Apr 4 (MoD) Sri Lanka Navy has come under praise by the Sri Lanka Tamil Teachers' Union for its effort to release the Sampoor Maha Vidyalayam in a good state which has enabled hundreds of children in the area to continue with their educational activities unhindered. Mr. V.R. Sahadevaraja, President of the Union, in a statement has expressed his appreciation to the Navy for returning the school including all its assets and furniture in a good state. School, situated inside a HSZ was released more..

Apr 4 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has urged the Joint Opposition to give up its struggle to topple the govt and join the administration to rebuild the country. "Some say that this govt cannot go on. Their dream will never come true. I invite them to join us in rebuilding the nation instead of seeking to change the administration. President Maithripala Sirisena was addressing a gathering on Saturday after having declared open a new garment factory at Eravur. more..

Apr 4 (Island) Former Minister G.L. Peiris has told the CID that he reserved the right to take legal action against its refusal to furnish a certified copy of Acting IGP S.M. Wickremesinghe�s directive that he be summoned to record a statement pertaining to the recent detection of explosives in the Chavakachcheri police area. Prof. Peiris has requested a certified copy thrice. Subsequently, Prof. Peiris told CID to include more..

Apr 4 (CT) Magistrate of Mount Lavinia ordered Yoshitha Rajapaksa to appear at FCID between the 18th and 23rd of April. This order was issued subsequent to taking into consideration a request made by the FCID. An order had been issued by Mount Lavinia Court to Yoshitha Rajapaksa and A.C. Forrest to be present at FCID between 4th and 9th April in order to give a statement regarding an investigation into the construction of a house at a cost of many millions of rupees on land at more..

Apr 4 (SLA) Sanhindiyawe Sathvirugama (Sathvirugama village of Reconciliation), the housing project with 51 new homes at Kokeliya, Vavuniya, built by the 56 Division troops of the Army of the Security Force Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W) and 4 Corps of Engineer Services through funds of the Api Wenuwen Api house construction fund of the Ministry of Defence, was vested in serving Tamil woman soldiers and Army personnel married to Tamil ladies as a reconciliation project more..

Apr 4 (CT) Auditor General has expressed disapproval at the Ministry of Agriculture for leasing a building owned by a private individual for a monthly rent of Rs 15.075 million without following the proper tender procedure. AG has stated that Ministry could have constructed a building on the one hectare land owned by the Ministry at Battaramulla. However Ministry has leased a building owned by an individual for Rs 958 million for 5 years. more..

Apr 4 (DM) In anti-personnel (AP) landmine-contaminated countries every day some 10 people lose their life or limbs and that means every year around 4,000 people get maimed or killed. Those injured and killed include civilians and animals during and after the conflict. This victim-activated AP landmine is considered to be an outdated and outlawed weapon in the modern world and has never helped win any war since it came into use. Around 60 countries around the world are more..

Apr 4 (DM) With Sri Lanka facing a major financial crisis �largely due to apparently reckless, massive scale borrowings by the former regime� the National Govt is holding crucial talks with the IMF for a standby loan of US$ 1.5 billion or US$ 2 billion. Govt leaders say they are confident that an agreement beneficial to the country could be worked out by April 10. While IMF loans and other sustainable, all-inclusive and eco-friendly development projects will be helpful, more..

Apr 4 (SL) Following the imprisonment of FSP politburo member Kumar Gunaratnam by the Kegalle Magistrate on Thursday, March 31 for one year for violating the country�s immigration and emigration laws, questions are being raised as to why the same law cannot be applied to National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa and his wife Shashi Weerawansa who too are accused of violating the same laws. more..

Apr 4 (PSL) The Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya (New Rice Festival) held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the historic Gal Viharaya premises in Polonnaruwa on April 2. New Rice Festival ritual is held to obtain the blessings of the Gautama Buddha to make the country prosperous with agricultural produce, with the timely occurrence of rains. Following religious rituals at the Gal Viharaya Temple, more..

Apr 4 (ST) Authorities are starting to put in place measures to lessen the impact of the power crisis with a long-term goal of providing uninterrupted power to the entire country, and renewable energy will play a key part in this strategy. Cabinet this week approved a proposal to implement a National Program on Energy Demand Management, Efficient Energy Use and Energy Conservation prepared by the CEB, more..

Apr 4 (DN) Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that he was awaiting the Supreme Court verdict on holding the Local Govt Elections as several cases pertaining to the matter have now been taken up before the Supreme Court. He was speaking to the media after a meeting with Provincial Councils and Local Govt Minister Faizer Mustapha and Delimitation Review Committee Chairman Asoka Peiris. more..

Apr 4 (CT) There is a distinct possibility that a shortage of eight important drugs could occur in the coming weeks due to a tug-of-war between several govt agencies regarding the procurement of medicine, Ministry sources said. Remaining stocks of eight important drugs are running low in govt stores. State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) and Medical Supplies Department (MSD) have made requests to more..

Apr 4 (DM) One of the main heroin distributors in the country was arrested this morning at the BIA while returning from India. Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) had informed the Immigration Department official at the BIA on Sunday about the suspect following details revealed from the probe into the 110 kgs of heroin nabbed from a ship last week. Police identified arrested suspect as Muwas Mohammed, more..

Apr 4 (DM) The FSP Activist Kumar Gunaratnam�s mother Rajamani Gunaratnam today requested the Govt to give Sri Lankan citizenship to her son and ensure his safety during the imprisonment. Ms. Gunaratnam said she was afraid of her younger son�s life, after he was transferred from Kegalle Prison, where he was detained for five years to the Anuradhapura Prison, without giving a fair or proper reason. more..

Apr 4 (Island) JVP affiliated railway trade union accused the department of planning to hire private security firms instead of filling vacancies in its security service. General Secretary of the All Ceylon Railway Employees� General Union S.P. Vithanage said the department had already appointed a technical evaluation committee for the purpose. "There are more than 100 vacancies in the security section of the railway department, but more..

Apr 4 (Island) SLFP group aligned with the Joint Opposition alleged that genuine SLFPers had been infuriated by President Maithripala Sirisena�s honeymoon with the UNP. He pointed out that those SLFPers serving in the UNP-led govt had been continuously heckled at various party forums in the recent past due to genuine supporters being extremely unhappy with the SLFP cooperating with the UNP. Obviously, current SLFP leadership more..

Apr 4 (SLN) At an impressive Commissioning Parade held at the main parade ground of the Naval and Maritime Academy, the premier seat of learning of the Sri Lanka Navy, in Trincomalee today (3), 44 Midshipmen belonging to the 29th (Technical) and 30th intakes of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) passed out as Commissioned Naval Officers of the SL Navy. PM Ranil Wickramasinghe graced more..

Apr 4 (CT) With bombs exploding in European capitals and other parts of the world, Sri Lanka finds itself in unique position in the world. It is a country that has not experienced a single act of terrorism in nearly seven years. The last of the terrorism ended in May 2009 when the three decade long internal war came to an end, albeit in a most violent way which has given rise to the international denunciation of war crimes. However, when comparing SL to other parts of the world more..

Apr 4 (AD) MP Namal Rajapaksa today severely criticised the move to question former Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris regarding the recent discovery of explosives and a suicide jacket that found from a house in Chavakachcheri. The observation was made during an event held in Tangalle this morning. �This Govt does not have a vision and a plan,� the MP added. He also went on to say the majority of the people have found it difficult to celebrate the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year more..

Apr 4 (EN) Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. attracted a new shipping line, Interasia Lines Ltd. (IAL), to call at Colombo Port as a regular weekly caller. This is the first time Taiwan-based Interasia Lines is calling at Colombo. IAL will now service the South Asia market by transshipping cargo via the Port of Colombo. �This new service is bound to boost new transshipment volumes connecting Bangladesh and Myanmar cargo through the Port of Colombo.� more..

Apr 4 (Island) A schoolboy walking along the road adjoining the public cemetery, Medawachchiya with his grandfather was killed by a wild elephant on Friday. The victim, Supun Dilhara, was a 16-year-old student of Medawachchiya Central College. He was a resident of Konakumbugollewa Youth Village. Grandfather of the victim, who was also attacked by the same elephant, was admitted to Medawachchiya Hospital and transferred to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital as his condition worsened. more..

Apr 4 (DM) Commenting on his choice of attire during the Switzerland visit, MP Udaya Gammanpila said he was not foolish enough to wear cotton cloths in a country like Switzerland, which had a colder weather. He was responding to various charges that he attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Geneva recently, dressed in smart casuals and not in the National Dress. more..

Apr 4 (CT) In recent months several strongmen of the previous govt who are now in the Joint Opposition are being questioned frequently by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption over the complaints surfaced against them with regard to alleged fraudulent activities. However, former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris was grilled for nearly two hours by the CID on Saturday, over his comment on the discovery of a suicide jacket and several other lethal items more..

Apr 4 (ST) President Maithripala Sirisena declared open the Jetwing Jaffna hotel yesterday expanding facilities to foreign as well as local tourists visiting Jaffna. Jetwing Jaffna is the latest addition to the Jetwing Hotels chain and the hotel offers 55 rooms with modern amenities. President Sirisena unveiled a plaque for one of the rooms dedicated to the memory of former chairman of the Sampath Bank, Late M.U. Jayawardena, on whose land the hotel is built. more..

Apr 4 (DM) GMOA filed a complaint with the Bribery and Corruption Commission against Health Ministry for allowing students of SAITM in Malabe to undergo clinical training at govt hospitals. GMOA Secretary Dr. Nalinda Herath said the Secretary to the Health Ministry has allowed a misuse of public property by allowing a private institution and its students who are not qualified to study as medical students to involve in operations more..

Apr 4 (ANI) To deepen the bilateral ties, Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke arrived in New Delhi on Monday. Gunatilleke, who is on a four-day visit, was accorded guard of honour at the secretariat building in New Delhi. He then paid tributes to fallen soldiers at India Gate, a war memorial, which houses the Amar Jawan Jyoti. Air Chief is scheduled to meet India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, more..

Apr 4 (Island) Sri Lanka should create a generation who could tackle future career opportunities in fast growing IT sector instead of the agricultural sector, Minister Kabir Hashim said yesterday. He was addressing the National Savings Bank�s 44th anniversary celebration at the Urban Council in Kegalle. Minister stressed it was important to consider future opportunities in fast growing IT sector in order to tackle unemployment especially in the Kegalle District. more..

Apr 4 (CG) Canada says demining work in Sri Lanka is of critical importance as clearance of landmines is a necessary prerequisite to long-term peace and security for all Sri Lankans and a key component of Sri Lanka�s broader plans for reconciliation and resettlement. The High Commission of Canada today marked International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action with an event more..

Apr 4 (AD) It is difficult to expect respectful journalism when the social system of a country is evil, unjust, rotten and propagated through the political system, JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath says. The observation was made while speaking at the Deli Pihiyen Kiri Kema dialogue which was held at the BMICH this morning. He pointed out that it is almost impossible to find respectful leaders, religious leaders, or journalists in a society like this. more..

Apr 4 (CG) A local construction company has denied links to an Indian company which had constructed the bridge in Kolkata which collapsed recently killing 21 people. MTD Walkers said that it is neither a joint venture partner nor the local partner of M/s IVRCL of India, the company which constructed the Indian flyover. �The only involvement the company had with IVRCL was with regard to a sub contract to carry out the piling work at a UDA low cost housing site in Maligawatte, through its subsidiary more..

Apr 4 (AD) After a speech, next day I have to go through the newspaper articles in fear of what journalists have reported, Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka says. The observation was made while speaking at the Deli Pihiyen Kiri Kema dialogue which was held at the BMICH this morning. He also went on to say sometimes the reports do publish articles with something that is diametrically opposite to what he said or mentioned. more..

Apr 4 (ST) A speeding car changed the life of a well-known former German television presenter on holiday in southern Sri Lanka. Michael Mross, 57, arriving in Tangalle from Bentota on March 6, spent a few hours on the beach, and shortly after 5 p.m. had crossed the road and stopped at a wayside thambili seller. �The tourist was seated on a bench under a margosa tree and drinking the thambili when a car came towards him at high speed and knocked him down,� the thambili seller said. more..

Apr 4 (Reuters) Sri Lankan shares closed lower for the first time in four sessions on Monday amid a steep rise in foreign outflow as worries over macroeconomic stability dented investor sentiment. Foreign investors sold a net 406.6 million rupees worth of shares, the highest since March 17 and extending net foreign outflows for the year to 2.63 billion rupees. The share index ended 0.06% lower, or down 3.86 points, at 6,079.15. Index had gained 0.85% in the past three trading days. more..

Apr 4 (DM) Defence Counsel Lakshan Dias today informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that during the past four years some 1,200 Indians had donated kidneys at leading private hospitals in Sri Lanka under the supervision of Sri Lankan doctors. Mr. Dias, who appeared for the eight Indian suspects arrested in connection with the kidney scam,said his clients had obtained the appropriate licenses from Health Authorities more..

Apr 4 (CNBC) CNBC today announced the launch of Global Opportunities Sri Lanka, a series that looks into Sri Lanka's key industries and opportunities, as well as the challenges, for investors. Global Opportunities Sri Lanka campaign is delivered in partnership with Ministry of Finance SL and will run until June 2016. Campaign aims to inform the network's affluent and investment savvy audience about the potential of investing in SL. "We are excited to partner with Ministry of Finance more..

Apr 4 (Island) A million households in Sri Lanka would be given solar power units as a solution to the current power crisis in the country, Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. During an inspection tour of the country�s first ever Solar Power Garden in Hambantota last week, he said a visible change would be made in the renewable energy industry with the launching of solar power projects throughout the country. New technologies would be applicable to maintain the system balance more..

Apr 4 (CT) As the state-run weekly English newspaper Sunday Observer owned by the Lake House Group embarked on a major overhaul, two of its top journalists � Hana Ibrahim and Dilrukshi Handunnetti � have tendered their letters of resignation. Both worked as Senior Associate Editors of the Sunday Observer, since February, last year. However, sources close to the two journalists said the decision had nothing to do with more..

Apr 4 (APP) Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Monday visited training area near Pabbi and witnessed conclusion ceremony of Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) competition. The team spirit matches were held in mountainous terrain near Mangla from Mar 31 to Apr 4. Apart from team from all the Corps of Pakistan Army, Sri Lankan Army team also participated in the competition. Total 16 officers from six Countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, more..