Feb 5 (SG) The 62nd National Day of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was marked by the newly appointed Consul General A. Sabarullah Khan, Sri Lankan consulate officials and members of the Sri Lankan community at the consulate premises here Thursday. Consul General Khan raised the Sri Lankan flag while the national anthem was sung by students from the Sri Lankan International School. more..

Feb 5 (TN) Armed Forces occupying Jaffna peninsula which had forced its people to observe Independence Day in the past did not engage in any such activity on Thursday, sources in Jaffna said. Less than ten employees took part in the event in Jaffna Secretariat where Jaffna District Government Agent hoisted the National Flag, the sources added. Meanwhile, 34 persons including 3 Sinhalese serving prison sentence for minor offences were freed on Independence Day. more..

Feb 5 (LG) Recent events following the Presidential election have put you on the negative limelight, due to your confusing and contradicting comments made head down without looking at the audience. Lots of accusations are leveled against you. Some have been denied. The manner in which you are responding to the issues surrounding the conduct and the outcome of the election is further confusing the citizens like me. more..

Jan 5 (wsws) The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka has converted its presidential election website into a permanent party site www.socialequality.lk/ in the country’s three main languages—English, Sinhala and Tamil. Sinhala, Tamil and English speakers will now be able to access articles related to Sri Lanka and South Asia as well as information about the SEP and its campaigns in their own language at the one address. more..

Jan 5 (GDI) Sri Lanka, the resplendent isle play host in traditional Sri Lankan style to Council and delegates of the Commonwealth Association of Architects who will set foot in Colombo, Capital City of SRI LANKA for the CAA 19th General Assembly and Conference from 15 - 21 February, 2010. The 19th General Assembly and Conference 2010 of CAA will be held in conjunction with the Annual Sessions 2010 of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA). more..

Jan 5 (GDI) Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) has got actively involved at the Deyata Kirula exhibition organised under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and held at Pallekele, Kandy till 10th instant. ICTA's participation will be articulated mainly by the Nenasala stall forming part of the National Development exhibition which was inaugurated yesterday coinciding with the 62nd Commemoration of Independence Day. more..

Feb 5 (DN) No girl is like her father and I know girls whose lifestyles are quite unlike like those of their fathers nor in tune with the kind of lifestyles their fathers’ advocated or championed. I know a girl whose father was a lyricist, a self-confessed godaya who took pride in the fact. She, on the other hand, was educated in Colombo and is quite the sophisticated young urbanite and in dress, manner and language very different to her father. more..

Jan 5 (wsws) Sri Lankan opposition parties, including the UNP and JVP, together with their defeated “common candidate,” General Sarath Fonseka, held a protest rally in Colombo on Wednesday to demand the annulment of the January 26 presidential election results. The UNP and JVP, with the political assistance of the ex-left NSSP, are seeking to cynically exploit more..

Jan 5 (LP) Ms. Padma Wattawa has been appointed by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapakse, as the new chairperson of the Ranaviru Seva Authority which is under the Ministry of Defence, public Security, Law and Order. Ms. Padma Wattawa has previously held the post of the vice chairperson and acting chairperson of the Ranaviru Seva Authority, as well as holding the post of Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority. more..

Jan 5 (LP) Police were able to recover several Gelignite sticks in a bus yesterday. 29 Gelignite sticks were found while a bus bound to Mannar from Vavuniya was checked at the Parayanakulam road block. Both the driver and the conductor of the bus have been taken into custody. Troops of the Sri Lanka Army engineers in the Thuchchankulam area were able to recover 150 Electric detonators from the area the same day. more..

Feb 5 (IL) On the occasion of celebrating Sri Lanka's 62nd National Day, an official ceremony was held at the chancery premises on 4th February morning with the participation of over 500 Sri Lankan nationals and well-wishers. As part of the celebrations, the Embassy also hosted a diplomatic reception for the Kuwaiti government leaders, officials, civil society, members of the diplomatic corps, more..

Jan 5 (LG) The disappearance of Pregeeth Ekanaliyagoda, a political analyst, journalist and visual designer, attached to LankaENews; the arrest of Chandana Sirimalwatta, the editor of the Lanka newspaper and the assassination of Chandaradasa Naiwadu, the JVP Urban Council member at Ambalangoda are among the acts of violence reported during the election for the executive presidency in Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 5 (DN) Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) expects a target production of 300 million kilograms this year. It is optimistic about the performance of the industry. The industry expects a total revenue of US$ 1.2 billion by the end of this year, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman, Lalith Hettiarachchi said. He said that although the Board expected a target production of 300 million kgs last year, due to many reasons such as drought, more..

Feb 5 (TC) The Presidential election has been concluded. The results have been announced and they are being contested, most probably in the courts as well. The south voted overwhelmingly one way, the north and east overwhelmingly another. President Rajapaksa is prsident again and his massive majority lies massively in the majority community. more..

Feb 5 (SLW) According to the UNP party president Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, the party is yet to decide whether to contest the upcoming General Election under the Elephant symbol or not. Mr. Jayawickrema Perera says there are requests from several parties to continue with the existing United National Front coalition or to form a common alliance for the General Elections. more..

Feb 5 (MoD) The pavilion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the 'Deyata Kirula 2010' National Exhibition focuses on many areas of Sri Lanka's foreign policy by tracing the origins of Sri Lanka's first diplomatic engagement dating back to ancient times to modern day interactions with the international community across the globe. The Exhibition which was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Pallekalle, more..

Feb 5 (UNP) UNP M.P. Dayasiri Jayasekera said, the President on his independence day speech harked back to the day SL received its independence on 4th Feb. 1948, and promised loudly that he would stand by the promises made on that day. As talk is cheap so are the President’s promises Dayasiri pointed out The whole country and the whole world know that this President has created a record for more..

Feb 5 (AD) The funeral of veteran stage, teledrama and film actor H.A. Perera will be held at the Madampitiya cemetery in Modera at 5.00 pm on Sunday, February 7. His remains will be at the Jayaratna Funeral Parlour from today for the public to pay their respects. Mr. Perera, aged 59, died yesterday in hospital after a brief illness. Popularly known for his role in the teledrama ‘Doo Daruwo’ more..

Feb 5 (TC) Amongst the more astonishing features of the election was the association between the UNP and the JVP to promote the candidacy of General Fonseka. Or, rather, this was in itself not astonishing, for clearly both parties would have felt a need to clutch at any straw, even a blockbuster of the caliber of the General, to do better than they had done in other recent elections. more..

Feb 5 (UNP) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said, the country is stranded at the crossroads of power mania of the rulers who are riding roughshod on the laws, democracy and people’s rights including their fundamental right of franchise, going by the manner country’s affairs and elections are being conducted. It is time people united against the power crazy regime which would sell even the country, more..

Feb 5 (LeN) The former UNP National Organizer S.B. Dissanayake who was earlier found guilty on charges of contempt of Court and sentenced to two years jail sentence, but on a Presidential pardon was released prematurely, was now fully pardoned by the President Mahinda Rajapakse and has been appointed as the Udunuwara SLFP Organizer. more..

Feb 5 (LeN) We produce herein a picture of the genuine official ballot paper which was found in a drain near the Technical College, Ratnapura which was a counting center on the election day. The ballot paper clearly shows the cross put in line with the swan symbol of Presidential candidate Gen. Fonseka indicating that it was cast in favor of him and is valid. This also bears the original signature of the Elections Commissioner authenticating more..

Feb 5 (LT) It is reported that talks held between the leaders of United National Front and General Sarath Fonseka yesterday has ended without any conclusion. This discussion had been held to appoint General Sarath Fonseka as the leader of UNF. General Sarath Fonseka has refused the proposal brought up by the UNF and it is reported that General Fonseka was of the view that this matter has to be discussed with the JVP as well. more..

Feb 5 (LNP) Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake stresses the importance of carrying out a census in the Northern Province, as soon as possible, to establish the exact number of voters living there. He says a survey will reflect the actual number of eligible voters, whereas the current electoral register is outdated. The Election Secretariat was forced to use the 1988 electoral register due more..

Feb 5 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 62nd National Independence anniversary celebrations at Kandy yesterday said that having succeeded in uniting the territory he is now entrusted with the task of uniting the hearts of all sections of the people. He would willingly take over the noble task of creating peace among all communities. more..

Feb 5 (LNP) The government has promised a pay hike for the public sector employees. Elections Commissioner (EC) Dayananda Dissanayake, we believe, deserves a special allowance at least ten times his salary for risking his sanity. He is being held in that position against his will and made to preside over a complete mess aka elections. How torturous life has become for the EC because of the unsavoury political potentates he has to deal with became evident more..

Feb 5 (DN) In the annals of Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa takes the pride of place for his historic importance of wiping out the terrorism and taking the country towards the development process. Muslims, Tamil and Sinhalese Communities should work together with mutual understanding, dedication and devotion to contribute the best towards prosperous, progressive, wealthy and healthy nation under more..

Jan 5 (GDI) The people of Sri Lanka dealt a resounding slap to the persons, groups and certain media which ridiculed the health service for partisan politics during the Presidential Election, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said. Addressing the gathering at the National Youth Services Centre, Maharagama after handing over appointment letters to 1,100 newly recruited nurses, more..

Feb 5 (IL) Recently I got in touch with Nimal Mendis veteran composer of 'hits" like " Master Sir" "Nim Him Sewva" & "Ganga Addara". He has been living here in Britain for many decades going back and forth to Sri Lanka to write those hits that have been so popular with our people. I wanted to interview him by phone with SLBC Broadcaster my dear friend and colleague Niranjan Abeysundera for the SLBC. more..

Feb 5 (Island) The All Ceylon Health Services Union (ACHSU) has blamed the Health Ministry for an alleged shortage, at the Colombo National Hospital and other government hospitals, of drugs required to treat patients affected by hypertension and high blood pressure. The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) is also alleged to have stocked 17 containers with expired and low-quality drugs and surgical items imported last year. more..

Feb 5 (DM) The government today revealed that there was an attempt by General Sarath Fonseka to stage a 'Russian style' coup against the government following the recent Presidential elections. Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, speaking to reporters claimed that Fonseka had plans to appoint ‘Bolshevik Committees’ at every state institution to carry out routine work after assassinating President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his bothers Gotabhaya Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse. more..

Feb 5 (Island) Police investigating an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government on the day of the recently concluded presidential polls say that one of the Buddhist monks arrested in connection with the investigation was released after he had cooperated with investigators. A senior official handling the probe told The Island that the CID had produced Ven. Uva Mawegama Sumedha thera before more..

Feb 5 (Island) Several employees belonging to the trade unions of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Lakhanda, Petroleum Corporation at Kolonnawa, Milco and CTB have had their services terminated or transferred after the January 26 Presidential election. Trade union leaders from these institutions told The Island that these acts were political victimisation and they urge the managements of these institutions to cancel these more..

Feb 5 (Island) Three state agencies, in a report on Sri Lanka’s labour, say the absence of an open and effective dialogue between workers, employers and the government would mean that labour market interventions and efforts to reform labour policies are less likely to succeed and recommend the monitoring of non-unionised enterprises. The Central Bank said the country’s industrial relations system is not without need of improvement. more..

Jan 5 (MoD) The 'Dayata Kirula- 2010' exhibition, organized for the forth consecutive time under the patronage of H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenced yesterday, at the Pallekele Gamudawa Grounds, Kandy. On the previous occasions the exhibition was held in Colombo at BMICH under tight security with military engaged in an intense humanitarian operation to liberated more..

Feb 5 (DM) Sri Lanka has not been officially informed of any move by the Saudi Authorities to impose a ban on recruiting maids from Sri Lanka and the country does not feel such a move will even take place. Saudi media reported last week that Saudi Arabia is considering banning maids from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam due to maids being unqualified to suit the Saudi culture and tradition. more..

Feb 5 (DM) A special team headed by a Deputy Elections Commissioner has been appointed by the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to probe into an incident where 64 ballot papers were recovered in a garbage pit in the Ratnapura Technical College premises. It has been reported the newly appointed Deputy Elections Commissioner had already headed to Ratnapura with his team. more..

Feb 5 (DM) The main opposition UNP yesterday said the true spirit of freedom had been diminished with the robbing of people’s right to choose a suitable leader and by the harassment unleashed by the ruling party on its political opponents. UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya who participated in special ceremonies organized by the opposition to commemorate the independence and more..

Feb 5 (CT) Sri Lanka's top Buddhist prelates have written to president Mahinda Rajapaksa, asking that the safety of Gen. Sarath Fonseka be secured. In their letter, the Mahanayaka Theras note that the former Army commander had done an immense service to eliminate terrorism. Dated February 02, it asks that the life of Gen. Fonseka be not made insecure. It has been signed by Most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, more..

Feb 5 (CT) Parliament today (Feb. 05) extended the state of emergency for a further month. At a vote, the motion for the extension was passed with an 87-vote majority. It received 102 votes in favour, while 15 TNA MPs voted against. Despite an earlier statement that it would now oppose the emergency rule, the JVP was not present at the vote. The UNP as well as the SLMC abstained.