Thursday showing gains for a second consecutive day with large cap stocks making gains, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 46.33 points higher at 6,062.38 up 0.77% and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 27.82 points higher at 3,392.90 up 0.83%. Turnover was 241 million rupees up from 228.1 million from a day earlier. John Keells Holdings contributed most to the index closing at 253.30 rupees up 7.70 rupees. more..

July 11 (CT) After becoming again the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has now announced significant changes to the internal party structure which gives more say to the ordinary party members in selecting the party leader without completely depending on the parliamentary caucus. The main thrust is to democratise the internal party organization. In recent times, there had been some discussions on internal democracy of political parties more..

July 11 (Island) The GMOA accused the Health Ministry of employing unsuitable personnel to fill nutritionist vacancies in hospitals even though the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) had selected 21 doctors to be trained as Consultant nutritionists. GMOA media spokesman Dr. Navin de Soysa said the long delay in commencing the training courses on nutrition had caused many problems in the hospitals as a whole. Instead of appointing qualified nutritionists to more..

July 11 (PTI) A New York-based body that promotes press freedom has expressed its concern over media access during the CHOGM to be held in Colombo. Executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Joel Simon, has written to Kamalesh Sharma, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, saying that Colombo has indicated that the Sri Lankan govt intends to enforce stringent background checks more..

July 11 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday gave the Minister of Lands time, till August 27, to file objections to a writ application filed by around 1,700 displaced persons from the Jaffna District. The petitioners had claimed ownership to around 6,800 acres of land. They had said that they had attempted to get to their villages after the war was over. But, recently they had learnt that the land was to be acquired by the State to set up a Defence Headquarters in the North. more..

July 11 (Hindu) US-based General Mills plans to take its Haagen Dazs ice cream brand to Sri Lanka. The Indian subsidiary of General Mills will launch the brand in the island nation. Arindam Haldar, Director, Premium Foods, General Mills India, said, �The premium ice cream market may not be as big as India, but there is a luxury segment in Sri Lanka.� Haagen Dazs is already present in the South East Asian countries, but it has yet to make its presence felt in the SAARC countries. more..

July 11 (CG) The IMF while commending President Rajapaksa for his role in developing Sri Lanka, has assured continued support to the country, the President�s office said. Dr. Anoop Singh, IMF�s Director for Asia and the Pacific region, who arrived in the island to participate in the �Sri Lanka Economic Summit�, gave this assurance when he met President at Temple Trees. �You have brought Sri Lanka to a higher level of more..

July 11 (IC) In an interview with the UK�s Press Gazette this month, Lal Wickrematunge, brother of murdered Sri Lankan newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, lamented the self-censorship of his country�s press, and warned that UK hacks should fight for their own freedom of speech as an example to others, saying �Those who are in safer climates must keep the drum beating because these are the standards that other journalists in troubled areas look to.� Padraig Reidy writes more..

July 11 (CI) Captain Angelo Mathews has paid tribute to Mahela Jayawardene, who is set to make his 400th ODI appearance, against India in the tri-series final. Jayawardene will be only the second Sri Lankan player, after Sanath Jayasuriya, to achieve this milestone, and the third overall. "I am a great fan of Jayawardene. He's one of the best Sri Lanka has ever produced," Mathews said. "The amount of fight he shows in the middle; even when he plays a warm-up game he wants to win. more..

July 11 (CT) The Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) released by Transparency International on 9 July, contains findings suggesting that corruption is still perceived as a problem in Sri Lanka, with some 64% of Sri Lankan respondents claiming corruption was on the increase in the country in the past two years, while only 18% thought it has decreased. For the second time running within three years, the general public more..

July 11 (Island) Undergraduates staged protests opposite universities yesterday against what they called the suppression by the government of the student community. Spokesman for the Inter University Students� Federation (IUSF) and Convener of the Medical Faculty Students� Action Committee Najith Indika told The Island that undergraduates had protested opposite the Kelaniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Rajarata and Visual and Performing Arts universities. more..

July 11 (Island) Retailers including supermarkets are not adhering to Section 20(5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act No. 09 of 2003, published in the gazette extraordinary on May, 30, 2013, which says the maximum retail price of a kilo of broiler chicken with skin (whole chicken or any parts) sold with a brand name should not exceed Rs. 380 and without brand name Rs. 370. Consumers complain that chicken in branded bags is not freely available. They say that chicken without skin more..

July 11 (PTI) Sri Lanka today said that a parliamentary panel would decide whether to dilute regional powers as planned or their devolution as part of the 13A amendment after earlier considering curbs on provincial autonomy in the Tamil-dominated north. "PSC (Parliamentary Select Committee) is the forum to decide if 13 plus or minus or any other solution," Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters. more..

July 11 (Island) Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M. M. C. Ferdinando has confirmed, in a letter, that former Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was familiar with the technical parameters and other commercial conditions agreed to between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India and CEB in the draft power purchase agreement (PPA), which Ranawaka had called into question in his submission to the Cabinet, dated May 21, 2013. more..

July 11 (Island) For the first time in Sri Lanka a Brain Technology and Neuro Science Research Institute (BTNSRI) will be established. A high-tech machine to diagnose brain disorders will be set up for the advancement of medical science. The Java Institute for Advanced Technology will bear the cost of the machine which will be installed at the J. R. Jayewardene Centre on July 12. Java Institute of Advanced Technology Chairman Prof. Erantha de Mel told The Island that more..

July 11 (AD) The govt is attempting to win the North Western Provincial Council election by spreading racism and with the leadership of corrupt �businessmen,� who are sending their family members to contest the polls, UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. At a time when thuggery, robbery and corruption are overflowing in the country the govt is putting on a fa�ade through the media in order to steal the public�s votes, more..

July 11 (CG) The UNP will meet next week to discuss its preparations for the provincial council elections. UNP MP John Amaratunga said that the Working Committee of the UNP will meet on Tuesday and discuss about the suitable candidates for the elections in the North, Central and North Western Provinces. Nominations for the elections to the Northern, Central and North Western (Wayamba) Provincial councils will be accepted between July 25 and Aug 1, more..

July 11 (AD) The Met Department today said that wind speed may increase up to 60 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Galle and sea areas off the coast extending from Jaffna to Trincomalee and will be rough at times. Showers will occur at times in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western and Southern provinces and may extend to North-Western Province too. Some showers can be expected in the Northern Province and sea areas off more..

July 11 (DM) Minister C.B. Ratnayake today said the ministry couldn�t provide subsidies and a bus fare hike at the same time for private buses. �It has to be only a subsidy or a fare hike for private buses. At present we are discussing with bus owners about providing them subsidies. Therefore demanding a fare hike at the same time is not acceptable,� he said. The minister said his officials were negotiating the possibility more..

July 11 (LBO) China Highland Capital Management (HCM), an investment fund founded by the provincial Yunnan government, had visited Sri Lanka seeking investment opportunities, the island's securities regulator said. "The visit was to explore the possibilities of investing in private equity, listed equity and the debt market in Sri Lanka and another country in the Asian region," SEC said in a statement. The fund led by Daniel Zhou, an UBS Securities investment banker more..

July 11 (Island) World Health Organization Country Director Dr. F. R. Mehta said that Sri Lanka�s Health Minister�s dauntless efforts to curtail alcohol and tobacco use were admired by the WHO. The WHO had studied that the root cause of rural poverty was the consumption of alcohol and smoking. A comprehensive study conducted by the WHO with the assistance of the Health Ministry had revealed that 50% of rural population, especially the people who were eking out a living by more..

July 11 (Reuters) Sri Lanka expects to award new exploration licences for 13 blocks in the Cauvery and Mannar Basins off its northwest coast within the first quarter of 2014 after extending a bidding deadline. Sri Lanka kicked off the second round of bids for the new exploration licenses in March with an initial deadline of Sept. 29. The deadline has been extended to Nov. 29 due to delays in providing seismic data more..

July 12 (NS) Y.K. Sinha has now assumed office as the new Indian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka. Sinha arrives at a time when many in Sri Lanka are unsure whether India is a friend or foe. Relations between the two countries appear to be strained, despite assurances to the contrary from both Delhi and Colombo. Spokespersons walk as though on egg shells and talk with palpable caution. Sinha�s tenure, therefore, is expected to be quite challenging. more..

July 12 (NS) Mohan Lal Grero is a name that has over the years come to be associated with education in Sri Lanka. Grero was well known among A/L students who for one reason or another required private tuition. The name became widely known, however, only after he set up an academic institute, Lyceum International School Nugegoda, which celebrated 20 years in existence last month. Grero chose the �international school tag� to be associated with the school he founded in 1993 more..

July 12 (SO) There was a time when Sri Lanka was at the receiving end of violence due to the LTTE's barbaric terrorism and the lives of thousands of innocent civilians were lost as a result. The Tigers had been massacring countless number of hapless civilians who had rejected terrorism. The LTTE made sure that they eliminated moderate Tamil leaders and those who reposed faith in democracy in a desperate attempt to prove their claim more..

July 12 (CT) It is a pleasure to be back in my alma mater on its 190th anniversary. All old boys will agree that we owe a lot to St John�s College for all that we have achieved here in Sri Lanka and abroad in our personal and professional lives. I want to start with two brief stories to demonstrate how the foundation provided by St John�s has helped me in my academic career. I hope that these stories show our students how a strong and meaningful early education is important for our success. more..

July 12 (CT) Sanjeewa Bnadara, the convener of the IUSF was remanded for the grave crime of participating in an unlawful gathering. Some comments posted as responses to a news report, in an online edition of a leading English newspaper, on the remanding of Sanjeewa Bandara, called for him being remanded forever, applauded the govt for controlling the unruly students, chastised him on wasting public money and ruining the future of the students and reminded him that his job is more..

July 12 (CT) In what can be considered a sequel to the many deaths at unprotected and potentially lethal rail crossings around the country, six persons were killed near the Aluthgama railway station, a few weeks ago, when the van they were travelling in collided with a Hikkaduwa-bound train. Another two people died when their lorry collided with the Colombo-Badulla train at yet another unprotected crossing in Mirigama more..

July 12 (CT) Speaking at a Vipakshaye Virodaya press conference in Colombo on Sunday, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran asserted the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into any changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is not a Parliamentary Select Committee at all, but actually a 'President's Select Committee.' He stated the idea for a PSC to find a solution to the national issue was formulated in Sept 2011 during bilateral discussions between the TNA and the govt more..

July 12 (CT) As the regional power, India is strongly focused on regional security. In the past decade, it had demonstrated a strong commitment to curbing terror within the region, though at home, the issue of militancy and political fringe groups resorting to violence with alarming frequency, remains a headache for the island's giant neighbour. There was a time when in its battle for regional supremacy, despite its Human Development Indicators (HDIs) being far from impressive, India chose to more..