July 24 (TN) Some International and Local Non-government organizations (NGOs) serving in Vanni consider leaving Vanni as Sri Lanka government’s restrictions to stay and serve in Vanni are tightened. Permission from President’s Task Force (PTF), headed by SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother and Sri Lanka Minister, Basil Rajapaksa for NGOs has been a prerequisite to assist the war affected people in Vanni. more..

July 24 (LP) The Dengue disease continued to spell doom to Sri Lanka as reports of deaths caused by the disease continued unabated. So far, there have been 22,159 cases of dengue reported island wide, and 164 of them have ended in the patient’s demise. The month of July has not yet come to an end, but by the 23rd, there have been 2,860 reported cases of dengue, out of which 26 infected people have died, two more than than the whole month of June. more..

July 24 (DM) Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop – Charles de Gaulle Yedioth Ahronoth, the most popular newspaper in Israel would not have got it wrong. The chances of it cooking up an interview are even slimmer. So the post-article face saving measures by the former Chief of Staff Donald Perera the Sri Lanka’s envoy in Tel Aviv are unlikely to have the desired impact. more..

July 24 (CI) P Sara Oval, the venue for the third Test of this series, is the only ground in Asia where Don Bradman played. He did so on a 20-yard pitch. In Brightly Fades the Don, Jack Fingleton writes: “It is possible one of her male assistants (the round had a lady curator) measured the pitch and not she. The Australian batsmen found the going rather tough in the morning. more..

July 24 (LP) Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe paid a visit to "Wang Geon ", the Republic of Korean Naval Ship yesterday. The Commander of the SL Navy was received by the Commanding Officer of ROKS "Wang Geon” Captain Suk- Jong upon his arrival on board the Ship. Ambassador of Republic of Korea in Sri Lanka His Excellency Chai Ki-Chul and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Navy were also present at the occasion. more..

July 25 (CT) The courts have acquitted a businessman aide of Gen. Sarath Fonseka and ordered that his passport be returned to him. Sanjeewa Kumara, the owner of Solis Restaurant in Nawala, appeared before Mt. Lavinia chief magistrate Harsha Sethunga. The magistrate said that Mr. Kumara was no longer needed to report to the CID. He stood accused of involvement in the transportation of around Rs. 75 million belonging to Gen. Fonseka to be deposited in a private bank. more..

July 24 (Island) The Colombo Crime Division yesterday said that an organised gang was trying to remove from the Colombo Port a consignment of substandard drugs rejected by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation. Ordered by the SPC, the container of drugs arrived in the Colombo Port last November but tests conducted by the SPC revealed that pharmaceuticals were of inferior quality. The SPC refused to take delivery of the container. more..

July 24 (LP) Honourable President Mahinda Rajapakse had called higher officials of government media and editors to Temple Trees for a discussion.The Honourable President started a recourse speech to the Media officials. “The Government is carrying out developing measures at present. Several projects are implemented as the Norochchole Power Plant, 05 ports, Airports, oil excavations and a rapid leap in the agricultural sector as well.” more..

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July 24 (MoD) SLAF fire fighters carry out fire evacuation drill yesterday (23rd July) at the Sri Lanka Insurance building Vauxhall Street, Colombo - 02. This exercise was conducted to introduce the occupants of the building to the processes at hand in case of a fire and to familiarize the Fire fighters with the Insurance Corporation building whilst honing their skills. During the exercise personnel inside the building were evacuated using more..

July 24 (LNP) The private bus fraternity is threatening to cripple commuter transport in the Western Province with effect from next Tuesday, unless the Western Provincial Council scraps what the LPBOA calls an arbitrary hike in service charges on private buses. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, it is said. The private bus owners should realise how the hapless commuters feel, when they resort to strong arm tactics and have bus fares increased arbitrarily. more..

July 24 (LT) DNA has taken measures to to file a case in Supreme Court against government's move to insult the judiciary DNA media unit reports. Despite Supreme Court had directed that General Sarath Fonseka should be allowed to attend the sessions of Parliament, Consultation and Selection Committees; he was prevented from attending Consultation Committee yesterday (22nd). more..

July 24 (NF) The postal employees have decided to further strengthen the work-to-rule campaign launched by the employees of the Colombo Central Mail Exchange, but the Post Master General insisted that the trade union action was over four errant employees and stressed that it was unethical for trade unions to resort to trade union action to protect racketeers. Secretary of the Sri Lanka Posts and Telecommunications Services Union K. M. Chinthaka Bandara said that more..

July 24 (DN) The North is entering the country's socio-economic mainstream after almost three decades. The Northern people, always industrious and persevering, are restarting their vocations and rebuilding their lives. It will not be long before the North attains its pre-war glory. However, the rebuilding and restoration of all infrastructure facilities is essential in this exercise. The terrorists destroyed almost all the infrastructure facilities in the province, more..

July 24 (NF) The country is caught in a debt trap, says the UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. He expressed this view addressing a workshop held at Sirikotha National Workers' Union (Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya) headquarters with the participation of several UNP Western Provincial Councillors yesterday. “A curse has cast on the country by obtaining loans at higher interest rates. We have to look at how we are going to pay back these loans. The country has been pushed into a debt trap. more..

July 24 (SL) Three men were arrested in the area of Kobeiganei yesterday by Baladora Police, whilst transporting on motorbike, the tusks of an elephant they had killed at the Wilapattu National Park. The three arrestees, residents of the Adampanei, Novichchiyagama area, who were taken into custody by a team of policemen led by the OIC of the Baldora Police Station Inspector Abeyratne, are to be produced before the Hettipola Court today. more..

July 24 (DN) Ruhunu University student Rajapaksa Susantha Anura had died of natural causes, IGP Mahinda Balasuriya citing the Badulla Judicial Medical Officer’s postmortem report on Bandara, said. Addressing the media last evening, IGP Balasuriya said according to Dr M N Rahul Haq’s postmortem report there was no evidence of violence while Bandara’s body had no injuries. The death was not caused by assault, the IGP said. more..

July 24 (NF) The Colombo High Court issued a stay order yesterday preventing the final of the Inter School Rugby Knockout Tournament from being played between Royal College Colombo and St. Peter's College Colombo. Colombo district judge Lafir Thaheer issued this order to the Sri Lanka School Rugby Football Association following a petition filed by the U-19 Rugby team of Isipathana College Colombo. more..

July 24 (Hindu) The demand being made by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to send a special emissary to Sri Lanka to oversee the resettlement of internally displaced Tamils was a drama, Puthiya Thamizhagam president K. Krishnasamy has alleged. Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Dr. Krishnasamy, who was here to pay homage to the victims of Tamirabharani tragedy, said no desirable result could be achieved even after the Tamil MPs team visited the Tamils kept in the refugee camps. more..

July 24 (DN) All Children's Homes will be closely monitored by the National Child Protection Authority, NCPA Chairperson Anoma Dissanayaka said. NCPA officials have observed that several Children Homes are not functioning up to the required standards. Therefore Children's Homes will be frequently monitored by the District Coordinators and Psycho Coordinating Officers. One District Coordinator and one Psycho Coordinator are in service in each district. more..

July 24 (DN) Sri Lanka will provide the services of local specialist doctors to Bhutan. The Health Ministry will also increase facilities provided to Bhutanese medical students studying in Sri Lankan Universities, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. Bhutan Ambassador Dasho Bap Kesang met Miniser Sirisena at his office Thursday and thanked the Sri Lankan Government for accommodating Bhutanese medical students in more..

July 24 (Island) Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwalle said that the company named State Resources Management Corporation Limited,to be set up with an initial capital of Rs.100 million under the Companies Act No.7 of 2007,received the approval of the cabinet of ministers on Wednesday."The Memorandum seeking to establish the company based on the recommendations of the Public Enterprises Department, was submitted by the Minister P.Dayaratne. more..

July 24 (DM) Two individuals were arrested yesterday while they were accepting ransom money after they had threatened to kidnap a student in the Akuramboda area in Matale. The suspects were arrested with a sum of Rs 20 million in the Golahenwatte area by the crimes division of the Matale police. However one suspect had fled the area. The suspects had called the student’s parents and had threatened to kidnap the girl if they did not pay a sum of Rs 20 million. more..

July 24 (Island) Five hundred apartments at Bloemendhal Road, occupied by employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), are to be demolished to make way for a modern ‘Cargo Village’ to be constructed by the SLPA. A railway line linking it with the Colombo Port also will be laid. The 'Cargo Village’ would be built in two phases on a 15-acre plot of land belonging to the SLPA at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.5 billion. more..

July 24 (LP) Two police officers drowned at the Police swimming pool at Elvitigala Road Narahenpita yesterday. The deceased was a police Constable who was practicing swimming and the other was his coach. The coach drowned in the attempt to save the constable who had drowned in the pool first. The deceased police Constable is attached to the Middeniya Police while the Coach is attached to the Colombo Sports corr. more..

July 24 (LP) President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered a probe into the death of the Ruhunu University student Rajapaksa Susantha Anura following a conflict over what brought about his death. IGP Mahinda Balasuriya told media that a post mortem conducted by Badulla Judicial Meical Officer (JMO) Dr. M N Rahul Haq revealed that thet cause for Anura’s death was due to an internal brain hemorrhage more..

July 24 (CI) Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan fast bowler, has been rested from the second Test against India beginning in Colombo on July 26. Malinga was one of the architects of Sri Lanka's ten-wicket win in Galle but will miss out at the SSC because of "stiffness in his knee". He will be replaced by Dilhara Fernando, while spinner Ajantha Mendis also returned to the squad. more..

July 24 (DM) All Party Representative Committee (APRC) Chairman and Minister Tissa Vitharana said yesterday he could not accept the document tabled by UNP MP R. Yogarajan as the final APRC report as it had not been signed by all political party representatives. Prof. Vitharana said the APRC worked out a report and submitted it to President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the intention of seeking his views to be incorporated in the report. more..

July 24 (LT) The government is carrying out various manipulations to evade the accusations against it regarding the killing of Susanthe Bandara, a student of University of Ruhuna says convener of the IUSF Udul Premaratne. He said this talking to ‘LT Radio’ regarding a statement made by the mother of the dead student. Mr. Premaratne speaking further said, “Comrade Susanthe Bandara died yesterday night as a result of a police assault. more..

July 24 (Island) The government is engaged in an ambitious programme to establish permanent security forces bases in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as part of a strategy to thwart any possible attempt to revive LTTE terrorism. Authoritative government officials told The Island that the deployment of security forces in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well as other parts of the country would be solely at the discretion of the military top brass. more..

July 24 (DM) A Ruhunu University third-year student Susantha Aruna Bandara died on Thursday reportedly from injuries he had suffered in an attack by the Matara police on June 18, Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) alleged yesterday. IUSF convener Udul Premaratne alleged that the att tack had taken place in the university hostel at Wellamadama some two kilometres from the university. more..

July 25 (TI) Gary Kirsten, the Team India coach, would’ve actually liked tormentor Lasith Malinga to play in the second Test, beginning on Monday. “It’s not a question of us being relieved that Malinga isn’t in the Sri Lanka squad... He’s a quality bowler and I would’ve liked him to be there. We do have a point to prove and would prefer to play against the best 11,” Kirsten told The Telegraph, at the Taj Samudra, on Saturday. more..

July 25 (TOI) The city-based Indian Bank is planning to open a branch in Jaffna in Sri Lanka. "Talks are in an advanced stage at the moment," chairman and managing director TM Bhasin said. A couple of months back, the bank had sent representatives to the region to evaluate the possibility of setting up a branch. Indian Bank already has a branch in Colombo and it is also looking at the possibility of opening a branch in Kandy as well as a representative office in Jakarta in Indonesia, more..

July 25 (TC) As the UNP faces one of the worst crises of its glorious 60 year history, it bears heavily on our spirits as responsible representatives, to appeal to party colleagues for caution, decorum and a united approach in the face of our trouble. It is a fact that the internal rifts and challenges within the UNP has stunted the role of the opposition and allowed the government a blank cheque to get on with its business in any merry way they please. more..

July 25 (LG) We, the Democratic Youth Front of Sri Lanka vehemently condemn the recent atrocities of the Sri Lanka Police against the students of Ruhuna University. A student of the University of Ruhuna, assaulted by the police near the university hostel on the 18th and admitted to hospital, died today (23rd) morning. Susantha Aruna Bandara of Lunawa at Buttala, a third year student of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences of more..

July 25 (SL) Sri Lankans are recorded for being short in memory and long in harbouring a grudge. It has been argued that this island nation gained independence without a drop of blood being shed which in turn is attributed to the sloth and divisive nature amongst its inhabitants. The twice failed armed insurrections led by the JVP were controlled and snuffed out with the elimination of Rohana Wijeweera, the charismatic leader of this group. more..

July 25 (SL) The government has resettled 10,075 IDPs between July 1 and 22, Military Spokesperson Ubaya Medawala said. UNDP Senior Programme Manager for Mine Action, Wuria Karadaghy told The Sunday Leader that mine clearance remains one of the most important aspects with regard to resettlement. “The first step is to remove mines from the resettlement area, so that people can return to their homes,” he said, more..

July 25 (SL) The title of this column seeks to describe the interesting two-pronged approach to dealing with criticism and censure from offshore, that the Sri Lankan Government has chosen. While this might have seemed a purely defensive manoeuvre, it also served a very significant purpose in dealing with dissent and opposition from its own citizenry as well. The list of those friends and allies that Sri Lanka has recently recruited to its ‘cause’ clearly displays a more..

July 25 (SL) Sri Lanka is beginning to find its place in the world. We have started by picking some very public fights with our export partners (US, UK, EU) and siding with people that we import and borrow from (China, Iran). This is not entirely genius. By choosing silent partners, we may be confusing friendship with disinterest. China is not keeping quiet to support the Sri Lankan people. They’re keeping quiet because they don’t really care. more..

July 25 (SL) Do You Love Your Country? Asked Bjorn Byron from Belgium who was visiting Sri Lanka. I was quite taken aback at the suddenness of the question and I was stuck for words. “Yes” I said — I consciously said that — it was manifestly not an automatic reaction out of any mistaken sense of patriotism; however, sadly, I continued, there is a “but”. And that was this — that I am both — significantly patriotic and pragmatic, more..

July 25 (SL) Menika’s heart brimmed over with affection, respect, regards, and proprietary pride at Muttiah Muralitharan’s behaviour all his adult life and his manner now when on the brink of retirement from cricket. You will, reader of Menika, accept the fact of affection, respect and regards but will wonder at the qualifier of pride. Well, proprietary pride since Muralitharan comes from Menika’s home town – Kandy – that unique city producing good people. more..

July 25 (CI) Sri Lanka’s knack of picking unorthodox cricketers out of nowhere continues. The replacement for Lasith Malinga, who is out of the second Test with a stiff knee, is a similar story. Until three years ago, Nuwan Pradeep hadn’t played any cricket with a leather ball – and he is 23 now. He won a pace contest, impressed the talent scouts with his pace in a soft-ball event, and was sent straight to Sri Lanka Cricket’s academy. more..

July 25 (CI) M&M has been the theme of India's last two tours of Sri Lanka. In 2008 it was Murali and Mendis, in 2010's first Test India were demolished by Murali and Malinga. By the second Test of the series, one of the Ms has retired, the other has broken down. Thankfully for Sri Lanka, it doesn't seem to be a serious injury. Not enough, it seems, to make the fast bowler wonder whether coming back to Test cricket was the right move. more..

July 25 (TN) The Special Task Force (STF) in Batticaloa district, after asking the Kannaipuram Tamil villagers in Vellave'li DS division to vacate their lands to construct a Murugan Temple, has reportedly started unloading bricks, cements and sand for the construction of a Buddhist vihare. STF had also organized a sramadana campaign to clear the land, and the Tamil villagers had participated willingly expecting a Murugan Temple to rise in the area, more..

July 25 (CI) These two teams had matched each other almost perfectly over the first three days at Northampton, but Sri Lanka finally took a decisive upper hand on the fourth afternoon as fast bowler Sanitha de Mel and legspinner Nadeera Rajaguru combined to demolish England's top order and derail the hosts' pursuit of an unlikely 369 in their second innings. England's disappointing showing with the bat had been foreshadowed by their struggles with the ball in the morning as more..

July 25 (DBS) The tragic history of post – independence Sri Lanka records that the Tamils of Sri Lanka have been subjected to mass –scale mob violence in the years 1956, 1958, 1977, 1981 and 1983. The anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 was the most terrible and horrible of them all. It remains etched in memory even after 27 years. Twenty – seven years ago on the night of 23rd of July, members of the LTTE ambushed an army patrol at more..

July 25 (DM) The language of resistance or contestation is typically appropriated by the resisted/contested for fairly pragmatic reasons. Word is weapon and therefore it makes perfect sense for oppressor to pickpocket the lexicon of the oppressed. So when ‘sustainable’ was used by those who proposed a different, objecting and opposite paradigm to the dominant frames of reference pertaining to democracy, the gurus of the non-sustainable quickly started using more..

July 25 (LP) Donald Perera saw the blood-soaked stretcher carrying the body of Velupillai Prabhakaran being transported through the jungle, but he was not calm. Air Chief Marshal Perera, the Sri Lankan chief of staff at the time, had been chasing after the leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels who had terrorized his country for over 30 years. He wanted to make certain that the lifeless body in front of him was indeed that of his long-time adversary. more..

July 25 (DH) Should Kumar Sangakkara’s men win the ongoing series against India by a margin of 2-0 or better, they will dislodge India from the summit and occupy top-dog status. In the event of that transpiring, it will inevitably trigger further discussions about the rankings system that allows a team to reach the number one status without ever winning a Test series in the three countries ranked immediately below it. more..

July 25 (DC) Popular actor Karunas lodged a complaint at the city police commissionerate on Saturday stating that miscreants, claiming to be cadres of the Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam, had allegedly threatened him against visiting the Kandi Kathirkamar temple in Sri Lanka. The comedian said in his petition that since his ancestors were from Sri Lanka he had planned to visit the Kandi Kathirkamar temple to fulfil a religious vow. more..