Apr 2 (DM) An injured girl was rushed to hospital when a digital screen erected at the Yovun Pura Exhibition at Sigiriya fell on her last afternoon. The organizers of Yovun pura said the girl had sustained serious injuries to her limbs and spine and she was seen in a state of shock. The girl was rushed to the medical centre within the Yovun Pura site initially and later she was transferred to the Dambulla Hospital, according to the sources. more..

Apr 2 (DP) Sri Lankan blind cricket team has arrived in Lahore to play Twenty-20 and One Day series against Pakistan. According to a press release, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council expressed the hope the series will highlight the soft image of Pakistan to encourage other countries that Pakistan is safe for sports. Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) hopes the two series will highlight the soft image of Pakistan and consequently encourage other countries that Pakistan is safe for sports, more..

Apr 2 (CG) There is no scheduled visit to SL by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon so far, Foreign Ministry said. There were reports last year that Ban ki-moon will visit SL during or soon after the visit to SL by UN High Commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra�ad Al Hussein. Hussein visited SL in Feb but Foreign Ministry says Ban ki-moon is not expected in SL any time soon. �No visit by Ban Ki-moon on the cards as at this moment,� more..

Apr 2 (SL) Sri Lanka�s Constitution has undoubtedly undergone many revisions because of its Amendments. Of all these Amendments, perhaps one that carries a most significant weight is the 13th Amendment, which not only established a new form of sub-national governance, but also introduced a crucial legislation that respected minority rights and validated their identity. The Amendment reads as follows: (2) Tamil shall also be an official language. (3) English shall be the link language. more..

Apr 2 (DM) Former Minister G.L. Peiris was today questioned for two hours by the CID over his remarks on the recovery of explosives at a house in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna recently. Professor Peiris said though the Govt was attempting to sweep the incident under the carpet, the Joint Opposition wouldn't keep mum. Further, he reiterated that an impartial and a proper investigation should be launched into the recovery of the suicide jacket and explosives. more..

Apr 2 (DN) CEB billing officers have been protesting opposite the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry for five days demanding that they be given an assurance of confirmation in service. Billing Officers' Union President Priyantha Wickramasinghe said that around 1,400 billing officers coming from manpower companies have not been absorbed into the CEB as was promised by President Sirisena before the election. more..

Apr 2 (PTI) A Sri Lankan national was today taken into custody when he was waiting for a country boat from Mandapam here to flee to Sri Lanka, police said. Police said 38-year-old Ahamed Iqbal, who hails from Kandy, had come to India in 2011 and had stayed on though his visa had expired. He had given Rs.15000 to one Selvaraj to arrange for a an illegal ferry to transport him to Sri Lanka, police said, adding, he has been taken to the police station at Mandapam for questioning. more..

Apr 2 (NS) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) informed that 75% to 80% of SL maids working in Kuwait who had been repatriated, had not registered themselves at SLBFE. Working Director of SLBFE, Upul Deshapriya said that the bogus foreign employment agencies, their owners, sub agents employed in them, and the human trafficking rackets they were engaged in, constituted a mafia in the country. Every day the SLBFE conducts raids and arrests at least one individual involved more..

Apr 2 (AD) The FSP says that they have no issue with the court ruling and sentencing of party member Kumar Gunaratnam, however accused the govt of exacting political revenge by keeping mum on the issue of granting him citizenship. Gunaratnam, a FSP politburo member and former JVP senior, was sentenced to one year in jail for violating immigration laws was and slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000 by Magistrate more..

Apr 2 (ENS) Coming down heavily on the Centre over the offer of boats and fishing equipments to Sri Lanka, PMK founder S Ramadoss said such assistance was a betrayal of TN fishermen, whose vessels are seized by the island nation. In a statement here, he said there were reports of the Centre providing 150 boats and fishing equipments for 300 fishermen at a cost of Rs. 4.5 crore in Sri Lanka. "Without an iota of doubt, it is an act of betrayal against fishermen from TN," he said. more..

Apr 2 (DM) Several senior UNP ministers are to meet President Maithripala Sirisena regarding Minister Dilan Perera�s recent speech comparing PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to a Maradana Rowdy. They would ask President to take appropriate action for minister�s reckless remarks being a minister of the same govt. Minister Perera�s remarks that of comparing the Premier to a rowdy during an SLFP media meeting was highlighted in all the media in the country said the senior ministers. more..

Apr 2 (ENS) Although Islam bars Muslims from consuming alcohol, drunkenness is a major cause of divorce among the Muslims of Eastern SL. Drunkenness is also the cause of poverty which in turn leads to the migration of married women to the Middle East and the attendant disruption of family life in this area. Appallingly, this is the state of affairs even in Kattankudy, an all-Muslim town near here which has reputation more..

Apr 2 (PSL) The inauguration ceremony of the 5th Colombo International Theater Festival, was held under the patronage of President Sirisena at BMICH, yesterday (31). During the event, the Sinhala translation of the book titled Contemporary German Children and Youth by German playwright Ingeborg von Zadow was presented to the President. President also presented a special award for Veteran playwright Parakrama Niriella at this festival for his enormous contribution to more..

Apr 2 (DM) Smart metering system will be introduced from next year with the purpose of relieving electricity grids and reducing distribution grid expansion, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy said. Smart meters equipped with high technology to be manufactured by the ANTE LECO Metering Company with funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Ministry expects the demand management of electricity, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said. more..

Apr 2 (ENS) A complex set of economic and social factors are pushing Muslim women from Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka to seek work as house maids in the Middle East, despite low pay, harassment bordering on cruelty in the work place, and the possibility of being amputated, stoned to death or beheaded under Saudi law. Interviews with returnees reveal that the inability of families to meet expenses related more..

Apr 2 (ST) A rice and curry meal nearly killed him. He was at home out of Colombo when the so-called severe allergy struck him. Rushed to hospital the medical staff carried out the protocol that they thought was right. What they did not do was give him a quick jab of essential adrenaline intramuscularly (IM Adrenaline). At the urgings of his daughter, a doctor herself, who was in Colombo, they finally did give him this life-saving injection. He has lived to tell the tale, more..

Apr 2 (DM) The Megapolis and Western Development Ministry that anticipated the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to relocate the Meethotamulla garbage yard to the proposed site in Aruwakkalu, Puttalam, stated that there was a delay in shifting the garbage dump. Secretary to the Ministry N. Rupasinghe said the Ministry was prompted to look for another land in Puttalam for the project as a result of the delay in the EIA report. more..

Apr 2 (ST) Amendments to the Registration of Persons Act which would include the introduction of biometrics to the National Identity Card (NIC) will be taken up in Parliament for approval next month, the Department of Registrar of Persons (DRP) said. The approval when granted will give the green light to the DRP to go ahead with issuing the new NICs A top official of the Department said preliminary work to start more..

Apr 3 (SO) Crying Tiger, tiger is not just a poetic first liner in this country which is yet recovering from thirty years and more of bloody ethnic-based internal war. Many have been the false alarms in this country, especially in the metropolis, during the war when people would react with terror at the slightest rumour of a possible attack by separatist militants known for their ruthless slaughter of civilians in urban guerrilla strikes. The danger, during the war, was obviously real and people throughout more..

Apr 3 (SL) Despite consistent statements made by leaders of countries weak or powerful to eradicate terrorism root and branch from the face of the earth terrorists have struck at places of highest security almost at will. In recent attacks in Paris, Brussels, Turkey, Tunisia and even California terrorists have demonstrated their capabilities in attacking these mighty defence fortresses against terrorism. Last week�s hijacking of an Egyptian airliner on the way from Alexandria to Cairo has been more..

Apr 3 (SO) Under the Shadow of a Sharp-Edged Blade, an autobiography written by former LTTE women�s political wing leader Subramaniam Sivagami alias Colonel Thamilini, has stirred a hornet�s nest. While sections of the Tamil political leadership and some bureaucrats viewed it with resentment even before it was released last month, ordinary Northerners appreciate Thamilini�s perspective of the war, driven by a hunger to more..

Apr 3 (Island) There is no magic wand for anybody to wave to restore SriLankan Airlines to health and profitability. What has been said in Parliament by Deputy Minister Eran Wickremaratne and published elsewhere recently, supplemented in this issue by what a regular contributor who once worked for the national carrier says today, complements the horror story. Everybody knows that the losses are mind-bogglingly tremendous and rising by the day. Nothing very much appears to have been more..

Apr 3 (SO) The Tiger card was the trump card constantly trotted out by Rajapaksa regime, especially when they faced crucial elections during the last five years of its rule. With the collapse of that regime, pro-Rajapaksa camp, over the past year, had different ways of pulling out the Tiger card in attempts to turn the tables on its political opponents. On the one hand, they promote a constant gratitude to the former President for the defeat of LTTE by the armed forces in 2009. more..

Apr 3 (SL) JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa says a long-term policy should be implemented to salvage the downward spiral of the country�s economy. Blaming every govt that came into power prior to independence and post independence govts that followed the wrong economic policies introduced in 1977 for this grave economic crisis, he said at least for the New Year festive season, the govt must take steps to reduce taxes and more..

Apr 3 (ST) My Dear Long John, I thought of writing to you to find out what exactly is going on because there are so many stories about you these days, much more than at any other time of your political career and we do not know what to believe and what not to believe. I hope you can clarify matters for all of us. The latest controversy is about this infamous footpath in your electorate which people claim you have given orders to destroy. I for one cannot understand why such a fuss is being made more..

Apr 3 (ST) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa once told the then Indian High Commissioner, who complained to him that the contract for the extension of the Colombo harbour had been given to China, not to worry too much as the next extension contract would be given to India. That was his simplistic Non Aligned policy of balancing the competing geo-political interests in Sri Lanka between India and China. His policy seemed to be to maximise Sri Lanka�s geographic location more..

Apr 3 (Island) The Joint Opposition launched a signature campaign last week demanding that the local govt election which had been postponed Since March 2015 be held. With this we saw the govt explaining that they can�t hold the LG election just yet until the delimitation of the wards has been completed. The Chairman of the Elections Commission also came on TV to explain that their hands are tied because the delimitation of the wards was not complete. more..

Apr 3 (Island) It was reported in your newspaper last Sunday on some of the proceedings of India Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) seminar held on 23rd March. As was reported in another Sunday newspaper last week, the proceedings of the seminar were one sided � basically anti-ETCA and the two persons who were supposed to give more balanced views also got carried away with the trend and started critiquing the proposed ETCA. more..

Apr 3 (CT) With multiple explosions taking centre-stage in the world arena posing a terrorist threat globally, a suicide jacket that surfaced amongst other explosives in Chavakachcheri last Wednesday was creating a political conundrum here in Sri Lanka. While the Opposition was hell-bent on pointing a finger at the government for taking national security lightly and jeopardizing the same, much drama has been created by statements more..

Apr 3 (Island) ONE: Sri Lanka�s mediocre performances at the T20 World Cup were the result of poor selections, poor batting, poor running between the wickets, mediocre bowling, some poor fielding and one atrocious umpiring decision. The awful umpiring mistake by John Cloete that sent Dilshan back to the pavilion at 3.1 overs � a decision that was marked explicitly by several TV commentators including Alan Wilkins � was all the more severe because of its timing: viz., more..

Apr 3 (Island) Minister Kabir Hashim, said that financially no prospective investor would want to be part of SriLankan Airlines, which has been mismanaged and virtually run to the ground. The incumbent Chairman did not inherit a viable organization, but one riddled with corruption, nepotism, and inefficiency. The national carrier was no longer an envious brand to be part of, he noted. He was speaking at the graduation ceremony of SriLankan Aviation College in Colombo more..

Apr 3 (Hindu) Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran blamed SL govt for adopting a dominating, domineering and hegemonic attitude towards the Northern Province. In an interview, at his residence in Colombo, Wigneswaran said Central govt did not discuss the details of its housing project for the Northern and Eastern Provinces with the provincial administration and people�s representatives in the North. more..

Apr 3 (CI) Test cricket originated in England, West Indies became its biggest stars. Fifty-over cricket originated in England, West Indies became its biggest stars. T20 cricket originated in England, West Indies are again its biggest stars. A little over two weeks ago, both teams were in Mumbai for their first match of this World T20. The England players stood at Marine Drive, unrecognised, and succeeded in hailing a cab after only 15 minutes, just like any average person. more..

Apr 3 (SO) Energy sector experts are of the view that with the electricity consumption doubling from around the year 2000, it is urgent and imperative to go for another base load power plant to avert blackouts which impede industrial and commercial activities. The policy makers should urgently focus on another base load power plant to avoid a recurrence of the power outage in 2001, if not by 2020 the country would face a similar or worse scenario obstructing development. more..

Apr 3 (ST) A new set of national selectors will be named by Sri Lanka Cricket and ratified by the Minister of Sports very soon. Both Aravinda de Silva and Kumar Sangakkara have completed their short obligation to the SLC. A cricket insider said �Both Aravinda de Silva and Kumar Sangakkara got involved in the process on a short term basis and to tide over a problem that they faced at that time over the selection of the team for more..

Apr 3 (ST) Sri Lanka�s long overdue global promotional campaign for tea will kick-start this October at a cost of over Rs.5 billion to be spent on television and digital media advertising for the next two years. Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda said that they would market Ceylon Tea as a brand that would be strengthened worldwide. In this regard, the industry is still working on identifying areas within the seven regions in the world to market Ceylon Tea. more..

Apr 3 (SL) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s son Namal Rajapaksa has been accused of threatening a young politician at a reception of a wedding. SLFP youth wing member Thisara Gunasinghe said that Namal Rajapaksa had threatened him at the wedding reception held at a hotel in Hikkaduwa. Gunasinghe, son of the late politician Nanda Gunasinghe, said that he had filed a police complaint over the threats. �I filed the complaint for my safety,� Gunasinghe said. more..

Apr 3 (CT) CEB audit reports pertaining to power purchases costing Rs 200 billion from independent power producers (IPP) per annum over several years have vanished. Chairman of COPE Sunil Handunnetti said AG's Department has as a result of this discovery been directed by COPE to conduct a comprehensive audit of power purchases by CEB. "When senior management of CEB was summoned by COPE more..

Apr 3 (SL) The suspects described by witnesses as having been involved in the murder of the Founding Editor of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, have been linked to the attack on the former Editor of Rivira newspaper, Upali Tennakoon. Tennakoon was attacked in January 2009 just days after Wickrematunge was murdered while he was on his way to office. CID contacted Tennakoon, who is in the US, last week and sought his assistance to investigate attack on him, more..