Aug 18 (LG) The British inheritance of the Dutch possessions of Ceylon which was mainly an incident of political exigencies that took place in Europe and the transfer of power was more of a political process than military conquest. In the beginning the English, like the Dutch before them, adopted a friendly attitude to the Kandyan Kingdom. The military operation of the British forces to take over the more..

Aug 18 (PSM) Expelled Muslims from Mannar district have appealed to re-open the Puttalam-Mannar road. Nearly 70,000 refugees expelled from Mannar district by the LTTE in 1990 are housed in camps in Puttalam for the last nineteen years. “Since there is no more LTTE threat, the government can re-open this road without any difficulties. This will facilitate the free flow of Muslim IDPs to and from Mannar and return to our homes at least after 19 years,” more..

Aug 18 (GDI) Expressing views on the ongoing mega development activities initiated by the Government in the Hambantota area, including the fishing harbour project, the fishing community said that after completion, these resources will greatly contribute to the speedy development of the area. The people of the area expressed these views to the media when more..

Aug 18 (LT) JVP Member for Colombo Municipal Council Sumith Hewapassaperumage and another were arrested by Borella Police this morning for putting up posters. The posters put up by the JVP members carried a slogan calling to abolish executive presidency and the police have arrested them claiming they were putting up anti-government posters. However, they were taken to the police station and released. more..

Aug 18 (LT) Lanka Private Bus Owners Union (LPBOU) has decided to accept the instructions of the National Transport Commission to increase bus fares by 5.3% says the President of LPBOU Gemunu Wijeratne. Mr. Wijeratne said the decision was taken after considering the private bus trade, the government and commuters and said the new bus fares would be effective soon. According to the suggested new fares the Rs.6.00 fare would not change. more..

Aug 18 (LT) Six questions that were in the Biology II question paper of the G.C.E. Advanced examination held on the 12th had been in a model question paper given to students of a tuition class conducted by one Ajith Pushpa Kumara in Matara area two days before the examination states Ceylon Teacher Services Union. Questions identical to six questions in the test paper were found in copies of a tutorial distributed by the private tuition master. more..

Aug 18 (LT) The worker at Colombo National Hospital who exposed that the hospital blood bank was using outdated blood transfusion kits is being subjected to severe harassment by authorities say reports. B.M.D. Premajayanthe was employed at the blood bank of the Colombo National Hospital when he exposed the racket. From 2nd April, 2009 to end of June he had been transferred to 12 different places. more..

Aug 18 (CT) A suspect in an alleged theft of jewelry has died due to poisoning while in the custody of police in Chilaw. Koswatte Police had arrested the man after being held by people of the area following the reported theft on August 13. After being taken to a house to find robbed jewelry, he had swallowed pesticide there, police claim. The postmortem examination at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital returned a verdict of death caused due to a toxic substance. more..

Aug 18 (LT) Ravindu Gunawardene, son of SP Vas Gunawardene , who is accused of abducting and assaulting Nipuna Ramanayake, a fellow student of SLIIT was admitted to Kalubowila Hospital due to a mental breakdown and is scheduled to be directed to a psychiatrist state hospital reports. When the case against those who were involved in abducting and assaulting Nipuna Ramanayake came up at Kaduwela Magistrates Court today more..

Aug 18 (LP) President Mahinda Rajapakse emphasizes stern action will be taken to curb corruptions and malpractices. The president pointed out it is easy to develop the country when there is no corruption and malpractices. Activities of many criminal gangs have been dismantled with the stern action taken by the police department. more..

Aug 18 (CT) Police in Wellawatte have arrested a man with 308 bogus credit cards in his possession. The suspect had purchased goods worth hundreds of thousands of rupees by using these fake credit cards, initial police investigations have found. He is said to be a resident of Dehiwala. Police are investigating to determine whether the man has connections with any illegal group.

Aug 18 (GV) This is an interview in English secured by Vikalpa with a Sri Lankan Tamil who had visited his family at the “Ramanathan Transitional Relief Village” in May. His family is amongst 260,000+ other IDPs interned in Menik Camp. Conducted before the recent flooding, the speaker records the inhuman conditions and indignity IDPs have to face in these camps. Pointing to the irony of calling them ‘relief centres’, more..

Aug 18 (DN) The number of patients visiting the renal diseases clinical centres affiliated to the Government hospitals in the North-Central Province is increasing daily. It has reached alarming levels, said the Indigenous Medicine Minister Tissa Karalliyadda addressing the villagers in Pahala Talawa in Talawa DS division at an awareness program held to educate them in the prevention of kidney diseases. more..

Aug 18 (DN) Two men were carried away by flash floods in Kurunegala. Heavy rains continued in certain parts of the country on Sunday while over 200 houses were slightly damaged in Matugama. The country had experienced torrential rain throughout Sunday. "Inter-monsoon rain was reported in various parts of Ratnapura, Galle, Kegalle, Kalutara and Kurunegala districts," he added. more..

Aug 18 (DN) Today is World Indigenous Day. In 1994, we took part in World Indigenous Day celebration in Switzerland. This session was held for one month and representatives of 136 countries participated. Certain countries had banned their indigenous people in taking part in this summit. Some had participated secretly. These particular countries didn’t like the international community getting to know about the way they treat the indigenous people in those countries. more..

Aug 18 (DN) An area south of Nedunkerni and Kebettigollewa has been identified for resettlement of about 1,500 to 2,000 displaced families before the end of this year. “We hope to increase this to 25,000 families immediately thereafter by developing agriculture and livestock breeding to uplift the living standards of these families in Mahaweli System L,” said Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka Director General Dharmasiri de Alwis. more..

Aug 18 (LNP) The name of a Tamil resident of Tamil Vestlan in Norway is being mentioned as a possible new leader of the LTTE, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported. The Sri Lankan government has said if the news was true it would request Norway to arrest him and hand him over to Sri Lanka. The LTTE has been listed as a terrorist organization in the European Union, Unites States, India and several other countries, but not in Norway. more..

Aug 18 (LNP) Some Opposition politicians are demanding that IDPs in welfare villages be resettled immediately before the onset of monsoon rains. There is no gainsaying that the war displaced are languishing in those places and they must be helped to return home and rebuild their lives as soon as possible. But, before that, there is so much of groundwork to be done. The biggest obstacle to resettlement is the heavy presence of deadly mines which fleeing terrorists `sowed` haphazardly. more..

Aug 18 (Island) The government, should stop bragging about its popularity and invincibility and establish all the Independent Commissions envisaged in the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, before holding the next election, the UNP said. Gayantha Karunathillake, MP, said that he was challenging the Mahinda Rajapaksa government to conduct the Southern Provincial Council Poll after appointing Independent Elections, Police, Public Service, more..

Aug 18 (Island) While some areas are affected by floods in the Southern and Western Provinces, many animals are dying of thirst in the Kumana Sanctuary in the Eastern Province owing to a protracted drought. Most lakes and water holes in the park have already dried up. Animals are frantically searching for water and only a few of them manage to cover long distances to quench thirst from fast shrinking water holes which are few and far between. more..

Aug 18 (Island) The National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwela generated a record income of Rs. 2,827,000 on a single day, on Sunday. The 23-acre zoo in Dehiwela is home to nearly 4,000 animals of 350 species. National Zoological Gardens Director Duminda Jayaratne told The Island yesterday, that last Sunday had recorded the highest number of visitors to the Zoo––more than 25,500. more..

Aug 18 (Island) "Japan has been the number one donor to Sri Lanka in its development process. Japanese International Co-operation has brought in much health related projects to our country," Minister of Health, Nimal Siripala said at the Conference on KAATSU, highly advanced technology training at Tokyo University, Japan on August 17th. He participated at this conference as a Guest of Honour. more..

Aug 18 (DM) Fifty three (53) nurses attached to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital who had been transferred to the Colombo Eye Hospital and the Angoda IDH informed the Court of Appeal yesterday (17) that they prefer to temporarily sign their attendance at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. On an earlier date the concerned 53 nurses have obtained an interim order from Court staying their transfers. more..

Aug 18 (LBO) Sri Lanka's runaway budget deficit expanded at a slower pace in May 2009, though the gap in the current account widened to a new record, the latest official data show. The revenue or current account deficit of the budget, which is the difference between total revenues and current (day-to-day) expenses, expanded to a historic 133.5 billion rupees in May from 118.2 billion rupees in April. more..

Aug 18 (DM) The ruling UPFA yesterday ruled out the possibility of appointing someone from the All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC) as the deputy mayor of the Jaffna Municipal Council saying no such agreement had been struck between the two parties before the election. After the election, the ACMC, led by Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rizath Bathiudeen, requested the government to appoint one of their members as the deputy mayor of Jaffna. more..

Aug 18 (AP) A human rights group on Tuesday urged Sri Lanka to release hundreds of thousands of war refugees from camps hit by flooding over the weekend saying their lives were in danger from disease. The floods have renewed fears that disease could break out among minority Tamils who have been living for months behind barbed wire, in tents and in makeshift shelters, while the military hunts down the last of the Tamil Tiger rebels it defeated in May. more..

Aug 18 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which is on a cost-cutting drive to improve their financial situation have however seen no such exercise necessary for the luxury of their officials who would be put up in Six-Star comfort as they attend the first Test against New Zealand starting in Galle today. Sources said that as many as 39 rooms have been booked by the Tour Organising Committee (TOC) of the SLC for their officials more..

Aug 18 (DM) The Kaduwela Magistrate asked the DIG of the Crimes and Organised Crimes Unit as to why CCD Director SSP Vaas Gunawardena was not arrested despite his involvement being revealed on the alleged abduction and assault of Nipuna Ramanayake, a student of the SLIIT. Magistrate Mahanil Prasantha Silva made this observation sequel to the submissions made by DIG Anura Senanayake in Court yesterday more..

Aug 18 (CI) A wonderfully composed 26th Test century from Mahela Jayawardene and a thrill-a-minute 92 from Tillakaratne Dilshan allowed Sri Lanka to dominate the opening day's play after two early wickets from Chris Martin had given New Zealand the perfect start in overcast conditions in Galle. Thilan Samaraweera weighed in with an unbeaten 82, adding 159 with Jayawardene, and by the time the players went off for bad light, New Zealand were down for the count. more..

Aug 18 (Reuters) Criminal impunity has become an increasing target of public anger in Sri Lanka since the end of a 25-year war in May, which exposed the extent to which the rule of law has eroded in the island nation. Sri Lanka, since it first battled Marxist insurgents in 1971, has had a history of criminals or members of the security services carrying out executions or torture with tacit backing from the nation's influential and politically-connected quarters. more..

Aug 19 (LBO) Sri Lankan shippers face the prospect of an increase in transportation costs to export markets with loss-making global carriers beginning to raise freight rates in an effort to restore profitability. Maersk Line, the world's biggest container shipping line and a big customer of Colombo port, has announced plans to raise freight rates which are expected to be followed by other carriers. more..

Aug 19 (LBO) Sri Lanka will shortly call for bids from international investment banks to help raise debt from international markets, with the deal to be completed by October, a top official said. A team of government officials went on a 'non deal' global road show to major financial centres arranged by HSBC and JP Morgan. "We will be calling for bids from international investment banks," Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal said. more..

Aug 19 (LBO) Sri Lankan students traveling to the UK for higher studies and accompanying parents will get discounted fares and a higher baggage allowance, Dubai-based Emirates said. The student fare is priced at 65,000 rupees plus taxes (18,000 rupees) for a six month return ticket to London for students registering on the airlines website www.emirates.com/lk from August 15 to October. more..

Aug 19 (RW) The Bahraini Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa has announced a cash donation of US$ 1 million to Sri Lanka to be utilized for the resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs in the North. The donation together with a letter from Bahrain Prime Minister to President Mahinda Rajapaksa were handed over by more..

Aug 19 (EB) Though Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) is a part of the DMK-led alliance, the party will not compromise its ideology on the Eelam Tamils issue, said VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan here on Monday. “Unarmed tigers of VCK from Tamil Nadu will continue their struggle for Tamil Eelam,” he said to a rousing applause of the thousands of party cadre who gathered for ‘Yelum Tamil Eelam’ conference more..

Aug 19 (HM) POLICE have vowed to keep up the hunt for a missing Sri Lankan mum who disappeared two days ago. Jayanthy Joseph, 40, remains missing despite extensive searches by police and coastguards. She has not been seen since Sunday morning after being given the devastating news that she and her two teenage daughters Jeevitha, 16, and Neeraja Joseph, 15, were to be deported. more..

Aug 19 (GDI) The Department of Census and Statistics is conducting a national ‘population and housing’ census, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics, D.B.P.S. Vidyaratne told www.news.lk. The survey is scheduled to be completed by 2011, Director General added. This is the first ever national census and statistical survey conducted in Sri Lanka after 30 years with the last survey done 10 years ago which did not include the areas then dominated by the LTTE terrorists. more..

Aug 19 (Reuters) The onset of monsoon rains in Sri Lanka is raising fears for the safety of thousands of war-displaced Tamils after rain flooded camps, ruined shelters and caused sewage to overflow, aid workers said on Tuesday. Around 280,000 Tamils are being held in Manik Farm camp in the Indian Ocean island's north, after government forces defeated Tamil Tiger separatists and ended a 25-year civil war. more..

Aug 19 (GDI) Measures have been taken to implement the ‘Communal Tourism Villages’- a project designed by the Ministry of Tourism with the view of exploring and promoting villages that has a great potential as tourist destinations in the island, Director of the Planning Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Anura Ranasinghe told www.news.lk. more..

Aug 19 (CI) The second warm-up match, played at NCC finished in a tame draw. Three days is really not enough time to secure an outright win unless one team has at least one very poor innings with the bat. That said, the SL XI took a first-innings lead into the second half of the match. We’ve now travelled to Galle, further south and smack bang on a currently rampant coastline. more..

Aug 19 (USN) They may not be the best-smelling homes, but Asian elephant dung piles provide certain frog species with shelter, one researcher has found. Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, of the University of Tokyo, found the dung-dwelling frogs in Sri Lanka's Bundala National Park, while searching for signs that Asian elephants acted as ecosystem engineers in their environments. Ecosystem engineers are more..

Aug 19 (BBC) No evidence was found against a senior police officer accused of abducting and brutally assaulting a student, police said. Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara told BBC Sandeshaya that only accusations levelled against SSP Vas Gunawardena was questioning a student who was abducted and assaulted hours ago. SSP Vas Gunawardene’s son and eleven police officials are accused of abducting and brutally assaulting Nipuna Ramanayake, more..

Aug 19 (MN) The deer looked as if it was about to get up any minute and walk off. Except for the fact that parts of its body were rusting and it had nut bolts for eyes. The lifelike creation is just one of many examples of trash turned into treasure at the Maldives Institute of Vocational Education Training (MIVET). The exhibition showcases 15 pieces, including a children’s tricycle transformed into a duck and a majestic lion made from scrap metal. more..

Aug 19 (CI) Tillakaratne Dilshan has said he enjoyed the role of opener after hitting a blistering 92 off 72 balls, the fastest Test fifty scored by a Sri Lankan, on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Galle. Opening the batting in a Test for the first time Dilshan helped Sri Lanka recover from 16 for 2 to an imposing 293 for 3 by stumps. Dilshan reached his half-century off 30 balls, one ball quicker than Arjuna Ranatunga more..

Aug 19 (AT) Addressing the 48th annual session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, Minister Milinda Moragoda emphasized on the importance of the ‘Legal Empowerment of the Poor’. Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Justice and Law Reforms pointed out that the Report of the Commission on the ‘Legal Empowerment of the Poor’, focused for the first time on the links between social exclusion, poverty and the law. more..

Aug 19 (IL) People of the Sabaragamuwa province felicitated President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the war heroes at the Sumana Saman Devalaya in Ratnapura today afternoon on 18th August. Venerable Maha Sanga, Defense Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff and former Army Commander Gen Sarath Fonseka, former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, more..

Aug 19 (LG) Rajpal Abeynayake once had a perspective. Now, judging by his column "Rice-fed rascality?", his perspective now can be summed up thus: Rajapakshas are better than Kumaranatunga or Ranil Wickramasingha because their times have produced worse human rights abuses. What a way to describe good. My guy is not as bad as the other guy. To do this, Rajpal descends to a low attack on Kishali Pinto Jayawardene, whom he calls his colleague, by completely distorting what she has written. more..

Aug 19 (LG) “Every prospect pleases, but only man is vile” goes the racist, colonial refrain, which is still the dominant ‘international’ framing of ‘news’ of the coveted pearl that seems to hang from India’s ear. In this colonial story a ‘model colony’ become a ‘troubled paradise’ after the British left it kindly and quietly. In the hands of the natives, a pearl is but a frozen tear. An anti-colonial narrative sees the not so hidden hand of identify, classify, divide and rule, in the making and more..

Aug 19 (VoA) Nearly 3 months have passed since fighting ended in Sri Lanka between government forces and the LTTE insurgents. After 26 years of conflict, hopes were high that violence and hatred would at last give way to reconciliation, justice, and economic development for all to share. But for some 300,000 ethnic Tamils displaced by the fighting, hope is giving way to frustration. more..

Aug 19 (BL) Interest rates, a major throttle to companies and key to spur a quicker recovery in the economy, are declining but not fast enough. Perhaps taking a softer view Central Bank yesterday remained passive by not revising downwards its policy rates, a move which surprised financial and business circles. For the second straight month, Central Bank unchanged its stance over Repo and Reverse Repo rates which remain at 8.50% and 11%. more..