Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room

July 29 (HT) Retired spin great Muttiah Muralitharan lashed out at his long-time detractor Bishen Singh Bedi, calling the former Indian captain a controversy monger and ordinary bowler who would have been hammered by any batsman if was he playing now. Bedi has been an untiring critic of Muralitharan by repeatedly calling the Sri Lankan a "chucker" and asking the ICC to ban the Sri Lankan's "doosra" as it was illegal. more..

‘UDRS should be there for every series'

July 29 (Hindu) Muttiah Muralitharan feels not many curators in contemporary cricket actually know how a pitch will behave. Fielding questions from The Hindu, here on Wednesday, he said, “Preparing a pitch is an art. I do not think there are too many curators today who know what they have to do to get the surface to behave in the manner they want it to. Actually, there are only a few curators today who have complete knowledge of the subject.” more..

'Sri Lanka could play a regional role in Islamic finance'

July 29 (LBO) Sri Lanka could issue Islamic finance sovereign bonds or 'Sukuks' and take the lead in becoming a regional centre for Islamic financial services which other countries with less experience are aiming for, an official said. "Australia and Mauritius have said they want to be hubs for Islamic finance," says Rushdi Siddiqui, head of global Islamic financial markets at Thomson Reuters, a news service. more..

Ravi K case dismissed

July 29 (DM) The Supreme Court today dismissed without cost the appeal filed by Ravi Karunanayake challenging the High Court proceedings against him in respect of the indictments in connection with alleged exchange control offences. The Bench comprised Justices Shirani A.Bandaranayake, N.G.Amaratunga and P.A.Ratnayake. In his application for special leave to appeal, he cited the Attorney General, more..

Over 35,000 displaced Tamils still in camps

July 29 (HT) More than 35,000 internally displaced Tamils continue to be in camps in northern Sri Lanka amid a cash crunch faced by a top aid agency for their welfare. Latest government statistics have revealed that at least 35,333 IDPs were still camps set up in early 2009 for those who crossed over to the government side as the civil war came to an end in May, 2009. The government claimed to have settled 267,393 IDPs till last week. more..

Body of nurse killed in Veala’nai exhumed

July 29 (TN) The body of the family consultant nurse Saravanai Tharsika allegedly killed by Sinhala doctor Priyantha Seniviratne in Veala’nai government hospital in the islets of Jaffna 10 July and buried in Kaithadi Hindu crematorium grounds was exhumed Wednesday in the presence of Oorkaavattu’rai magistrate under the direction of Judicial Medical Officer. The exhumed remains of Tharsika was brought to Oorkaavattu’rai magistrate court and more..

SLN constructs new coastal bases in Eastern Province despite protests

July 29 (TN) Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is engaged in constructing many new bases along the coast in the districts of Ampaa’rai and Batticaloa in Eastern Province disregarding strong protests of local Tamil and Muslim people, sources in Batticaloa. Oluvil Mosque president Abubucker Lebbai Ismail expressed concern that new SLN bases in heavily populated places where there were none even during the war will cause inconvenience to more..

Looking back at the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord

July 29 (Hindu) It is 23 years since the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement was signed on July 29, 1987. The agreement is popularly referred to as the Rajiv-Jayewardene Accord, after its architects — Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayewardene. Unfortunately, the event is today remembered only for its unpleasant fallout after India unwittingly got entangled in a counter-insurgency war with the LTTE from 1987 to 1990. more..

Citizens of this country must apply increasing pressure on the government and opposition

July 29 (TC) The Citizens’ Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) is gratified by the recent decision of the Government not to press on with unilateral constitutional changes. Equally heartening was the subsequent meeting that President Rajapakse and some of his Ministers had with senior UNP Parliamentarians to work out a modus operandi for discussing proposals on the form and content of a new Constitution. more..

Protect Wilpattu Park and The right of movement of expelled Northern Muslims

July 29 (TC) We, the undersigned organizations call on the Government to take immediate action to prevent the destruction of the Wilpattu National Park, while continuing to provide access through the road from Puttalama to Mannar via the park. We believe that through taking corrective measures the Government can ensure that both issues are addressed in order to protect the rights of the expelled Northern Muslims and the natural heritage of the area. more..

Susil firm on CPC gas

July 29 (TC) Petroleum resources Minister Susil Premajayantha said the government will pursue attempts to sell gas to the consumer via the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPS) instead of via the Laugfs gas company. Speaking to Daily Mirror online, the minister said that the arrangement between the CPC and Laughs Gas Company had lapsed and therefore CPC has taken measures to refer it to the Attorney General. more..

Tarnishing image of refugees as terrorists is an injustice to humanity

July 29 (LG) Tarnishing the image of genuine asylum seekers, with the same brush used to expose terrorists, is just a ploy to reject them, with no consideration of their dire situation as persecuted persons. After spending weeks on the high seas, facing the dangers of such perilous travel on the oceans, in search of protection to try to escape persecution and oppression in their own states, the Tamils flee Sri Lanka. more..

The bleak contours reshaping the post war Sri Lankan map

July 29 (DM) The month of July is a pertinent time to talk about communal politics and their impact on Sri Lanka. Finally at the end of three-decade-old war the country has arrived at a much desired juncture that must move away from past mistakes. These include revisiting the Black July, the origins of the war or the ethnic cleansing carried out under the leadership of Prabhakaran. These must only serve to facilitate a healing process that more..

Who killed Susantha Anura Bandara?

July 29 (LG) It is sad that yet another University student has died as a result of a clash between the pro JVP group and an anti JVP group. Susantha Anura Bandara had been admitted to the hospital apparently after a clash between the two groups and when he died a few days ago the so-called IUSF that has no legal status and is only an arm of the JVP accused the police for killing Bandara. more..

Interfere to save 41 women detained in Saudi-Arabia-JVP requests government

July 29 (LT) The JVP has requested the government to take immediate action with regard to the issue in which 41 women are detained over 4 months in a hostel in Saudi-Arabia. MP Mr. Anura Kumara Disanayaka forwarded a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G.L Peiris yesterday (27) regarding this matter. The 41 women had been taken to Saudi-Arabia by a foreign employment agency in Maradana which more..

'Do not let University system collapse'

July 29 (NF) University students are on the streets protesting and in universities, lecturers are on strike. The higher education in the country is in jeopardy, says Tissa Attanayake, General Secretary of the UNP. He made these observations addressing a media briefing today. “What is the state of the university structure in the country today? When evaluating the traits of intellectuals, the key area is the university system. more..

Protest in Colombo against killing of student Susantha Bandara

July 29 (NF) University students gathered opposite the Fort railway station and carried out a protest and a 'sathyagraha' campaign today. It was organised by the Inter University Students' Federation. Udul Premaratne, convenor of the Federation, said that the protest was organised against the alleged incident where Ruhuna university student Susantha Bandara died due to a police assault. more..

Mass protest against drugs but Police spokesman unaware

July 29 (NF) A protest was held opposite the Maliya Maha Vidyalaya yesterday over the escape of a drug peddler from police custody. The protest was staged by area residents and the concerned parents. Protestors charged that although complaints had been launched with the Polpithigama police on several occasions that drugs were being sold to students, their complaints had fallen on deaf ears. more..

‘Ramayana trail’; fiction’s threat to sovereignty

July 29 (DM) It was in New Delhi at an international conference dinner that an Indian academic alerted me to Sri Lankan tourism promoting the Ramayana story as fact. The Indian intelligentsia considers the Ramayana a tool of Hindu fundamentalist fanaticism with no factual basis. Back home, I explored this Tourist Authority’s "Ramayana trail" and was shocked at the crass inventions of false sites reminiscent of the invented traditional homelands of the Tamils. more..

The UN Secretary General’s ‘Advisory’Panel

July 29 (Island) The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, during his recent visit to Sri Lanka stated: "The US believes the UN panel can play an important advisory role with Sri Lanka’s commission. The panel is only an advisory panel and does not have an investigative role"(Daily Mirror online, July 22, 2010). According to the UN Secretary General (SG) the particular nature and more..

Ayurveda week from August 1 to 7

July 29 (NF) The Ministry of Indigenous Medicine has decided to declare an Ayurveda Week from August 1 to 7. At a media briefing held yesterday to create awareness about this initiative, subject minister Piyasena Gamage said that they were unable to to do anything substantial during the past six months due to various reasons. “Due to elections and changes in the ministerial staff, we could not do anything significant during the first half of the Ayurveda Year. more..

Is LTTE ideologue Balakumar dead or alive?

July 29 (LP) Velupillai Balakumar or Balakumaran was the one time leader of Ealam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS). He was also a member of Sri Lanka parliament for a brief period. In late 1980s or early 1990s, he split the EROS and joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) with a number of his associates. He is believed an influential adviser to the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Prabakaran. more..

Postcards from Heaven

Army team probes rape

July 29 (DM) A special investigations unit has been sent by the Army to assist the Diyathalawa military police who are carrying out investigations regarding a complaint by a woman army deserter alleging that she was raped by three police officers in Buttala. Brigadier Major General UAB Medawela said that a special unit has been appointed but could not comment on progress made as investigations are still under way. more..

Dengue: CMC turns to Homeopathy, Mervyn threatens to tie officials to trees

July 29 (SL) The Colombo Municipal Council is beginning to look at alternative methods to combat dengue, it is learnt. Chief Medical Officer of Indegenous Medicine at the CMC, Palitha Ratna said the council was turning to homeopathic medicine in order to prevent the further spread of dengue. Ratna explained that a homeopathic remedy centre had been set up in the Kichilan Community Centre, Slave Island. more..

Midwives on sick leave outside the health ministry

July 29 (SL) Midwives from the Government Midwifery Services Association gathered outside the Health Ministry this morning to protest against moves being made by a number of Health Services Associations to get rid of its services. In a press release the GMSA stated that its members had asked for ‘sick leave’ from the hospitals they worked at in order defeat attempts to destroy the Midwifery Services, and more..

Southern contractors benefit from international funds for development in Jaffna

July 29 (TN) Sri Lanka government gives preference mostly to Southern contractors and workers allowing them to benefit from international assistance provided to develop the infrastructure of Jaffna district and to take South the profits made while denying opportunities to local people, C. V. K. Sivagnanam, former president of Jaffna district NGOs Federation and Joint Secretary of Ilangkai Thamizh Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) told TamilNet. more..

Sri Lankan students protest against police over university death

July 29 (wsws) Thousands of university students have taken part in protests for the past three days over the death of Susantha Aruna Bandara, a third-year student at Ruhuna university in southern Sri Lanka. Bandara died last Friday, one month after a police attack on a student demonstration at Ruhuna university. On Monday, students held demonstrations at Peradeniya, Sabaragamuwa, Kelaniya, Rajarata, Ruhuna and Visual and Performing Arts universities demanding more..

He came, he saw, and he went berserk causing 200,000 damage

July 29 (NF) Extensive damage was caused to a house in the Guruthalawa area in Peradeniya, when a wild boar went on a rampage after seeing its reflection on a windowpane. The boar ambling along a slope beside the house, had accidentally fallen into the corridor of the house in question. Seeing his reflection in a windowpane, he had gone on a rampage and had smashed into smithereens everything on which he saw his reflection. more..

Commander of the Navy visits Naval Deployments on the North-western Coast

July 29 (MoD) Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe visited the Naval Deployments in Mullikulum, Vedithalthivu and Nachchikudah and Naval Bases in Mannar and Thalaimannar on 25th and 26th July 2010. He also met the Mannar fishing community at SLNS Gajaba. During the visit, the Navy Commander examined the administrative and operational readiness of the Naval establishments and . more..

Sri Lankan troops in Haiti improvise life saving craft & receive commendation

July 29 (MoD) Emergency contingency plans and methods, introduced and improvised by Sri Lankan UN peace-keeping troops, currently serving Haiti to rescue victims in the event of any potential threat of hurricanes, have won high praise from senior UN officials and other visiting heads of missions. A life saving craft, specifically designed and made by Haiti-based Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (SLEME) troops more..

Sri Lanka invites top 10 global banks to raise dollars

July 29 (N360) Sri Lanka has invited top 10 banks in the Bloomberg League table to submit proposals to raise US$ 1 billion by a planned sovereign bond issue , which is due after august this year. C.J.P. Siriwardena, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank told www.news360.lk the invitations were sent during last week. Among the Banks invited ranks Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, UBS, Credit Suisse, CITI, Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, HSBC and RBS. more..

'Peace filled every heart with new hopes'

July 29 (MoD) Every mother's hope during the past 30 years was to protect their children. Today with the dawning of peace their hearts are filled with new hopes. Now they can expect a developed country filled with spiritual values, Ven. Vinayacharya Panditha Galle Sasanarathana Nayake Thera said. The Nayake Thera was speaking at a ceremony organized to felicitate the Nayake Thera on being granted the more..

Fill in requested information on Passports

July 29 (LP) It is a necessity that the information asked for in the inside of passports issued by them be filled in by its owner, said the Immigration and Emigration Department of Sri Lanka. The information includes the Sri Lankan address of the passport holder and, in case of his death or in case of an accident, the name, local address, telephone number and e-mail address of a close relative. more..

The convener of IUSF is no more an Undergraduate

July 29 (LP) It is two years after the cancellation of registration of the studentship of Udul Premarathna as a Dental dtudent in University of Peradeniya. University of Peradeniya has cancelled registration of Udul Premarathna as a Dental student in the faculty of Dental sciences of the University of Peradeniya as from 29 th July 2008. According to the Faculty Board of Dental sciences they cited following reasons for cancellation of his Registration. more..

Sri Lankan produced 'water gel' to replace dynamite

July 29 (MoD) 'Water gel' the innovative environmental friendly Sri Lankan production is to replace dynamite explosive chargers. The product is to soon take its place in the Sri lankan market cutting of costs prevailed over the use of dynamite for industrial purposes. The product came to light following instructions given by Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa in substitute for the more..

Christians call for inter-ethnic dialogue

July 29 (UCAN) An ecumenical symposium has called for effective inter-ethnic dialogue to establish a lasting peace in civil war-torn Sri Lanka. Thirty-five Catholics and Methodists, including nuns and priests, took part in the recent program in Colombo to remember the 1983 “Black July” riots, when Sinhalese mobs carried out anti-Tamil attacks in the country. The riots are generally seen as the start of full-scale armed conflict between more..

Ancient stair case appears from Trincomalee

July 29 (LP) A fleet of steps believed to be built in the time of King Bhathikatissa (AD143– AD 176) was discovered from the Welgama Archeological site in Trincomalee. The stair case made of granite was found during repairs and clearing conducted in the area with connection with the Archeological week which was declared. Seventeen identified areas were renovated and repaired for the benefit of those who visit the areas and it was the Welgama Vihara area and more..

Chinese team of Specialists to assist in landmine removal

July 29 (LP) The Chinese Government extends their support in the ongoing removal of landmines from areas in the North-Eastern provinces. A Specialist team, which included members from the Chinese Military, arrived in Sri Lanka to observe the mine removal process, and have had primary talks with the officers of the National Programme for the Removal of Anti-Personnel Mines, which is under the Ministry of Economic Development. more..

Rice consumption increased in the country

July 29 (GDI) With the increase of the import duty on wheat grain by Rs ten per kilo the per capita rice consumption in Sri Lanka has gone up by 15% in the recent times. Director General of Agriculture authority Kamal N. Mankotte said that the rice consumption per person has increased from 100 kilos per annum to 115 kilos per annum. The Director General said wheat flour consumption is still high among more..

Kaffir culture in Sri Lanka

Summary of Cabinet decisions

July 29 (GDI) On a recommendation made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Minister of Ports and Aviation approval was granted by the cabinet of Ministers to present the coast Conservation Bill to the Parliament for approval. On a proposal by Minister of Water Supply & Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena, Cabinet granted approval to undertake the implementation of the Dankotuwa Integrated Water Supply Scheme. Seven foreign companies have submitted their expressions of interests in this regard. more..

Chandrika's security personnel granted bail

July 29 (LT) The Chief of the Security Unit of Former President Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga SSP Nihal Sisira Kumara Karunarathna who submitted an appeal against 4 year imprisonment and the fine of Rs. 10000 imposed by Provincial High Court Kandy following death threats to H.Q.I Hanguranketha Gunerathna Banda was ordered to be released from above penalty by Provincial High Court Kandy yesterday under a cash bail of Rs.100000 and two personal bails of Rs.200000 each. more..

Free cataract surgeries for 50 people of the low income group

July 29 (SL) Consultant Eye Surgeon of the Hemas Hospital, Wattala, Dr. Shamintha Amaratunge, on Tuesday (27) performed 50 cataract surgeries free of charge. This project, Sight at 50, was initiated by the Rotary Club of Colombo West, who teamed up with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to help those in the low-income group who faced cataract problems. more..

NTUC condemns govt’s reaction to Uni lecturers’ protest

July 29 (SL) The National Trade Union Center (NTUC) called on the government to stop intimidating the university lecturers who were engaged in a token strike demanding for a revision in their salaries and to withdraw the circulars issued claiming the times used for the protest be deducted from the lecturers’ personal leave. NTUC Head K.D. Lalkantha said that the UGC has issued a circular asking university authorities to deduct more..

Editorial: A tide against the natural…

July 29 (DM) One saw this coming slowly for some years. However sudden increased activism by the groups during the last few weeks made one think that it’s high time that one set the record straight. The story is this. Some controversial moves are being made by groups within the Colombo social circles along with a few diplomats and leading civil society figures to create an impression that heterosexuality is an outdated, obsolete disposition. more..

Editorial: Flames of despondency

July 29 (LNP) Rienzie Algama`s tragic death opposite the UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha, on Monday is a riddle wrapped in a puzzle. Different people are giving it different interpretations and many claim to have known him very intimately and been privy to his thoughts on what was going on in the party. Whatever the truth may be, the UNP`s official position is that Rienzie took his life as he was disgusted with his party`s internal dispute. more..

Sirimavo led the SLFP through all weather

July 29 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday asserted that Sri Lanka today is a country which protected and accrued on its State assets instead of selling them in line with the policies propagated by the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike who became the Worlds first Woman Prime Minister 50 years back. The President was speaking at the 50th Commemoration of the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike becoming the first female Prime Minister in the World, more..

No-confidence against GL

July 29 (DM) The UNP will hand over a no-confidence motion to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa next week against External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris. The UNP had decided to bring this motion against Prof. Peiris soon after the appointment of a panel by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon to advise him on the accountability issues in Sri Lanka during the last phase of war. In this case, the UNP said, the government failed in diplomacy. more..

Bogus job agencies busted

July 29 (DN) The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) special investigation unit had raided five more bogus job recruitment agencies last week and filed action against the suspects. During the last two weeks, the SLBFE had taken action against 10 illegal recruitment agencies, an SLBFE official told the Daily News yesterday. The raids were carried out on the instructions of the SLBFE Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka who received complaints from the public. more..