Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room

July 29 (GDI) On the occasion of the opening of the Sigiriya Museum on 28th July 2009 in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Yasuo Fukuda, Former Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Sri Lanka – Japan Friendship Association, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama addressing the dignitaries stated that “this noble gift of the Sigiriya Museum which was funded by the Government of Japan will remain as a more..

Ampara development will be expedited

July 29 (GDI) The Government has taken steps to expedite all development activities that are being undertaken within the Ampara district. A meeting to review the progress of the development projects mooted in the Ampara District was chaired by MP Basil Rajapaksa at the District Secretariat. Discussions dealt on the initiatives taken to uplift the agricultural and fisheries industry in the District. more..

Reconstruction of Yodawewa expedited

July 29 (GDI) Reconstruction of the Yodawewa Reservoir under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” programme is to be expedited.The reconstruction is being carried out under the 180-day accelerated development programme. It is being supervised by Chief of the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” Task force and MP Basil Rajapaksa on the instructions of the President. The reservoir will help irrigate 30 thousand acres of paddy land at Murukkan in Mannar. more..

New transmission equipment for SLBC

July 29 (GDI) Empowering the new transmission equipment and opening of the new digital Archives at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation will take place under the patronage of Minsiter Anura Priyadarshana Yapa today. The SLBC has increased its broadcasting capacity by fixing 6 new transmission machines in the Colombo premises. Accordingly it has been increased unto two kilo watts, the listening quality of national radio would be improved by the new equipment. more..

223 dengue deaths a cause for concern

July 29 (GDI) In a tragic turn of events, the deadly dengue mosquito seem to continue pricking at rampage as the death toll has now risen to 223 at an unprecedented rate. Health sources lamented that despite precautionary measures and public awareness, the menace seemed to continue in a deadly manner. However, they blamed local bodies for neglecting the collection of garbage as garbage continued to pile in densely populated towns, cities and suburbs. more..

Govt. gives more facilities for IDP welfare

July 29 (GDI) The Government has provided adequate funds and vehicles to accommodate the welfare of thousands of the displaced in the Weli-Oya -Padaviya region when they are resettled by end August. MP Basil Rajapaksa has instructed authorities to provide a sum of Rs 50 million for the development of internal roads in the Padaviya area, Rs 100 million to reconstruct the Parakramapura -Kokkuthuduwai road and more..

Mother, Mother where are you? I need your milk

July 29 (GDI) Man seem to be more cruel than the animal. No wonder when we read stories of brutal terrorists in the past dragging away breast feeding mothers while the child scream. The thought was that cruelty of man was over with the elimination brutal dastardly terrorism. It seems not to be so. The tragic episode at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a glaring example of man's cruelty where two breast feeding elephant mothers have been taken away while more..

Golden Jubilee of Cuba-Sri Lanka relations

July 29 (LG) I am privileged to issue this message on the auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Cuba and Sri Lanka that falls on July, 29, 2009. With great satisfaction we can say that our relations during these 50 years have been marked with fruitful exchanges, mutual support and cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples. more..

Attitudinal change is more important than changes to the Constitution

July 29 (LG) Politicians, intellectuals and the media continue to reflect on various propositions for the future direction of Sri Lanka and in particular, the debate as to the merits and demerits of the 13th amendments has intensified after May 19, which marks the beginning of post-Prabahakaran era. I am neither knowledgeable nor qualified on constitutional matters. more..

The 'TIGERS' – a loyalty test for the TULF

July 29 (LG) ‘Rival Palestinian groups fight and kill each other’s members but this does not destroy the PLO or extinguish Palestinian nationalism’ said a veteran Colombo-based Tamil lawyer who counts a brief career in politics. If his implied parallel holds, does that make the TULF the PLO of a yet unrealized ‘Eelam’? ‘Whateve may have lead those young men to shoot it out in Pondy Bazaar, Madras, the gun-battle and more..

From Hikkaduwa to hegemony dethroned

July 29 (LG) A post war Hikkaduwa beach festival is bound to be a smorgasbord —- some think a veritable orgy —- of hedonistic excess. At least it dispels a notion that there was a slow religious Talibanisation of Sri Lankan society in the general direction of the dominant religion, what with mathata thitha and all that.But the Hikkaduwa festival takes off at a time Sri Lanka is at the cusp of a veritable explosion in tourism and service related revenue generation. more..

If Govt. can blame the Police for polls law violations , why cant it take action to stop it ?

July 29 (UNP) Isn’t the Police under the control of the Govt.? , this is the question posed by all following the rash and reckless utterance made by a senior Minister Maithripala Sirisena who blamed the Police for the raging polls law violations at the forthcoming elections. Though this Minister appears to have lost his sense of reason in making this utterance , the people are not that insensible , hence they have raised this question. more..

'Education Ministry does not know name of first astronaut who stepped on moon'

July 29 (UNP) Can an Education sector do anything beneficial or worthwhile for the children or their education when it is headed by a moonstruck Minister and run by a Ministry which does not know the name of the first astronaut who stepped on the moon?, asked UNP M.P. Madduma Bandara when addressing a media conference. The blunders and bungles of the Education Ministry and its sectors under this Rajapakse Govt. more..

The importance of history

July 29 (LG) It is not necessary to quote others giving chapter and verse in the Biblical tradition to show that history whether of a country, nation, ethnic community, discipline or even an individual is important. I prefer the ehi passiko tradition of "come and see for yourself" once the basic "facts" and arguments are given. I am not a western Christian modernist and my nationalism as Malinda Seneviratne has noted is more..

Of children without childhood

July 29 (LNP) A schoolgirl`s suicide in Colombo has triggered a public uproar. Caught with a mobile phone in school, she decided to end her life last week. Her tragic death has shocked the education establishment into sitting up and taking a long hard look at what has gone wrong with schools. We hear various views expressed by politicians, educationists and parents and unfortunately they seem to be making an attempt to take the incident in isolation. more..

New Rail bus service between Batticaloa - Tricomalee

July 29 (MoD) Under the 'Negenahira Nawodaya' (Re-Awakening of East) program of the Government, a new Rail-Bus service will be launched facilitating transportation between Battticaloa and Trincomalee today (July 29). The rail bus service will be launched by MP Basil Rajapaksa, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad and Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma at the Batticaloa Railway station today more..

Arjuna to be made Sports Minister after Uva elections

July 29 (LNW) The President has reportedly decided to appoint Arjuna Ranatunge as the Sports Minister after the conclusion of the Uva Provincial Council elections. The decision it is learnt was arrived at by the President after Ranatunge had proven to him that Gamini Lokuge had accepted a sum of Rs. 500 lakhs to offer Sri Lanka Cricket rights to Taj TV from Rupavahini. Ranatunge had also shown that Lokuge had even misled the Supreme Court with regard to the said matter. more..

Dayan Jayathilake’s “13A-Delusion”

July 29 (LNW) Dayan Jayathilaka seems to think that 13A, if implemented, can gently be manipulated so that the Tamils can eventually have autonomous rule in the north and east. This can be done, he says, through “the future electoral strength of the Tamil parties.” Dayan believes that “starting with August 8th and peaking with next year’s parliamentary election” the situation will gradually improve. That, he thinks, will give Tamils “the bargaining power.” more..

Vaas departs in a sad fashion

July 29 (TC) The selectors have mistreated Chaminda Vaas and the team. Quite simply, he should not have been picked for the third Test. Test cricket is far too serious for farewell ceremonies. Vaas was the least penetrative bowler on both sides. His pace has dipped to below that of Younis Khan. Even the term 'military medium pace' would be charitable for Vaas' effort. His swing and cut were barely discernible. more..

Stop all conspiracies against teacher carried out by government

July 29 (LT) Education Department Cooperative Society (EDCS) that had been administered by the supporters of the UNP, the SLFP and alliances of both these parties was handed over to the present Board of Directors nine months ago as previous administrators had carried out various rackets and pilfering of membership funds wasting millions in the process say members of EDCS. more..

Youth shot dead when attempting to attack police with hidden weapons

July 29 (LT) A youth said to be a member of an underworld gang died this morning of police shooting at Maligawatta in Colombo. The police say the youth, who was arrested yesterday, was shot when he tried to attack the police with a hand grenade when taken to Peliyagoda to show a stock of hidden arms. The victim, injured by the shooting died after he was admitted to Colombo National Hospital. more..

Tomorrow's question paper going round today?

July 29 (LT) A question paper scheduled to be given to students of North – Central Province tomorrow is going round the province at this moment (9.30 p.m. on 28th) say reports. Speaking to ‘Lankatruth’ students and several teachers said the question papers was to be given tomorrow (29th) but has been available today and many students have already gone through the paper. Information how the Geography question paper for grade 10 was leaked out today is not available. more..

Sanitation at Kalubowila Hospital in jeopardy due to nonpayment of salaries

July 29 (LT) The employees engaged in sanitary activities at Kalubowila Hospital have stopped reporting for their duties as the authorities of the hospital have not paid the private firm engaged in maintaining the service in the hospital. There are 140 employees engaged in sanitary work in the hospital and they have refused to report for duty as their salary that was due on the 10th of this month was not paid. more..

Ancient stone art in Galle Fort in danger

July 29 (CT) The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau that is charged with renovating damage in the Galle Fort is attempting to destroy an ancient stone art that had been unearthed during the renovation process, 'Lakbima' reports. In an article by it correspondent in Galle Samantha Weligamage, the newspaper says the stone surface that is planned to be taken down on July 29 or 30 contains stone cuts created 2,000 years ago. more..

Minister Milinda Moragoda visit Law College

July 29 (AT) Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, Milinda Moragoda accompanied by Additional Secretary Kamalini de Silva, Deputy Legal Draftsman P.I.S. Samarasingha paid a visit to the Sri Lankan Law College Monday morning (27th July). The Minister was received by the College Principal, Dr. H.J.F. Silva, other college officials, and the President of the Law Students’ Union, Sampath Kanishka. more..

'Same old fraudsters elected by masses to PCs strangle their children'

July 29 (LT) The masses who have elected rulers after being duped by temporary trends have got their children strangled by those inefficient and corrupt people who have returned to their old habit of swindling says JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake. He said, “Masses being deceived by political gimmicks elected the same band of politicians who were involved in various rackets, corruption, frauds and waste. more..

Swedish embassy closure due to loss of weapons market - PNM

July 29 (CT) Expressing no surprise over the closure of the Sweden embassy in Colombo, the leader of the Patriotic National Movement said the actual reason behind the move was the loss of its profitable market selling weapons for the vanquished LTTE. He said the Swedish embassy had, anyway, been in a state of inaction, and that the country’s foreign minister as well as Swedish NGO SIDA had made maximum attempts to save the Tiger leader. more..

Removal of elephants calves not a gene theft - chief prelates

July 29 (CT) The reference to the recent removal of elephant calves from their mothers at the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala as a gene theft is not appropriate, chief prelates of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters say. A statement signed by them says that these calves were brought to be offered to the two Chapters. Noting that nearly 90 of the 120 elephants owned by the two Chapters were too old to be used for cultural displays, more..

LTTE mastermind in A’pura Air Base attack arrested

July 29 (DN) The mastermind behind the attack on Anuradhapura Air Force Base has been arrested by the officers of the Central Province Intelligence Unit on information given by the LTTE suspects in custody. Rasalingam Thaboruban, 26, of Kankasanthurai was among the displaced civilians in the Mannar district when the arrest was made by a special team of officials attached to the Central Province Intelligence Unit. more..

Keeping The Rebels Down

July 29 (SP) Sri Lanka ended a two decade long civil war three months ago, and the Sri Lankan armed forces are seeking to make the most of the hard won victory, and the lessons learned. The primary lesson is that, eventually, you may have to fight against a determined domestic enemy. After many defeats and several attempts at making peace with the Tamil (LTTE) rebels, the government finally decided to crush the enemy in a major military campaign. more..

Remembering Neelan: Tenth death anniversary

July 29 (DBS) Ten years ago on this day (July 29th 1999) that Dr. Neelakandan Tiruchelvam known generally as Neelan was brutally assassinated by a suicide killer of the LTTE near his office on Kynsey terrace. I was perhaps one of the last persons to speak to him on that fateful day. I spoke with him on the telephone from Toronto for 50 minutes from 7.50 am until 8.40 am. I used to call him almost every week then. more..

Sri Dalada and Dalada Perahera: Ancient rituals and facts

July 29 (DN) Esala is the month of festivals. Temples and devalayas conduct their annual peraheras according to traditional customs in this season. The month of Esala is so famous and synonymous with pageants. Ven. Moronthota Thera in a verse to King Rajadhi Rajasinghe writes "Esala masa dutimi yanawa Dev-Keliye". Kap planting heralds all the peraheras in our country. It is terminated with water cutting ceremony. more..

Nurses strike a flop

July 29 (DN) The sick leave campaign by some members of two trade unions at Maharagama Cancer Hospital was a total failure with members of Armed Forces assisting to ensure a smooth service and the largest nurses' trade union and other trade unions refusing for join the campaign. Ministry agreed to provide all the demands presented by the nurses engaged in carrying out chemotherapy treatment to cancer patients. more..

President to open Uva-Wellassa University

July 29 (DN) The Uva-Wellassa University established by the Government costing over Rs. 2,200 million to give an equal opportunity to all students to unravel the marvels of new technology will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 5. The President is also expected to address the UPFA's final rally in the Badulla district on the same day. The first batch of the students in the Uva-Wellassa University has already been assured employment. more..

'Expect surprise from President before SPC polls'

July 29 (Island) The SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that the country could expect President Mahinda Rajapaksa to unveil his future plans before the Southern Provincial Council. he said that the President would make a far reaching policy statement on September 1 to coincide with the 19th Convention of the SLFP. He emphasised that the most important statement would set the tone for the tail end of this year and early next year. more..

Pining mothers of snatched baby jumbos face threat to health

July 29 (Island) The mothers of the two baby elephants forcibly taken out of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on Saturday, were pining for their offspring and facing severe health problems like swollen nipples having not fed their babies for long hours. "We cannot even touch the nipples, when we treat the injured mothers milk sprays from the nipples." The she elephants were injured in their battle to save their beloved babies being separated. more..

Tigers received explosives, aviation gasoline from India

July 29 (Island) Although China’s Norinco had been the Tigers’ largest single supplier of arms, including all its artillery pieces and dedicated equipment such as four barrelled 14.5 mm anti-aircraft guns (ZPU 4), the group throughout Eelam war had maintained an Indian supply line which brought in a range of warlike items. Supplies from India had been as important as heavy armaments from China in sustaining the LTTE fighting capacity. more..

Hang on a minute

July 29 (Island) Milinda Moragoda has a problem. The Government has launched a war on crime and, as the newly appointed Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, he is responsible. He must at least appear to be doing something. Distracting attention from his involvement in questionable privatisation deals is clearly a priority too, if he is to have any credibility in his new role. And hey presto, he would seem to have found the answer, within days of shifting office. more..

State minitor for external degrees

July 29 (DM) Regulations and guidelines are to be presented soon to monitor and regularize what Higher Education Minister Wisva Warnapala describes as “External Degree Factories” and to stem the proliferation of private tuition classes. Prof. Warnapala told Daily Mirror the University Grants Commission (UGC) was not too pleased over the external degree programmes of the national university system. more..

Ranatunga’s secretary promoted

July 29 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga’s secretary has been given a promotion and a thumping salary increase, sources said. Dushyanthi Karunanayake, who has been working as a Secretary in SLC has been promoted to the rank of Confidential Secretary and her salary has been raised by Rs. 35,000 with effect from this month, sources added. Ranatunga said that there was nothing unusual in the process and more..

Morality and UPFA politics

July 29 (DM) Applying a distinct set of values has always been a feature of group behaviour of human civilization. Practice, religion, philosophy and conscience of influential individuals, all contribute to the making of morals in a society. In Sri Lanka, before the advent of the colonial rulers, the core morals were based on the concept of simplicity. Simplicity in attire, thinking and needs together formed a strong, stable social structure. more..

Doctors’ refusal of accommodation affects IDPs

July 29 (DM) Health authorities are worried that the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry is handicapped to provide a satisfactory service to the IDPs as the doctors posted to the Chettikulum hospital –one of the main hospitals that caters to IDPs - have refused to occupy the accommodations provided to them by the Ministry saying that they need more facilities, a Ministry spokesman said. more..

Funds for IDP children

Lasantha - a celebration of dissent and diversity

July 29 (Himal) It is unthinkable to me that Lasantha has now become part of Sri Lanka’s gruesome statistics of dead journalists. But that is the cold reality. This innovative and dynamic man who co-founded the Sunday Leader 15 years ago and maintained a larger than life presence in the local media circuit has now been silenced. A buoyant and mischievous editor with the largest heart and a brilliant mind, more..

Sri Lanka private flying revival in the offing

July 29 (LBO) Civil aviation authority is considering giving approval for the operation of more private aircraft, the use of which was severely restricted and sometimes banned during the ethnic war. Director General of Civil Aviation Parakrama Dissanayake said several requests from private companies and individuals to buy light aircraft were now being processed. The civil aviation authority has to seek the approval of other agencies like the defence ministry. more..

SL enters economic agreements with Bahrain

July 29 (GDI) The visiting Prime Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalifa in a statement said that the bilateral relations with Sri Lanka have achieved over the years an important milestone. He said that it is the expectation of his country to enhance these ties and cooperation in order to satisfy the ambitions of both states and nations. “Bahrain is deeply appreciative of President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for their positive positions and balanced policies towards Arab causes, more..

Rights group urges resettlement for Sri Lanka's displaced

July 29 (Reuters) The international advocacy group Human Rights Watch urged the Sri Lankan government on Wednesday to release hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians confined to displacement camps despite the end of the country's civil war. The appeal comes days after the United States called for the resettlement of more than 280,000 civilians held in sprawling camps in the north since May, when government troops crushed the LTTE more..

Can Sri Lanka fulfill agreed econ reforms with IMF?

July 29 (Reuters) The IMF approved a $2.6 billion loan for Sri Lanka to help the country through the global financial crisis and rebuild following a 25-year civil war. Sri Lanka will immediately be able to tap the first disbursement of $322 million under the 20-month programme but the rest will be phased in, subject to quarterly reviews. Following are some questions and answers on key conditions and whether the government will be able meet them. more..

Face -to-face with a human bomb

July 29 (NP) Earlier this year, I found myself seated face-to-face with a would-be suicide bomber, the most dreaded weapon in the arsenal of the LTTE -- better known as the Tamil Tigers. Until their battlefield defeat earlier this year, the LTTE dreamed that their long campaign of terrorism would help them carve an independent Tamil homeland out of northern and eastern Sri Lanka. As we talked, I felt comfortable in the knowledge that the man would not blow himself up: more..

'Sigiriya Museum, A gift from Japan to people of Sri Lanka'

July 29 (AT) As a nation we believe in providing our people the opportunity to view all things of historical value. Therefore the donation of this museum from Japan to the people of Sri Lanka is a gift to our tradition of protecting and viewing the treasures of history, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the opening ceremony of newly constructed Sigiriya Museum, today, July 28. more..