Sep 5 (CG) India�s Janata Party President Dr. Subramanian Swamy says there is no justification for an Eelam state in Sri Lanka. Speaking at the Defence Seminar in Colombo Swamy said that the Tamils in Tamil Nadu have no right to demand for a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka. He also said that Sri Lankan Tamils do not need foreign attention for their safekeeping as they feel secure that their children can go to school and come back home not fearing recruitment by the LTTE as child more..

Sep 5 (GDI) On 9 Sept, India and Sri Lanka will sign a MoU on Cooperation in the Development of SMEs in Handloom, Powerloom and Textiles. The MoU will be signed by Mrs. Zohra Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, India and Anura Siriwardena, Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Sri Lanka. Chatterji is leading an official and business delegation to Sri Lanka from 6-10 Sept for talks to enhance cooperation in the field of powerloom, handloom and textiles. more..

Sep 5 (AD) The UNP today stated that the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay had failed to mention, in her statement prior to leaving the country, that Sri Lanka is not only an increasingly authoritarian state but has now become a �fully fledged kleptocracy�. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of a week-long visit, speaking at a press conference said that she was �deeply concerned that Sri Lanka despite the more..

Sep 6 (SL) The most senior practicing consultant surgeon, with a medical career spanning over 57 years to date, Dr B. J. Masakorala was honoured with an honorary fellowship of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka at the inauguration of the 42nd annual academic sessions of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka joint meeting with the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh on August 21. Dr Masakorala, born in 1930 was the most senior surgeon among a distinguished list of nine more..

Sep 6 (CT) Navi Pillay's statement on her findings at the end of her recent visit to Sri Lanka has succeeded, if not in opening eyes and ears of some of our self-glorified pundits and academics, in brushing on the wrong side of the ruling cabal. The consummate diplomat that she is, Pillay pulled no punches, spared no villain and minced no words. In her official statement at the conclusion of her visit to Sri Lanka, she placed the blame where it belonged. Paragraph by paragraph and more..

Sep 6 (SO) Kathak originates from the tradition known as Katha. The Sanskrit lexicon defines kathak as �story teller or narrator of drama'. According to historical evidence Kathak dance came into being from a particular social community named kathaka, who were the custodians of this dance form. Professional story-tellers of this caste dramatised the epic and religious stories with full expression, miming and acting. more..

Sep 6 (SL) President Rajapaksa�s belated decision to create a Ministry for Internal Law & Order should be welcomed for more reasons than one. The appointment of a veteran top-soldier, Maj-Gen Nanda Mallawaarachchi (retd), as the Secretary of the new Ministry, with the President holding the charge at the politico-administrative level, should help in the transition period, again for the same reasons. The Govt has attributed the new creation to the LLRC report. more..

Sep 6 (CT) Reading between the lines of several media statements issued by the govt, consequent to Navi Pillay's audience with the President, it appears that the govt is leaving no stone unturned to paint the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Pillay, as biased against SL. The accusation against her first surfaced at the last UNHRC sessions when Minister Samarasinghe, shouldering the burden of defending the govt on human rights issues, remarked that she was prejudiced against Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 6 (CT) It�s not often we meet someone who so candidly relates his life�s struggles. S.D. Sivakumar, however, seems to have come to terms with his troubled past and now works hard to pick himself up off the streets and lead a decent life once again. He is often seen on Baseline Road close to the Borella bus stop, carrying a few boxes and rolls of incense and selling them to passersby. Although only 35 years old, more..

Sep 6 (CT) �This type of surveillance and harassment appears to be getting worse in Sri Lanka, which is a country where critical voices are quite often attacked or even permanently silenced. Utterly unacceptable at any time. I urge the Govt to issue immediate orders to halt this treatment of human rights defenders and journalists who face this kind of harassment and intimidation on a regular basis. More than 30 journalists are believed to have been killed since 2005, more..

Sep 6 (CT) Both Belarus and Sri Lanka share some commonalities in the field of governance, press freedom and human rights. These do not exist in the two countries and their respective presidents truly and sincerely believe their countries are their own fiefdom and not a democracy as many of us would want to believe. It may not be common knowledge that as President of Belarus since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko, brazenly extended his term through constitutional amendments to fit more..

Sep 6 (Island) The island of Kachchathivu has today become a political football for competing Tamil Nadu politicians. In their attempts to score political "brownie points" with their electorates, attempts are being made by them to politically pressure the Union Govt of India and even legally through the Supreme Court of India to claim rights to the island in the misguided belief that it would favour the interests of Indian fishermen, not realizing that the Indian fishing industry depends on Lankan waters more..

Sep 6 (FT) The BBC Natural History Unit (NHU), the department of the BBC which produces television, radio and online content with a natural history or wildlife theme is currently in Sri Lanka to film the country�s national parks and archaeological sites for one of its highly regarded nature documentaries, �Monsoon�. Best known for its productions such as �The Blue Planet� and �Planet Earth�, each year the NHU produces around 100 hours of television and 50 hours of radio programs, more..

Sep 6 (DBS) International Day of the Disappeared is commemorated annually on the 30th of Aug. Visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay attended a special event held to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, and addressed the families of the disappeared. Candle Light Vigil was held at the Independence Square, where hundreds of families of the disappeared lit candles, held more..

Sep 6 (DM) Two Sri Lankans were arrested while attempting to smuggle gold bars to Chennai and Singapore this morning by the Customs officers at the BIA, Customs Director and media spokesman Leslie Gamini said. A 43-year-old suspect who was a resident from Kalmunai was arrested with gold bars worth Rs. 2.75 million weighing 550g while attempting to flee to Chennai. The Customs officials said the gold bars had been wrapped in tapes, and hidden in his rectum. more..

Sep 6 (Island) Many exciting experiences await young and old on board Logos Hope. The unique ship offers exclusive onboard events for people of all ages, in addition to its array of quality, affordable books. Highlights of the ship�s visit will be the "English Caf�" which will happen on the 7th and 20th of September. Here you will have the chance to step into a caf� of colors and general extravaganza for the youth and adults alike. You will have the opportunity to mingle and chat with more..

Sep 6 (FT) The crisis facing Touchwood Investments (TWOD) took a new turn when the SEC yesterday suspended trading of its shares for three days. The capital markets regulator said that having carried out a preliminary inquiry into the conduct of Touchwood, it has decided to commence a fully-fledged investigation into the business affairs of TWOD. The suspension came when Touchwood was trading on a falling market for itself. more..

Sep 6 (Island) Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has received the World No Tobacco Day 2013 Award and the Harvard Leadership Award. He deserves this kind of honour for courageously pitting himself against the powerful tobacco and liquor companies. While congratulating Minister Sirisena, we consider it our duty to point out that there are several others who should also be honoured in a similar manner for their contribution to the noble cause. Intrepid, indefatigable head of more..

Sep 6 (Island) People�s Bank rewards its customers that receive remittances through the People�s e-Remittance, Swift or Telex services with the Rata Salli Vasana promotion. Remittance customers received a daily prize of a mobile phone and a monthly prize of Rs.25, 000 for a period of six months before the grand draw was held in July 2013. Three grand prize winners walked away with prize money worth 1.75 million courtesy from the Bank's Overseas Customer Service Unit. more..

Sep 6 (GDI) Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President of India's Janata Party that has now merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called on President Rajapaksa Thursday at the President�s Office. President and Dr. Swamy discussed about number of issues, including the political climates of both countries and the issues faced by fishermen. President Rajapaksa said it is unfortunate that poorer fisher folk often have to face more..

Sep 6 (CG) UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe says holding elections does not mean there is democracy in the country. Speaking at a demonstration in Galle today Wickramasinghe said that for there to be democracy there needs to be media freedom, judicial independence and free and fair elections. He said Zimbabwe President Mugabe has elections in his country but that does not mean he is not a dictator. The UNP leader was responding to a statement made by President Rajapaksa who more..

Sep 6 (DN) The Revenue Task Force of the Customs seized 370,000 sticks of cigarettes, valued at over Rs. 9 million, brought to the country as personal cargo with the aid of fraudulent documents. The stock was seized by RTF officers from the premises of a cargo clearing agency in Peliyagoda which exclusively deals in cargo sent by migrant workers. "The documents had been produced with false names and addresses and the goods concealed as floor tiles to mislead more..

Sep 6 (SLN) The gamut of issues, related to regional security concerns and perspectives, parallel comparisons, challenges and opportunities open for a stable Sri Lanka, taken up for discussion during the final sessions of the Army-organized �Defence Seminar - 2013� on Thursday shed light on how Sri Lanka should steer clear of challenges and move forward as �one country - one nation�. Senior Colonel Prof Xu Hui of more..

Sep 6 (N360) SLT Rainbow pages, a unit of SLT has launched a hotel e-directory and has plans to introduce online hotel booking facilities in the future. A statement issued by the company says, the new e-directory consist details of 1000 hotels located across the Island. Interested persons can search for hotels through this e-directory via three easy methods. Among those methods ranks, finding a hotel by clicking the required location on the map, search through the given index or simply by more..

Sep 6 (Island) The principal of a school in Kottawa was arrested yesterday afternoon while allegedly attempting to take a sexual bribe from a mother of a child at a Guest House in Werahera, Boralesgamuwa. Director Investigations, of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Superintendent of Police Sarath Somaweera Lokuge told The Island that the suspect had allegedly asked the woman to have sex with him to admit her child to grade one. more..

Sep 6 (LBO) A Netherlands based company has offered to set up a hi-tec dairy farm with processing facilities with high yield milch cows, provided suitable land with fresh water is made available. Velema Holdings, a Netherland based investment firm, is offering to put together a turnkey dairy facility if about 1,500 hactares of land with fresh water facilities is made available. Sri Lankan herds generally produce about less than more..

Sep 6 (Guardian) As Burma (Myanmar) opens up to the world, businesses that want to reap the benefits are expected to play by the rules, judged under an international spotlight. In a society changing as quickly and drastically as Burma, however, simply playing by the rules may not be enough. The emergence of mass business is likely to have unintended negative consequences. Predicting these consequences based on the lessons of other developing countries, and addressing them more..

Sep 6 (FT) The cobra girl, Nirosha Wimalaratne alias Dilani who was arrested along with a cobra at Cleopatra nightclub in Kollupitiya pleaded Court yesterday that the charge sheets filed against her should not be signed by the Magistrate and asked Court that she be discharged and acquitted from the case. President�s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne with Wasantha Batagoda appearing for the suspect made this submission before the Colombo Fort Magistrate after filing written submissions more..

Sep 6 (DM) Several substances deemed unsuitable for human consumption such as grease and oil were found inside mineral water bottles sold in Pettah following a raid carried out by the Consumer Affairs Authority, CAA Chairman Rumy Marzook said. He said that they had raided about 200 shops in Pettah yesterday and found mineral water bottles that contained suspicious looking substances which were confiscated more..

Sep 6 (Island) A senior Colombo Crime Division (CCD) officer said that 63 persons were being questioned over the fire at the Vauxhall Street CWE building. He said the AG�s advice would be sought on what action could be taken against the arrested suspects. He said an investigation was being conducted by a special team to ascertain what type of chemical or inflammable material had been used to set the building ablaze. The police have questioned at length the security officers more..

Sep 6 (DM) The most popular Chinese aid comes with the condition of Chinese labour being used in those projects and the interest rates of those loans are also on the high side comparable to some other multilateral donors, according to an eminent economist. �There are no strict conditions associated with Chinese aid other than the visibility (the project) and the usage of Chinese labour. Interest rates of some of these loans are also on the high side,� said IPS Executive Director more..

Sep 6 (CT) Minister Mervyn Silva doubts that Minister Dulles Alahapperuma would have forgotten the relationship between the Silva family and his family (Alahapperuma), as Minister Alahapperuma had criticized the marriage proposal made by Mervyn Silva to Navanethem Pillay. Minister Silva made this remark, in response to Minister Alahapperuma's statement that he would apologize on behalf of the whole Cabinet more..

Sep 6 (FT) UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva in a statement emphasised that regulators must do their job before thousands lose their life savings � or else the Opposition will be compelled to inform the public. �As a responsible Opposition, it is our duty to warn the public before calamity strikes. We do not need several more Golden Keys in our hands and thousands of innocent people with nothing to live on. It is well-known to the regulators and financial analysts that several finance companies more..

Sep 6 (TOI) A Sri Lankan ruling coalition party, JHU, has called for a thorough check of all imports from Pakistan to the island nation after 250 kg of heroin was seized by narcotics and Customs officials. The largest ever drug haul in south Asia, the consignment had arrived in a container from Pakistan to Orugodwatta where it was seized. The JHU has asked the govt to get to the bottom of the drug cartel operating in Sri Lanka %and its links with Pakistan and Afghanistan. more..

Sep 6 (Stuff) Two Sri Lankans who carried out an "execution-style" murder in retribution for a love affair have been jailed for life terms of at least 17 years. The two men were convicted at a trial in July, with the jury finding them both guilty of what the Crown described as "an execution-style" slashing of the throat of their countryman, Sameera Madurangana Manikka Battelage, in North Canterbury on February 23 last year. more..

Sep 6 (CT) It has been revealed at the Galle District Child Protection Committee meeting that the number of children without birth certificates in the Galle District has increased markedly, especially in the estate sector. There are 106 children in the estate sector, in the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat Division, and 22 children in the Habaraduwa Divisional Secretariat Division without birth certificates, according to the child protection officers of the respective divisions. more..

Sep 6 (AT) The Indian Media Journalist Union (IMJU) organized a photographic Exhibition on Sri Lanka titled �Explore New Lanka� at Aga Khan Hall in New Delhi on 01 September 2013. The Exhibition was inaugurated by High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam. An IMJU delegation of thirty two (32) members recently visited Sri Lanka and traveled the length and breadth of the country to view and ascertain developments following the end of the conflict in 2009. more..

Sep 6 (CT) Intra-party election violence appears to have reached a pinnacle in the NWP, with the main financial supporter of UPFA candidate, Dayasiri Jayasekara, being abducted, assaulted and dumped in Anuradhapura. Jayasekara accused those who are engaged in the preferential vote race of being responsible for the disappearance of his closest supporter and the police suspect the person had been abducted by a group. more..

Sep 6 (DM) With more than five million Sri Lankans known to be suffering from diabetes and a staggering 15% of them being children under the age of 16, the Govt needs to act urgently in working out and effectively implementing a national health policy. In terms of this policy an equal place needs to be given to different forms of preventive and curative medicine. These include allopathy or western medicine as it is commonly known, the time-tested and time-honoured Ayurveda, more..