Aug 5 (N360) Pasikudha in the eastern province which was a popular tourist destination before the conflict broke out in 1983 is expected to get a boom with the entry of a Maldives hotel developer who is planning to build up a tourism resort. Maldives Blue Continent will establish a US $ 6 million worth tourism resort including a hotel of 150 rooms.The resort which is coming up in a land area of 15 acres is expected to be operational by 2011. more..

Aug 5 (LeN) The Chief incumbent of the Batticaloa Sri Mangalarama is to commence a fast unto death tomorrow in protest because the President, the Govt. and the Govt. officials have not paid any attention to the problems faced by the Sinhalese in the North despite these issues being brought to the their notice a long time ago. Ven. Sumanaratne Thero told Lanka e news that he has been in Batticaloa for over 15 years, and there are about 1500 Sinhala families residing there. more..

Aug 5 (LeN) Political parties, Lawyers, Govt. Administrative officers Association, Samurdhi officers Association and a majority of Organizations have begun bitterly castigating the President and his Govt. and are protesting against permitting Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva better known as Vermin Silva to tie a Samurdhi officer to a tree. The victim of the deplorable and high handed action of Mervyn Silva is Mohomed Nizam, a Samurdhi officer. more..

Aug 5 (GDI) Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne highlighted the need to initiate a programme to enhance trust between the police and the general public. He pointed out that if the relationship between the police and the civil society proves to be unhealthy, the wellbeing of the society will be at stake. Premier made these remarks at a discussion held with IGP, Mahinda Balasooriya more..

Aug 5 (NF) Conjunctivitis, an acute inflammation of the conjunctiva (the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids), most commonly due to an allergic reaction or an infection (usually viral, but sometimes bacterial, is spreading rapidly across the country, says Dr. Sisira Liyanage. Between 50 to 100 patients visit the hospital seeking treatment for the infection which is also known as the pink eye infection, each day. more..

Aug 5 (NF) A new testing center is to be established to inspect the quality of locally produced western medicines, says the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. According to the Ministry the proposed testing center will enable quality testing of medicine while ensuring that high quality drugs enter the market. Furthermore, the Ministry noted that the objective of setting up such a center was to minimize the problems faced by more..

Aug 5 (LNP) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday directed Ports Authority officials to further streamline the container handling process and prepare plans for more container terminals at the Colombo harbour. President Rajapaksa made these directives after inspecting the construction of the Colombo Port development project which is to be completed by 2012. The officials pointed out that 45 percent of the Colombo harbour development project has been completed. more..

Aug 5 (LNP) Speaking at a seminar held on Making Sri Lanka a top tourist destination , he said creating the infrastructure facilities such as rooms for the expected tourists will be a challenge for Sri Lanka. We need to cater them with 24,000 to 40,000 rooms to which many local and foreign investment is needed, he said. Every investor regardless of the investment expects to get a fair pay back. Their confidence as well as the commitment shown by more..

Aug 5 (SL) A video has surfaced on YouTube of what appears to be former LTTE arms procurer, LTTE head, government captive, and now government supporter KP speaking to people in Vavuniya. This video was also shown by the website tamilcnn.com. In a recent interview with the Sunday Leader, KP confirmed that he had visited the Wanni and also the camps. more..

Aug 5 (LNP) The problem with some jokers is that they are extremely dangerous men like the one in the Batman comics. Threats they pose to society become graver when they happen to wield political power. Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva took the law into his hands once again on Tuesday tying as he did a Samurdhi officer to a tree in Kelaniya for the latter`s alleged failure to attend a meeting to discuss dengue prevention. more..

Aug 5 (DN) The second International Airport at Mattala, Hambantota will be commissioned by mid 2012, Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Prasanna J Wickramasooriya said. After completing the first phase of the airport construction project, the first flight will land in Mattala airport by mid 2012 fulfilling a long felt need of having a second international airport in the country. more..

Aug 5 (DN) It is said that around 1,000 abortions are conducted per day resulting in over 300,000 silent genocide per year is taking place in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Family Health Bureau sources said. Though abortion is illegal in Sri Lanka and police raid many abortion clinics run by quacks throughout the country. Some abortion clinics have been in operation for many years on the sly. These quacks who are not experienced in standard surgical practices charge huge money from the victims. more..

Aug 5 (DN) A new 'system' of dengue controlling has been adopted by village level groups inspecting dengue mosquito breeding sites in Allubomulla (Grama Niladhari division 694 A, Tissa Mawatha) area in the Bandaragama Divisional Secretariat division. This 'system' does not control dengue but promotes it further. According to residents who experienced this new `system' the group visit and throughly inspect their friends' homes. more..

Aug 5 (DN) The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) stated that seven Sri Lankan housemaids who were ill and stranded in a hostel in Riyadh were returned to Sri Lanka yesterday. Around 45 housemaids are with the Job agency till they are found jobs as promised by the agency. They are stranded in a hostel in Riyadh. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh and the SLFEB took urgent steps to bring the seven housemaids since they were ill. more..

Aug 5 (Island) Samurdhi Development officers threaten tough trade union action unless Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva tenders an unqualified public apology to their colleague who suffered harassment and humiliation at his hands in Kelaniya on Tuesday. Secretary of the Samurdhi Development Officers Union, Chamara Maddumakaluge, told The Island that they had called an urgent meeting of the membership to decide on a course of action. more..

Aug 5 (Island) Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday directed that a Public Health Advisory Committee on Children be appointed as many children’s diseases have been found fast spreading during last few years. The Minister told his officials that the existing awareness programmes on childrens’ health were not enough to create awareness. This has led to series of problems including sexual harassment of children. more..

Aug 5 (Island) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday said he would give a ruling today on the privilege issue raised by DNA MP General Sarath Fonseka that he had been prevented from attending the Consultative Committee Meetings in Parliament. The Speaker gave that assurance after General Sarath Fonseka raised a privilege issue yesterday afternoon alleging that more..

Aug 5 (Island) Despite institutional shortcomings, the Ministry of Health had started campaigns to find solutions especially for the Dengue menace, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. Addressing a media briefing yesterday, he said they were expecting the BT Bacteria from the Cuban Government shortly. He said the agreement was between the Sri Lankan Government and the Cuban Government and USD 260 million had been paid last month. more..

Aug 5 (DM) The Kelaniya episode did not come as a surprise. One knew for a fact that one could not expect anything better from a man who is prepared to stoop down to any level to hog the headlines. However that does not go to mitigate the seriousness of the crime he committed. The ripples his act has created are banging on the doors of democracy creating quite big waves. Locally his mischief will go on to inject new blood to the trade union activism that is gathering momentum in the country. more..

Aug 5 (DM) Samurdhi Officers will go on a protest demonstration in front of Divisional Secretariat offices today against the tying up of a Samurdhi animator to a tree by Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva. “On account of the Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva ordering to tie up a Samurdhi animator to a tree for not attending a dengue control programme today there would be a protest demonstration in front of all the offices of the Divisional Secretaries, All Ceylon Samurdhi Officers Union said yesterday. more..

Aug 5 (DM) The JVP, in a response to Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva tying-up of the Samurdhi official, had appealed people to come forward to protect the Rule of Law, saying that the President and the Government should take the responsibility as they have always approved such illegal actions by keeping quiet. “Dengue Epidemic cannot be reduced to a lapse of one or few officials as it is a result of the deficiencies in the Local Government Authorities as well as the Ministry of Health. more..

Aug 5 (DM) Petroleum Industries Ministry was seeking legal advice to start distribution of LP Gas through Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), sources said. Petroleum Industries Ministry Secretary Titus Jayawardena said that they are on the process of attempting to obtain legal provisions from the Supreme Court under the CPC Act of 1961 in order to commence the LP Gas distribution venture through the CPC. more..

Aug 5 (DM) External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said in Parliament yesterday that ‘vitriolic attacks’ on the judiciary and judges would have dire international repercussions on the interests of Sri Lanka. Prof. Peiris said that judges had come under such attack on the floor of the Parliament recently. “Fifty percent of judges in this country are my students. more..

Aug 5 (CI) Fortunes ebbed and flowed on the third day with the teams finishing on even terms at the end of the Indian innings. Sri Lanka undermined Virender Sehwag's blistering hundred with a couple of early breakthroughs before Suresh Raina and VVS Laxman fought hard to lead India's recovery and put them ahead. The hosts clawed back with a clutter of wickets but a spirited lower order handed India a slender lead to more..

Aug 5 (Hindu) The CPI(M) on Thursday urged the Indian Government to send a delegation of Members of Parliament, representing all political parties, to Sri Lanka to study the situation and facilitate quick rehabilitation of Tamils suffered in the civil war. State secretary of the party G. Ramakrishnan welcomed the Indian government’s decision to send a senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs to Sri Lanka, more..

Aug 5 (CT) The husband of a couple said to have been abducted in Borella is a drug dealer, police say. He is a cousin of Olcott, who is a powerful underworld gang leader in Colombo. The incident occurred as the couple, along with their children, was on their way to a supermarket in Borella on the night of Aug. 03. An armed group in a white van forced the man into the vehicle and his wife has forcibly got into the van after him. more..

Aug 5 (LP) Deputy Minister of Highways Dr Mervin Silva said that he did not tie anyone to a tree. Addressing Parliament today (04) Deputy Minister said that the Samudhri Officer had sent him a letter saying that he honours the service of the Deputy Minister towards the Keleniya area and that he would willing come forward to be tied himself to a tree. more..

Aug 5 (IL) Two opposition parliamentarians Prabha Ganesan and P. Digambaram have crossed over from the opposition and joined the Government this morning at Temple Trees. Prabha Ganesan of Democratic People’s Front and P.Digambaram of the National Union of Workers Front contested the last General Election in April 2010 under the elephant symbol of the United National Front from Colombo and Nuwara Eliya districts respectively. more..

Aug 5 (SL) The DPF denied reports that its member and parliamentarian Prabha Ganeshan had extended his support to the government after a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees today. Dr. Nalliah Kumaraguruparan General Secretary of the DPF told The Sunday leader a short while ago that Prabha Ganeshn had met the President in the morning to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments and the re-demarcation proposal. more..

Aug 6 (DBS) Two Tamil MP's P. Digambaam of National Union of Workers & Praba Ganesan of Democratic Peoples Front crossed over to the Govt formally today. Both were elected on the UNF ticket at the 2010 polls. Digambaram from Nuwara-Eliya & Praba Ganesan from Colombo. Though from different parties both MP's met President Rajapaksa together at "Temple Trees" today & declared their support to UPFA government. more..

Aug 6 (TN) The Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) led by Mano Ganesan has suspended the membership of parliamentarian Praba Ganesan who joined the government in a surprising move Thursday. DPF termed the cross over as one which has ‘betrayed’ the party and Tamil people during "these trying times." “It is a clear act against the principles consistently followed by us for the last ten years since the inception of the party. more..

Aug 6 (AFP) Sri Lanka is expected to earn a record 1.4 billion dollars from its tea exports this year thanks to a bumper crop, an official said Thursday. Tea, Sri Lanka's biggest cash crop, earned 71.3 billion rupees (635 million dollars) in the first six months of 2010 compared with 58.2 billion rupees in the corresponding period last year. "We are forecasting about 1.4 billion dollars in export earnings for this year. more..

Aug 6 (CI) India have long been suffering at the hands of opposition tails. The latest was when Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herath added 115 runs for eighth wicket in the first innings in Galle. That was one of the many points that contributed to a loss that shouldn't have been. Today, though, the boot was on the other foot: India's last three added 86, runs that would be twice as difficult to get when batting last on this crumbling beauty of a Test pitch. more..

Aug 6 (CI) Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has said that he is honoured to join Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas as the only three Sri Lankan bowlers to take 100 Test wickets after he reached the milestone during the third day's play at the P Sara Oval. His landmark wicket was that of the greatest run-getter in Test cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, whom he had caught behind for 41. more..

Aug 6 (DM) LTTE merchant ship Sunsea left the gulf of Thailand in early last month and will reach Canada later this week. The ship is carrying approximately 200 SL Tamils illegally. The ship is owned and operated by the LTTE and Captained by Capt Vinodh, who was one of the two captains that transported several thousand tones of arms, ammunition and explosives to SL from North Korea for the LTTE. more..

Aug 6 (DM) At the midst of world energy crisis it is vital that every effort be made in order to make energy efficiency improvement and rational use of energy. Use of high energy efficient appliances is a predominant aspect in improving demand side energy efficiency. Setting up of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and energy-efficiency labels are effective tools for promotion and disseminating appliances with high energy efficiency. more..

Aug 6 (Reuters) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday drew closer to the two-thirds parliamentary majority he needs to change the constitution after two opposition legislators joined his ruling alliance. The president's United Peoples Freedom Alliance won a sweeping majority at April polls after Rajapaksa's re-election three months earlier. Rajapaksa has already struck a tentative deal to more..

Aug 6 (LG) Let me draw your kind attention to a particular conduct of Minister Mervin Silva in a meeting with Samurdhi officers yesterday. An officer who could not attend the meeting organized by this minister was punished in a most primitive way and this kind of inappropriate behaviour of a deputy minister could bring only disgrace to the country. Mervin Silva was speaking about “discipline” (Vinaya) even in this particular incident, more..

Aug 6 (LG) “Accompanied by her son Dr. Bahirathan Amirthalingam (51), Mrs. Mangayarkkarasi Amirthalingam (76), also an ardent supporter of the Eelam dream and widow of slain Opposition Leader Appapillai Amirthalingam (AA), visited her late husband’s bodyguard T.A. Nissanka who shot dead three LTTE assassins on July 13, 1989. The mother and the son had come to Sri Lanka for a holiday and a BBC radio documentary, had met Nissanka after 21 years, on 29 May 2010. more..

Aug 6 (LG) In a traditional monarchy, the monarch as head of State is the principal member of the royal family but in the democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka claiming to be democratic and socialist this notion is taken to ridiculous lengths taking the people for granted, encouraging their increasing servility, the ignorance and their indulgence prepared to forgive and reward those responsible for subjugating the Tamil militancy more..

Aug 6 (LG) For several decades now the Sri Lankan people have been exposed to extraordinary acts of separation, large scale forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, illegal arrest and detention. This and large scale displacement of people from their homes by way of internal displacement or by leaving the country altogether and the disappearance of even elementary forms of protection available to more..

Aug 6 (LP) Magistrates Court Colombo has ordered that five passports including that of MP Range Bandara sent to be inspected by the Investigator of Government Documents and a report produce to Court. The order was given when the CID presented facts regarding the passports to the court. The five passports including the passport of MP Range Bandara had been handed over to Norwegian Embassy to get Visa to travel to theat country. more..

Aug 6 (LG) By the middle of the 17th century, the Portuguese were driven out of Sri Lanka (and southern India) by the Dutch East India Company, which governed for more than 100 years, introduced plantation agriculture, developed trade, and left a legacy that includes Roman-Dutch law. But they too found themselves displaced. Having won their struggle with France for mastery in India (and in North America), more..

Aug 6 (DM) Mahinda Rajapaksa has for decades been the Patron of the Sri Lanka – Palestinian solidarity association, and is widely popular in Palestine with a road named after him in Ramallah, the West Bank capital of the Palestinian Authority. Accordingly the important role that Israel played in assisting Sri Lanka conduct its own war on terror through the supply and servicing of the Israeli built Kfir jet squadron and other defense cooperation is indeed paradoxical. more..

Aug 6 (DM) In a joke used to promote the versatility of the famous London Department store, Ronald Reagan calls up Harrods and asks to order an elephant; to which the clerk replies “Asian or African?” For most of us our knowledge of the types of elephant species ends there. Thus many people in the country who head towards Pinnawala assume they are seeing just another herd of Asian Elephants. more..

Aug 6 (Island) There would have been no cause for cavil whatsoever if the EU had refused to extend GSP+ on the ground that Sri Lanka had failed to maintain certain human rights standards, assuming of course that that was a fair assessment. But the EU went far beyond that in stipulating those fifteen conditions for extension, stipulated furthermore in the manner of an ultimatum which would not have been acceptable to any self-respecting government. more..

Aug 6 (Island) A considerable number of children have been adopted in Sri Lanka every year. The statistics from the Department of Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS) show that every year around 1,000 children have been legally adopted by either local or foreign people. According to DPCCS statistics provided in their website, there are 1,059 children have been adopted in 2005. However, adoption of children by foreigners have been considerably decreased, more..

Aug 6 (TN) Jaffna High Court released on bail Thursday Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Thenmaraadchi organizer Allexander Soosaimuthu alias Charles, a suspect in the killing of student Thiruchelvam Kapilnath in Chaavakachcheari, detained in Jaffna prison. The magistrate ordered the suspect not to leave the country and to sign at Jaffna police station every Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. more..