Apr 26 (DM) A 17 year old girl in Gampola has succumbed to her injuries after she set herself ablaze for failing her O/Level examinations. According to her family, the victim had ambitions of becoming a doctor and was shocked when she did not get through the exams. Her twin sister however passed with flying colours. The victim, V. Sahana had been unable to bear the brunt of her low marks and more..

Apr 26 (UNP) UNP MP Gayantha Karunatileke said, the Govt. had at last realized the abysmal failures of its Ministers, and switched the Ministers of important Ministries in accordance with the UNP criticisms leveled during the last so many years. The former Ministers of education, health and foreign affairs have lost their Ministries. Although the Education and health ministers have managed to get other portfolios, more..

Apr 26 (DM) Twelve Buddhist monks, who were taken into custody by police while they were on a fast unto death campaign opposite the Fort Railway Station urging to release General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, were acquitted from the charges of public nuisance and fresh charges were filed against them under obstructing the duties of police officers. When the matter was taken up for hearing before Colombo Magistrate Ms Lanka Jayaratne, more..

Apr 26 (AFP) Malaysian police Monday said they have detained 75 Sri Lankan migrants who refused to get off a fishing trawler, after three days of talks to persuade them to leave the vessel broke down. The trawler was intercepted off northern Perak state on Friday but the group, including six women and eight children, refused to leave the boat, northern region marine police chief Zainal Abidin Hasan said. "We towed the fishing trawler into our police base jetty as the vessel had at least five leaks and more..

Apr 26 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's main opposition UNP is to undergo major reform, party spokesman Gayantha Karunatillake told reporters here on Monday. "There will be massive reform in the party very soon. All MPs will be assigned major responsibilities," Karunatilleke said. Since this month's defeat in the parliamentary election an internal struggle for serious party reforms have surfaced. more..

Apr 26 (IANS) Sri Lankans are huge fans of the Hindi film industry, popularly known as Bollywood. With the long-drawn battle with the separatist terrorist group, the LTTE, coming to an end, people of this emerald island are now enjoying the fantasies that Hindi cinema sells and encouraging Indian film-makers to shoot in the country. "Hindi films are very huge here," Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez, told IANS. more..

Apr 26 (DM) The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (M) group under the leadership of Matara district UNF MP Mangala Samaraweera had been invited to join the UNP, sources said. This invitation has been extended to the SLFP (M) group by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. They are expected to meet this week to discuss on the steps that should be taken for the SLFP(M) group to join the UNP. more..

Apr 26 (BBC) The Attorney General (AG) in Sri Lanka says that the Supreme Court has allowed the authorities to further detain and question former military commander, Gen Sarath Fonseka. A three-member bench chaired by Chief Justice Asoka de Silva on Monday decided to postpone the hearing of a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed against the detention of Gen Fonseka, MP, until 08 July. more..

Apr 26 (LP) The new Ministry Secretaries who were appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees are, 1 Dhara Wijayathilaka - Science and Technology Ministry, 2 Dr.P.B. Jayasundara - Economic Development Ministry, 3 W.B. Ganegala - Mass Media and Information Ministry, 4 Malkanthie Wickramasinghe - National Languages and Social Integration Ministry more..

Apr 26 (IE) After protests by a Tamil group outside his house against hosting this year's IIFA awards in Sri Lanka, megastar Amitabh Bachchan says that he has no intention to hurt the feelings of anyone. The 67-year-old actor, who is the brand ambassador of the India International Films Awards (IIFA), visited the island nation recently to announce the date of awards. The group held a protest asking him not to hold IIFA awards in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 26 (DM) UNP Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe has invited the DPF led by Mano Ganesan for talks to resolve the ongoing dispute between both parties after the DPF launched a scathing attack against the opposition for omitting Ganesan from the national list slot. According to DPF Leader Mano Ganesan, Wickramasigha is expected to meet DPF members Dr. Kumara Guruparan and Praba Ganesan today to discuss more..

Apr 26 (LT) Rajapakse regime that appoints a person who attacked journalists and media institutions, allocating ministerial portfolios to MPs in an unorganized or unmethodical manner and follow a dumb policy regarding preference issues has vagabondized politics in Sri Lanka says General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva. He further said, “A new government has been appointed. more..

Apr 26 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Paro International Airport in Bhutan this morning on 26th April to attend the 16th SAARC Summit which will be held in Thimpu on 28 and 29th of this month. He was warmly received by the Prime Minister of Bhutan Mr.Jigmi Y.Thinley at the airport. On his arrival Sri Lankan President was accorded an impressive Guard of Honour by the Bhutanese Military. more..

Apr 27 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's shares extended a record-setting streak to six days on Monday on hopes of better earnings, amid heavy retail buying. The All-Share Price Index .CSE of the Colombo Stock Exchange hit a new all-time high of 4,161.56 points, surpassing its previous high of 4,131.84 on Friday. It closed 0.35 percent firmer at 4,136.05. "Hopes of better earnings are driving the market despite the delay in the budget," more..

Apr 27 (DM) The committee appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse to inquire into the Nawalapitiya incidents will meet tomorrow to discuss the issues which led to the violence and will thereafter brief the President, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said. He said that a comprehensive report into the inquiry will be handed over to President Rajapakse soon after which Daily Mirror online learns that disciplinary action is likely to be taken against more..

Apr 27 (LBO) Brandix, one of Sri Lanka's top apparel exporters, said it aims to cut chemical use by about a quarter and reduce costs through a deal with a German supplier that will also reduce pollution. Brandix Group said in a statement the deal to trial the 'Chemical Leasing' (ChL) concept methodology will promote more efficient and sustainable management of chemicals in manufacturing processes. more..

Apr 27 (UCAN) Christianity in Sri Lanka is more than 1,000 years old, but that has not stopped churchmen describing a priest who died three centuries ago as the founder of the local Church. “Blessed Joseph Vaz was the greatest missioner Asia has ever produced and was called ‘founder of the local Church,’” said Father Alex Dassanayake, vice postulator of the National Joseph Vaz Secretariat. He “founded the Church without disturbing harmony,” more..

Apr 27 (SLN) The 07th death anniversary of the former Amarapura Nikaya Mahanayake and Nagadeepa Purana Raja Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent the Late Most Venerable Brahammanawatte Dhammakitti Tissa Thera was commemorated under the patronage of present Nagadeepa Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven. Padumakitti Tissa Thera and on the directions of Commander Northern Naval Area Rear Admiral Susith Weerasekera. more..

Apr 27 (BBC) Hampshire manager Giles White says new signing Rangana Herath will not be available for this week's County Championship trip to Warwickshire. The Sri Lankan left-arm spinner is unable to get a flight into the country as he waits for a visa, and the game at Edgbaston begins on Tuesday. White told BBC Radio Solent: "There's nothing we can do. "He can't get a flight at the moment so he's just waiting there for the visa. We'll sit here and wait." more..

Apr 27 (LG) We owe our readers an apology for this column not appearing last Sunday. The reason is, we confess, an orgy of kiributh gobbling stretching for well over a year commencing from those sweeping victories in provincial councils elections to the presidential and parliamentary elections.Then came the Sinhala New Year where once again it was the traditional kiributh followed by the other delicacies. more..

Apr 27 (LBO) Sri Lanka's public investments are on the rise as government builds new infrastructure for a post-war revival, laying the foundation for more private investment, Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said. The end of the 30-year ethnic war last May has created the political stability needed to accelerate economic growth, he told an audience at a logistics quiz. more..

Apr 27 (LG) Parliamentary elections ended with the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa wining nearly two thirds majority in the parliament. However, it is with only one third of registered votes that he managed to achieve this landmark victory. He had to use all possible state resources, entire election machinery and thuggery and colossal amount of money to obtain this result. It is apparent that more than 20 % of registered voters abstained from voting. more..

Apr 27 (SW) Retracing an ancient maritime silk-route, an Omani sailing ship, built as a replica of a Ninth Century model, sailed into Galle harbour with its Lankan crew member on board. Standing on the bow of a Navy Water Jet, a kind of motorboat, riding the waves a mile out in the seas off Galle, feeling giddy and hazy with my insides threatening to come out any second, I couldn’t help but wonder how the boys (and girls) in blue do it day in and day out, every single day. more..

Apr 27 (AN) The Archbishop of Colombo, Mgr Malcolm Ranjith, wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, to express the communion and support of the entire diocesan community. He called on all the faithful to pray for the Pope who is under attack from international media over paedophile priests. “Reading the international media, I have been saddened by the organised and malicious attacks that are being carried out more..

Apr 27 (Gulf) A Kuwaiti lawmaker has asked the interior minister to explain the suspension of the Sri Lankan new year celebrations on Friday. The day-long festivities organised by the Sri Lankan embassy at Al Jahra Stadium, 32 kilometres north west of Kuwait City, were cancelled hours before their scheduled end after angry Kuwaitis invaded the field and demanded that the participants, estimated at more than 10,000, leave the premises. more..

Apr 27 (BBC) Seven Tamil Tiger suspects were arrested by the authorities in the Netherlands, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Netherlands, Grace Asirvathan, confirmed to BBC Sandeshaya. The arrest was made after an intensive study of the LTTE banned activities in the Netherlands. It said sixteen residences and businesses searched in the operation. Computers, paperwork, phones, documents, photos, DVDs and a sum totaling more than 40,000 euros were seized. more..

Apr 27 (LP) 'Epa waheta hodi bedanna wage' is a Sinhala proverb that means serving curry to the husband that the wife is no more in love. Traditional Sinhala housewife was bound to treat the husband well although she no more liked him. The husband could be either too old or weak since usually there was a wide age gap between husbands and wives in the past. more..

Apr 27 (LG) The young prince Dutugemunu — with apologies to all concerned — is said, as the lore has it — to have complained in his childhood that he cannot sleep (recline as they wrote in the historical tome (!)...) in reasonable comfort, with the sprawling ocean on one side, and the invading Tamils on the otherThis hemmed-in feeling is unavoidable these days - with apologies to both - when Dayan Jayatillaka says that we are drinking in the last chance saloon, and more..

Apr 27 (LG) According to the Central Bank, the external sector of the economy has recovered robustly since May 2009 and particularly, the external reserves have significantly improved. This is clearly illustrated in the 60th Annual Report of the Monetary Board of th Central Bank of Sri Lanka which was submitted to the President of Sri Lanka and the Minister of Finance and Planning on 5th of April 2010 by the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal. more..

Apr 27 (NF) A stack of national identity cards, buried in the Diyagaha area in Matara, have been found. Police said there were 1,378 national identity cards in the lot. A worker, preparing a land in the Diyagama West area in Matara to plant cinnamon, had come across these cards. The cards had belonged to residents of Deeyagaha, Aparekka, Nivimana, Tangalle and even Welewatta. more..

Apr 27 (ST) Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne, 'Di Mu' to most who know him, was the fourteenth Sri Lankan to be appointed as Prime Minister, continuing a recent tradition of a senior and trustworthy party faithful being appointed to the largely ceremonial post. For a person of modest origins, it has been a remarkable political journey and Jayaratne is now the proverbial heartbeat away from the Presidency. more..

Apr 27 (SL) JVP politburo member and National Trade Union Center Head, K.D. Lalkantha observed that the JVP has played an active role outside parliament to win various issues and would continue in the same manner regardless of the number of seats secured by the JVP led DNA at the general elections. However, while admitting a decline in the JVP vote base he said the party would work to strengthen itself in the villages once again. more..

Apr 28 (SATP) The opportunities of the nascent peace in Sri Lanka have never been as great as they now are, since the emergence of the now-defeated LTTE in 1976, nor have the mandarins in Colombo ever been as empowered to realize these. President Mahinda Rajapakse, after engineering the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, secured landslide victory in the January 2010 Presidential Elections. more..

Apr 28 (MTV) With its gruesome violence, brutal subject matter, and grim message, M.I.A.'s "Born Free" video isn't the kind of thing you're ever really prepared to see, though first thing on a Monday morning, it's especially tough to watch. That doesn't mean, however, that it shouldn't be required viewing. Because "Free," which debuted Monday (April 26) on M.I.A.'s website, more..

Apr 28 (TS) Greater Toronto community workers are becoming increasingly concerned about elderly immigrants sponsored to Canada and then abused by family members. Though not a new phenomenon, elder abuse is seen more frequently by workers in immigrant services. The marked increase has been noted since Citizenship and Immigration Canada, under a funding agreement with Ontario in 2005, began investing more resources in seniors’ English classes, drop-ins and recreational programs. more..

Apr 27 (LG) UNP is not the JVP. Voters of these two parties have two distinct ideologies. One is highly secular, free-thinking and economically liberal while the other is mostly mono ethnic, restrictive and socialist. Other national parties fit in between them. Recently there has been much upheaval about replacing Ranil as the UNP leader. But all those who blame Ranil for UNP’s ills either due to ignorance or deliberate need to do so, more..

Apr 27 (TS) Master chef Dr Pablis de Silva is a household name back home in Sri Lanka. “Ask for me at the airport and the immigration staff knows where to find me,” he quipped. Pablis can be forgiven for being seemingly presumptuous. After all, he is a familiar face in the print media and on three TV channels in his homeland, which feature him doing what he does best – cooking. more..

Apr 27 (MoD) A Task Force (encompassing several key Government and non-Governmental stakeholders) and a border protection unit will be setup at ports of entry to combat human trafficking. The proposed Task Force may come into operation within the next couple of months in collaboration with the Justice Ministry, Immigration and Emigration Department, Law Enforcement Authorities, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, more..