June 23 (LSN) A new study out of Sri Lanka has found that women who had abortions more than tripled their risk of breast cancer. The study focused on analyzing the association between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk of breast cancer. But the researchers also reported other “significant” risk factors for breast cancer, such as exposure to passive smoking and being post-menopausal. more..

June 23 (Economist) The Sri Lankan MP whose conversation with a colleague Banyan reported on last week has written us a response, which is reproduced in full below. I am writing in response to the blog entry by Banyan entitled, in the weblink, as "Sri Lanka and reconciliation". Sadly, but I suppose not unexpectedly when the British deal with Sri Lanka, the entry dealt with British concerns, not with what the title promised. more..

June 23 (UCAN) Sri Lanka’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has pledged assistance following a meeting with fisherfolk at Kalutara on the nation’s western coast. About 150 participants including Caritas officials, priests and representatives from 17 fishers unions gathered to discuss the major problems facing local communities. Although a majority of fishermen are Catholics, more..

June 23 (TC) JHU general secretary and Minister Champika Ranawaka’s apology to Tamils on burning down of the Jaffna library is a positive step in the long journey for reconciliation between Tamils and Sinhalese. We welcome this testimonial declaration in the right spirit. We call upon JHU to upgrade this gesture by addressing the root causes to the national ethnic question said DPF leader Mano Ganesan more..

June 23 (LBO) A steep tax cut on vehicle imports in Sri Lanka has injected life into the almost comatose car trade, but some dealers are stubbornly holding onto high prices hoping that the lower tax regime will not last too long. They are appealing to the fear and greed of buyers. While some may not trust the government to maintain a pragmatic tax structure, others want to have the satisfaction of beating the system before taxes are put up again. more..

June 23 (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed a panel of experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka that ended last year. The three-member panel will advise Mr. Ban on implementing the commitment on human rights accountability made in the more..

June 23 (ICP) A panel on Sri Lanka war crimes has been named by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the day after Inner City Press exclusively disclosed the names of its three members -- but the panel, it turns out, won't necessarily travel to Sri Lanka or interview any witnesses. Inner City Press asked Mr. Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky if, for example, the panel will interview Sarath Fonseka, who served as General in charge during the final stage of the conflict and more..

June 23 (CI) Ben Hilfenhaus completed a promising comeback from a knee injury with a five-wicket haul to confirm Australia A's 107-run victory over Sri Lanka A in Brisbane. Hilfenhaus' maiden first-class half-century had helped set up a huge lead for Australia before Sri Lanka capitulated to the pace of Hilfenhaus and Peter George. Set 424 for victory, Sri Lanka had been pegged back by George, who had left them in trouble at 224 for 5 at the end of the third day. more..

June 23 (DM) The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to be signed by Sri Lanka and India before the end of the year has received mixed reactions- some are dead set against it, claiming that it will have an adverse effect on local employment wadding an already overcrowded job market. Whereas others believe it will open up new opportunities following the end of the war. more..

June 23 (DM) One presidential visit to India and you now have other global dignitaries landing in Sri Lanka, almost to the point of choking Colombo. Where they have not landed in Sri Lanka, they are discussing it all back home, as the British Parliament did one more time. It’s all a coincidence, yes, but that has not stopped tongues from wagging. As was to be expected, every visiting VIP spoke from the known script. If Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang did not talk ‘war crimes,’ it was in the script. more..

June 23 (ST) The .LK was registered in June 1990 and is one of the older top-level domains. To mark the 20th anniversary, the LK Domain Registry will hold a conference on the inception, history and current status of the Internet on June 28-29. Twenty years ago there was very little choice to obtain news about Lanka via the foreign print or TV media. Although there was a war going on in Lanka, the media in USA hardly paid any attention to the country. more..

June 23 (MoD) The Livestock and Rural Community Development Ministry will promote livestock in the Northern and The Eastern Provinces in collaboration with the National Livestock Development Board, LANLIB and MILCO, a Ministry Official said. Livestock and Rural Community Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman visited the Northern and Eastern Provinces last week with the objective of identifying the opportunities and constraints in the livestock industry in the two provinces. more..

June 23 (MoD) Over 7,500 acres of paddy land in Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts neglected during the past three decades will be cultivated during the Maha season, Deputy Agriculture Minister Jagath Pushpakumara said. A team comprising Deputy Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, Ministry Secretary S.A. Karunatilake and Agrarian Services Director General Ravindra Hevavitharane visited Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts last week. more..

June 23 (LP) Minister of External Affairs, Prof G L Peiris, launched the website of the ‘Foreign Policy Think Tank’ on 22nd at the External Affairs Ministry. The idea of establishing this think tank is in keeping with the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s long term foreign policy interest of the country. The website will serve to facilitate the professional advancement of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy and the conduct of its external relations. more..

June 23 (LP) Sri Lanka could fulfill of the need for labour in a Project of US $ 130 billion in the next ten years in Qatar and this will create significant employment opportunities there for Lankans. The projects with a strong legal framework would help to overcome current problems faced by the migrant workers. Qatar is in the lead in providing employment opportunities and has the highest number of migrant workers from Sri Lanka. more..

June 23 (MoD) The government has taken steps to establish a Seed Farm in Paranthan, Kilinochchi to supply quality seeds for farmers who engaged in farming activities after resettled them in their own places. Accordingly, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa MP and Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi inaugurated the project, which is to be completed in three years, on 18th June in Kilinochchi. more..

June 23 (LP) Early this morning (22) President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Historic sacred city Anuradhapura and received blessings of the Atamasthanadipathi Most Ven Pallegama Sri Nivasa Thero and other Sangha who chanted Pirith on the President. The President paid homage to Sri Maha Bodhi and participated in the religious observances at the foot of the Ruvanwaliseya Chethiya where Most Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Thero conducted the religious services more..

June 23 (LP) Minister of External Affairs, Prof G L Peiris, launched the website of the ‘Foreign Policy Think Tank’ on 22nd June at the External Affairs Ministry. The idea of establishing this think tank is in keeping with the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s long term foreign policy interest of the country. The website will serve to facilitate the professional advancement of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy and the conduct of its external relations. more..

June 23 (LP) There will be a partial lunar eclipse on June 26th 2010 visible to the regions covering eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific and America. The eclipse begins at 2.27 p.m. on 26th day time with the moon entering into the penumbra of the earth's shadow (less dark shadow) and ends up at 7.50 p.m. Sri Lanka standard time. The visible part of the eclipse begins at 3.47 p.m. with more..

June 23 (NF) The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has signed the contract agreement with the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. for the constructions of Phase II of the Hambantota Port Development Project. The agreement was signed by the Chairman of SLPA, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama and the Chairman of the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., Sun Ziyu. The financial assistance in this regard would be extended by more..

June 23 (NF) A drug company has been told by the National Drugs Authority (NDA) to act responsibly in retailing a cough syrup, which leaves children intoxicated. In the event the drug company fails to adhere to the instructions given, NDA has emphasized that only Osu Sala outlets would be authorized to market the said syrup. Instructions had been provided not to give the syrup to those under the age of 18. more..

June 23 (NF) Medical student Samitha Samanmali, injured while organizing a medical exhibition, filed a case at the Colombo District Court yesterday seeking compensation amounting to Rs. 500 million. The case was filed against the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Foundation. The Colombo district court set the 17th of September and the 27 of October, as the dates to examine the petition. She is a 26-year-old fourth year medical student at the Colombo Medical Faculty. more..

June 23 (LT) He is the first leader and the member of the JHU, no change in the leadership could be made as there is a collective agreement says former Leader of JHU Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thero adding that removing him from the leadership of the party is a violation of this agreement. Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera was removed from the leadership of the JHU at a special convention held on the 19th evening and more..

June 23 (N360) Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says, nearly 1400 foreign boats enter the country every night to engage in fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters. He said, “There are about 1400 boats coming from other countries to Sri Lanka per day each night and take all our fish abroad”. The Defense Secretary said, to avoid such situations the country’s fishing industry should try to harness the full fishing potential existing in the local seas. more..

June 23 (LT) They had been against the executive presidency from the time of President J.R. Jayewardene and carried out campaigns to abolish the draconian post. Despite the fact there is no change in their stand regarding the executive presidency, they would agree to Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse increasing the number of times he could get elected as the executive president said the Leader of the MEP Minister Dinesh Gunawardene. more..

June 23 (DM) Initially one thought the explosives have been planted by some party with vested interests. After all they could serve both local and regional interests of many. However the latest intelligence reports indicate a flurry of activity by what is left of the LTTE in South India and Sri Lanka. Surely those who are demanding a government in exile know for a fact that the transnational government for Eelamists will remain a dream if more..

June 23 (LNP) Six Police Stations will be set up in the Mullaitivu District soon. Mullaitivu Special Forces Commander Major General Prasanna Silva told the media at the Mullaitivu Security Force Headquarters Monday that the six Police stations will be established within a fortnight. He said a decision was reached at a special discussion Tri Forces Commanders, IGP and senior Military Officials had with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa more..

June 23 (LNP) The UNP Reforms Committee has proposed the inclusion of one MP from each district and three local government members in the party s Working Committee. Chairman of the UNP Reforms Committee Joseph Michael Perera told The Island yesterday that their decision was arrived at after having met a cross section of the party s membership over the last three weeks. more..

June 23 (DN) Regional Health Services Department Researches show tobacco and alcohol consumption among young people has dropped by 20 percent, Anuradhapura Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Palitha Bandara said. According to the WHO in the 20 century the tobacco industry in ruthless persuit of profits, killed 100 million people worldwide and it is set to kill a 1,000 million in the 21st century. more..

June 23 (LNP) The war is over and most of the terrorists who killed, robbed and abducted people are long dead. People who had suffered for thirty years due to terrorism heaved a huge sigh of relief when the LTTE was defeated last year, but sadly a new brand of terrorism has emerged much to their horror. Gangs of kidnappers and extortionists are operating in several parts of the country. There are reports of kidnappers and extortionists being quite active in the North as well. more..

June 23 (DM) Principals and teachers of Sinhala medium schools in the Eastern province will stay away from school tomorrow to protest the irregular transfers of 140 principals in the Eastern province, a teachers’ union official said yesterday. “Several protests have been conducted by teachers, parents and students of these schools but the authorities have done little or nothing to stop these irregular transfers,” more..

June 23 (Island) The European Union has demanded a written commitment from the Sri Lankan government to meet the entire gamut of human rights issues related to the war against LTTE terror raised by the grouping by July 1. The EU says the assurance will be the prerequisite for extension of the GSP plus facility for a limited additional period. more..

June 23 (CT) Police have arrested two men who had been staging a fast on the top of historic Sigiriya rock fortress. The two - Deman Ananda of Kandy and president of an organization for protecting the site W.M Wjeratne - are due to be produced before the Dambulla magistrate, police said. The fast that began yesterday was to protest alleged damage being caused to the rock fortress by JAICA. more..

June 23 (DM) UNP representatives of local government bodies in the Western Province yesterday requested the party’s Reforms Committee to permit them to participate in the secret ballot for the election of key officer bearers. Around 90 representatives of the local councils in the Western Province met the Reforms Committee yesterday. These members had reportedly raised concern about the deterioration of the party’s vote base in rural areas. more..

June 23 (DN) Did the night notice how the mirror looked at you while you were asleep? There are times I feel that there is nothing more fascinating than a mirror. No, I am not talking about the vanity-element embedded in mirrors and what they do, meaning ‘reflection’. Take mirror and use it as metaphor and I believe a can of worms is immediately opened, a can that we don’t want to open but we have to if we are to purge ourselves of ego and other unholy and/or intellect-clouding things. more..

June 23 (Island) Sri Lanka would be paying higher interest on the development bonds sold recently because uncertainty in global markets has driven up dollar interest rates while strong domestic demand kept premium unchanged since March in the absence of dollar lending instruments for banks to invest their surplus holdings. The reissue of US$ 275 million Sri Lanka Development Bond (SLDB) issue offered more..

June 23 (Island) "It is an unfortunate policy decision to close down institutions which brought an income to the people and earned foreign exchange at a time when the government is striving to develop the economy of the country under the open economic policy. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has entrusted us to protect state property and develop it to increase local production in competition with the private sector", more..

June 23 (DN) Four rogue overseas job agents and one foreign educational consultant, operating without authorities' approval were arrested by Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Sleuths. The arrests had taken place in Thambuttegama, Aranayaka, Galgamuwa and Kurunegala when fully equipped offices were established. Sleuths had taken into custody passports, visas, medical certificates, job orders and documents from the locations, SLBFE sources said. more..

June 23 (Island) The price of sugar has not been reduced, despite the world market price of the commodity having dropped, the UNP said yesterday. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that the government’s standard excuse was that it could not bring down the cost of living, because international prices of consumer items were rising. But that was not the truth in most instances, he alleged. more..