Mar 24 (NDTV) A political poster war is playing out in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan issue. Ironically, rival parties are groups are using the same face, of a 12-year-old boy, to score political points. Balachandran, son of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, has emerged as the face of the student protest movement for the Sri Lankan Tamil cause. "The father was an iconic figure for many and now Balachandran has proved to be the leader's son, by being the reason for a mini-revolution more..

Mar 24 (GDI) President Rajapaksa yesterday declared open the 7th Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition at Ampara Hardy Higher Technology Institution. The massive development exhibition, held annually since 2006 was opened for the general public until the 29th. Speaking at the event, the President said the Deyata Kirula is not merely an exhibition or display, but it is an occasion that brings massive development to a rural more..

Mar 24 (ST) A woman from Kirindiwela who had secured a job in a garment factory in Jordan had to hire a van at a cost of Rs.15,000 to travel to Mattala last Monday so that she could catch the Air Arabia flight from the new international airport there. Piyuma Gothami Perera, 42, was going through an employment agent to a garment factory in Jordan. Her agency told her she would have to board the flight from the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. Departure was on the day the more..

Mar 24 (CG) Top leaders of the DMK party in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to meet in Chennai tomorrow to castigate the the Indian Cental government for not taking a strong enough stand against Sri Lanka over its alleged war crimes. However, MK Alagiri may not attend the executive council�s session, sources have told NDTV. Earlier this week, Alagiri had separately handed over his resignation letter to the Prime Minister while four other DMK ministers had also resigned the same day. more..

Mar 24 (ST) The percentage of Sri Lankan females who drink liquor has gradually increased within the last five years, a research study has revealed. According to a study conducted over two months amongst Colombo�s female working crowd and university students, it was concluded that in the post-war period most ladies had picked up the drinking habit. �Many of them had started consuming liquor after 2009,� more..

Mar 25 (SL) And so it was the old familiar ending again: Sri Lanka won a Test series against Bangladesh, Tuesday, just as it did all of the four previous series between the two, the first of which dates back to 2003. The promise, though, was strong thatsomething different might transpire. After admirably enforcing the ten-year-old series� first-ever draw at Galle the week before, it was within reason to bet on the Bangladeshisforcing a draw in Colombo too �and thereby record a first-ever more..

Mar 25 (SL) The recent attacks on Christian denominations bears out the contention I made earlier and which significantly more erudite observers of the national scene have identified as a govt gone completely mad in its efforts to distract the public from the realities that are descending upon this nation and for which the current corrupt and violent govt should take complete responsibility. It is more than a year since the invasion of a mosque in Dambulla by a thousands-strong Buddhist more..

Mar 25 (SO) The Sunday Observer conducted an email interview with Leader of the Sri Lanka Team to Geneva, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe soon after the 22nd regular session of the UNHRC ended on Friday. The Minister answered our questions, explaining the outcome of the US Resolution against Sri Lanka, minutes before he departed Geneva for another engagement. more..

Mar 25 (DBS) Over the past months Sri Lankans have been educated on two Arabic words: halal and haram (that which is permissible and not permissible). Unfortunately the circumstances of learning have been an unprecedented antagonism towards the Muslim community much deeper than the halal issue. This trend must be addressed without delay by the govt and all religions before it spirals into a much wider conflict, which the country can ill afford. The govt�s responsibility is to do more..

Mar 25 (DBS) For a country to progress socially, economically and be at peace within her borders, democracy, justice and good governance needs to flourish. On the threshold of independence in 1948 Sri Lanka held much promise compared to her neighbor in the Indian Ocean. While most countries in the region have struggled from autocracy to democracy � Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal being the most recent examples � Sri Lanka has become more autocratic. Jawaharlal Nehru�s lasting more..

Mar 25 (CT) On Friday, a day after a US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka was passed in the UNHRC, in Geneva, the US Ambassador in Colombo held a media roundtable. She was at pains to underscore that �the resolution was not against Sri Lanka,� and that it was on Sri Lanka. Her remarks were in response to a question by a scribe whether the US would impose sanctions, should the govt in Colombo fail to comply with the resolution. more..

Mar 25 (CT) The urbane and suave Minister G.L. Peiris waxed eloquent last week at the AGM of the Chamber of Commerce of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) and noted with pride within 14 years of its being, the enterprising body has made astonishing strides. He added COYLE, comprising of business persons of age 50 and under, provide jobs for 400,000 producing economic wealth of an impressive combined turnover of Rs.600 billion. There were, however, more..

Mar 25 (CT) The Resolution by the US, supported by the EU and just 02 countries � India and South Korea � out of 13 in the Asian bloc voting in favour at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva brought to an end, the much hyped issue of �war crimes� accusations against the Rajapaksa regime, some in the Tamil Diaspora and most in Tamil Nadu (TN) were very vociferous about. Adopted with 25 votes, the resolution has a procedural binding on the SL govt and it is now left to be seen, more..

Mar 25 (SO) �My house has been broken into and all my jewellery which I kept so safely even without wearing has been stolen. Someone has broken into my home while I was away. I had just gone to the town and when I came back I found the window which I had locked had been wrenched open and my house had been broken into. Then my pettagama had been ransacked and all the jewellery which I kept safely inside was stolen�. This was the lament of podi Nona when she lodged a complaint more..

Mar 25 (ST) For quite some time the country�s economic growth statistic has been greeted with scepticism. There have been inconsistencies and contradictions that have made it difficult to accept the official estimates as accurate. In 2011 the growth figure was trotted out even before the year was out. Interestingly, the figure given before the data was collected and analysed turned out to be the final figure of growth. Officials who predict such accurate estimates must be having a good more..

Mar 25 (CT) The TNA�s expressed desire to collaborate with the govt on rehabilitation and resettlement of the former war zones was overlooked in preference of moves to alter the demographics of the North and East of Sri Lanka, Leader of the TNA, R Sampanthan, said. He said, Sri Lanka should be allowed the space to fulfil her international obligations without interference, but added India�s recent stance indicated more..

Mar 25 (Island) Sri Lanka continues to be America�s burden. Following the adoption by the UNHRC of last week�s US-sponsored resolution, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland has told the media that Sri Lanka should listen to the �words of the international community�. What does she mean by the term, international community? Is it the entire global community or only a section thereof led by the US? We presume she means the western bloc which has taken upon itself the task of more..

Mar 25 (Island) Thilan Samaraweera will never play cricket for Sri Lanka again. Sad, but true, to see such a wonderful servant of the game exit so with so much cricket left in him. In the last couple of months, a lot was written in the print media of his horrendous tour of Austrlia. I came across many irrational comments, some going to the extremes. One such occasion, I saw a letter where it was mentioned that "Why Thilan should not be selected to play Test cricket again." Maybe it was written by more..

Mar 25 (Island) Amidst accusations from some quarters that the SEC was either dragging its feet in investigating rampant market malpractice at the CSE from 2009 to 2012, or sweeping it all under the carpet, the COPE is pushing the SEC to finalise the SEC Act which would give the regulator more teeth to deal with market offenders, and expedite investigations and show �significant� results, especially with more..

Mar 25 (DN) The new Medical and Paediatric Ward for the Ampara General Hospital, constructed in line with the Deyata Kirula national development programme was opened by President Rajapaksa on Saturday. The Medical and Paediatric Ward was constructed at Rs 17 million fulfilling a long felt need for the district. Parallel to the opening of the hospital, President distributed 374 ambulances among hospitals in the district. All rural hospitals in the Eastern Province received ambulances. more..

Mar 25 (DN) The govt will provide subsidised housing to needy migrant workers under its Rataviru Piyasa housing programme. Plans are afoot to build 1,000 such houses this year. The programme is implemented in accordance with a proposal of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to help needy migrant workers and their families. The govt has allocated Rs. 100 million to initiate the programme. Under the programme recipients will be provided with special concessionary loans to build houses. more..

Mar 25 (DN) "At a time when certain extremist elements are attempting to distance the long bonded historical relationship between Sinhala and the Muslim communities the Muslim countries overwhelmingly supported Sri Lanka at the 22nd Sessions of UNHRC held in Geneva, states Deputy Minister President's Counsel Faiszer Musthapha in a statement. "It is unfortunate that the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka has more..

Mar 25 (CI) "Demolished" was the word Angelo Mathews used to describe what the Sri Lanka openers did to the Bangladesh attack in the first ODI. An eight wicket victory with more than five overs to spare is difficult enough for Bangladesh to swallow, but the psychological setbacks incurred during that violent stand may take some getting over as well. The visitors now only have one day in which to launch a series-saving comeback, and with Tamim Iqbal heading home because of more..

Mar 25 (FT) Cabinet last week approved around Rs. 65 billion worth of infrastructure development, including a massive Rs. 1 billion project to upgrade Kandy. Titled the Kandy City Development Plan, the proposal made by President Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence and Urban Development, will be completed in two phases. Under Phase I improvements are planned to the road network from Peradeniya to Katugastota by providing a four-lane facility with overhead more..

Mar 25 (DM) Consequent to the World Health Organisation (WHO) establishing the high content of arsenic as the cause of kidney disease in the dry zone, the Agriculture Ministry will recommend a quality control on pesticides imported to the country. The WHO, after years of experiments, published its findings on the disease. The experts� panel had narrowed down the etiology of chronic renal failure to arsenic, cadmium and more..

Mar 25 (CG) An investigation has been launched at a construction site in Vakarai where human bones were found. The police said that the area has been cordoned off after construction workers found the human remains. The discovery comes even as investigations continue into the nearly 100 skeletal remains and 13 human bones unearthed from the mass grave in Matale. At least 10 skeletal remains were first found from the site near the Matale hospital in November last year by more..

Mar 25 (Age) Homicide detectives are yet to track down a Sri Lankan businessman whom they believe holds the key to unlocking a decade-old murder mystery. Nihal York has been on the run for at least three years and is wanted for questioning over the assassination of a Hungarian immigrant and his Thai partner at a farmhouse north of Melbourne in October 2003. Steve Gulyas and his partner of 10 years, Tina 'Bing' Nhonthachith, were each shot three times in the head. more..

Mar 25 (Island) While appreciating US efforts at the recently concluded UNHRC sessions in Geneva, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) said that the second US resolution targeting Sri Lanka didn�t meet the expectations of Tamil speaking people. The GTF asserted that it was a grave lapse on the part of those who had sponsored the resolution to still believe there could be an independent and impartial domestic more..

Mar 25 (CT) The Chairman of Rattota Pradeshiya Sabha, T. D. Jayatissa, has sent a petition to Minister Basil Rajapaksa who is also the National Organizer of the UPFA, alleging that Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake, is engaged in political campaigns with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Jayatissa has sent a petition which has also been signed by seven other councillors of the Pradeshiya Sabha. Jayatissa has further alleged in the petition that Nandimithra Ekanayake more..

Mar 25 (DM) UNP MP Daya Gamage has protested against the postponement of a debate in the Council on a motion on lands in the East that were occupied by the security forces. SLMC Member of the Eastern Provincial Council R. M. Anwer who was to present the motion in the Council said that the matter was to be taken up at the Provincial Council sessions last week but decided to postpone the presentation of the motion following the advice of Chief Minister Najeeb Abdul Majeed. more..

Mar 25 (Island) Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the second US sponsored resolution was meant to ensure that Sri Lanka would come up for consideration as part of UNHRC agenda every six months, with human rights chief Navi Pillay to brief the council at its 24th sessions in September this year. It was to be followed by the presentation of a comprehensive report to the 25th sessions in March 2014, Minister Peiris told The Island more..

Mar 25 (Island) The Joint Govt and Private Sector Trade Union Alliance (JGPSTUA) warned they would collect signatures, to a public petition, opposite the Fort Railway station, against increasing the price of electricity. Convener of the JGPSTUA Saman Ratnapriya said that by increasing the electricity tariff the govt would only be burdening the public even more. Ratnapriya said a power tariff hike would also increase the prices of other consumables and export items. more..

Mar 25 (Island) North-Central Province Ayurvedic Commissioner Dr. Kumara Alwis, whose eyes were badly injured in an acid attack, said yesterday that he needed at least Rs. 13 million to undergo advanced treatment, to have his sight restored, at the Singapore National Eye Centre. He said he was confident his sight could be restored with treatment in Singapore. Dr. Alwis thanked Dr. Charith Fonseka and other doctors who had helped him. Three people have been arrested in connections more..

Mar 25 (DM) The Resolution passed by the UNHRC could be described as a soft but dangerous one, Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said. Commenting on the possible consequences of the US-backed resolution adopted at the UNHCR, he said there was no threat at present from the resolution since a considerable time period was given for the recommendations to be implemented. more..

Mar 25 (SO) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has alerted Sri Lanka�s missions overseas against a sinister move by LTTE sympathisers and supporters to use images of LTTE atrocities, labelled as crimes committed by Govt forces, in their worldwide protests to sully Sri Lanka�s image in the eyes of the world. A spokesperson for the MEA said that the conspiracy came to light when the Indian news channel NDTV telecast images of a Chennai based protest on March 21 where the protesters more..

Mar 25 (Island) A fire, sparked by lightning striking the top of a 40,000 Mt capacity crude oil tank at Orugodawatte, was put out after a near two-hour battle fought by at least three fire brigades and its own in-house piped foam facility, CPC Managing Director Susantha de Silva said. He said the fire was ignited around 4.30 p.m. when a lightning spark ignited fuel vapour on top of one of the tanks and it was put out shortly after 6.00 p.m. Asked whether the tanks were not properly earthed, more..

Mar 25 (CT) The CPC, in a bid to overcome its mounting losses, has decided to stop supplying fuel to the CEB until the latter pays off at least Rs 21 billion of the Rs 74 billion it owes to CPC. Alternatively, it has said the CEB could purchase its fuel requirements by paying spot cash. Commenting on the decision, Managing Director of CPC, Susantha de Silva, said though they had taken a decision to stop issuing fuel on promissory more..

Mar 25 (TI) Sixteen tourists from Sri Lanka had a providential escape today as the bus they had been travelling in was reduced to ashes. According to witnesses, only one tourist, R.M. Somruna (50), who is also the team leader, sustained partial burn injuries. While the tourists were busy climbing the Kesariya Stupa, the tallest such Buddhist stupa in the world, the bus � parked outside the main entrance to the archaeological site � suddenly caught fire around noon. more..

Mar 25 (DM) Sri Lanka will not be shaken by resolutions that are passed in Geneva, and the dramas created by New York and Chennai, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said. Speaking at Deyata Kirula exhibition he said that the Sri Lankan community which was nourished by Buddhism is more powerful than the imperialists. He said the UNHRC had forgotten how the LTTE separatists violated human rights during the war killing scores of people by bombing busses using suicide bombers. more..