June 26 (IL) Heart diseases are increasing by the day. Your cardiologist should not only be skilled but give you confidence in the process of treatment and recovery. Kindness and assurance by the Doctor is 9/10ths of the cure. Dr.S.Mithrakumar is a well known name in the medical field in the asian region. His unique record of curing patients is increasingly day by day that only a few cases could be discussed in more..

June 26 (Island) "He must be over the moon, don’t you think?" "What moon are you talking about? All I know is it’s Poson Full Moon here today, and that’s a big event." "I mean Ban Ki-moon; the Big Moon in New York. Don’t you think he must be over the moon by now?" "How can moon be over the moon? It seems he is more moonstruck than over it." Moonstruck or not, he has got his Committee of Experts to advice him, so he must be doing the Korean equivalent of a tango, more..

June 26 (Island) Newly appointed Jathika Hela Urumaya leader Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera on Thursday said the party did not want concrete jungles under the development tag but a peaceful environment protecting heritage and culture. He said the JFHU was not only a political party but also a movement committed to protect the sovereignty of the country and create a peaceful environment. more..

June 26 (Island) Minister Arumugam Thondaman said that despite the increase in the world market prices of milk powder, the State owned Milco would not increase the prices of its dairy products. To encourage farmers to produce more milk, the government had decided to increase the payment to dairy owners by 10 per cent, he said. Currently, prices of imported milk products, particularly milk powder have been increased by Rs. 48 per kilogram. more..

June 26 (AFP) A Lebanese woman was sentenced to one month in jail for mistreating her Sri Lankan housemaid, court papers showed on Friday, a rare happening in a country where rights groups regularly denounce the ill-treatment of foreign domestic helpers. The 41-year-old housewife was sentenced to jail and fined 6,600 dollars for "having struck" and "seriously mistreated" her home helper in the northern city of Byblos, more..

June 26 (LBO) SriLankan Airlines has cut losses in the year to March 2010, and was looking to turnaround in the second half of this year, but may need financial re-structuring in the future. "Losses in the March quarter were minimal," chief executive Manoj Gunewardena said. SriLankan lost 10 billion rupees last year, but Gunewardena said losses were much reduced during the year to March 2010 but did not disclose a number. more..

June 26 (Island) The Socialist Alliance yesterday said it was opposed to increases in the prices of essential commodities. General Secretary of the Socialist Alliance Rajah Collure said in a statement that the UNP had, in the past, cited price hikes in the world market as reason for jacking up prices in the local market. The Socialist Alliance had opposed the UNP then and similarly it objected to price hikes under the present political dispensation. more..

June 26 (TN) By blackmailing the Tamil nation through the plight of its people and by handling ‘development’ in counterinsurgency style, Colombo is trying to lock the diaspora away from political cause, and by demonstrating it, Colombo is seeking acquittal of its crimes in the international arena as well as money for its greed. De-linking development from decision-making political sovereignty of Tamils is advantageous to sectarian Sinhala polity, it is convenient to the international polity of the corporates, but more..

June 26 (TN) The UPFA which had lavished promises prior to April general election including a monthly increase of 2500 rupees to public servants, on the contrary, has increased the price of essentials like fuel, flour, milk products and other services hitting the common man who had been already struggling to make ends meet. The Sinhalese people, kept under the spell of the ‘Victory’ of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime over the Tamils and more..

June 26 (TN) The number of deaths due to dengue in the country has increased to 113 while the number of diagnosed patients has increased to 17,411. The highest number of patients, 2,354, was diagnosed from Colombo. The districts of Jaffna and Gampaha have also shown high prevalence of the disease, 2181 diagnosed in Jaffna and 2,219 in Gampaha. In Mannaar district 45 positive cases of dengue have been detected last week, but no death has been reported so far, more..

June 26 (TC) Ramaya Asari Muthusamy was born on January 5, 1926 in the village of Nagerkovil bordering Kerala in South India. He was the only son of the versatile South Indian musician called Ramaya Baagawadher. The father’s attempt at making his son practice music on a baby violin resulted in young Muthuswamy enjoying the rare privilege of mastering the violin at the tender age of ten. more..

June 26 (TC) When music director A.R. Rahman wanted a preamble for the song Theendaay Meitheendaay in the film Yen Suvasakaatrey, lyricist Vairamuthu did not think twice about the choice. Thus, “Kanrum Unnaadhu Kalaththinum Padaadhu” a Sangam age poem from Velliveethiyar's “Kurunthogai” anthology embraced the digital age of music. It is perfect fusion. If my lines in modern verse express the feelings of an aroused woman, the poem penned by Velliveethiyar captures the intensity with beautiful imageries,” more..

June 26 (LG) We refer to the news item appearing on page 5 of The Isalnd newspaper on 24th June under the heading “No link between cell towers, kids’ cancer risk.’ To begin with, the headline is misleading as shown by the title of the article it refers to: “Mobile phone base stations and early childhood cancers.” Moreover the conclusion of the said study is that it “found no association between risk of childhood cancers and mobile phone base station exposures during pregnancy”. more..

June 26 (MoD) For the first time in the island's contemporary history, sports enthusiasts in Jaffna got opportunity to celebrate National Olympic Festival in their own city concurrent to the same occasion celebrated in 202 countries world wide. The main function at the Duraiappa Stadium in Jaffna organized by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) with coordination of Security Forces Headquarters-Jaffna turned magnificent with a number of sports and cultural events performed more..

June 26 (MoD) Fishermen in the North and East, who lost their means of livelihood due to the war, will be provided with loans by the Bank of Ceylon, which has set aside Rs 50 million for the purpose. This was revealed by Minister Rajitha Senaratne during his recent visit to the Boat Building Factory in Karainagar. He said that initially Rs. 20 million would be disbursed as loans, at 10 per cent interest, among 200 fishermen in Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kilinochchi. more..

June 26 (MoD) Interpol Headquarters in France has issued a Red Notice for the arrest of Chandima Anil Withanaarachchi, operator of Lankanewsweb.com, for 'counterfeiting/forgery'. According to investigations carried out by the CID, Withanaarachchi, a lawyer has fled the country with his wife after several of his fraudulent activities had come to light. The High Court of Colombo has issued a warrant to arrest him for failure to appear in Court for charges more..

June 26 (MoD) The ceremonial passing out parade of 100 Officer Cadets at the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa occurred Friday (24) attended by Hon Prime Minister D. M. Jayarathne as Chief Guest. These newly commissioned officers, including five trained in India Military Academy, are of Regular Officer Cadet Intake 67, Intake 69 and Short Commission Intake 17A. Officer Cadets of Intake 67 read for more..

June 26 (MoD) Special Poson Zone organized by Rohitha Abegunawardana Foundation, Kalutara Bodhi Trust Fund, Sri Lanka Police Kaluthara and Kalutara Urban Council, was opened by the Secretary Defence, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday evening. After opening the ceremony by offering flowers to Kalutara Bodhi by Defence Secretary, Ven. Watapola Wimaladassi Thero made a 'Anusasana'. Later Mr. Rajapaksa inaugurate the 'Aloka Pooja' as well, in Kalutara Bodhi. more..

June 26 (MoD) Terrorism in any part of the globe is terrorism and should be eliminated in equal fashion. There are no good terrorists and bad terrorists. Terrorism should be crushed at any cost. This was emblazoned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the United Nations General Assembly two years ago. This thought-provoking statement should be echoed and re-echoed to the United Nations (UN) and more..

June 26 (LP) Bio Diversity Unit of the Colombo Customs had seized a pair of Ferrets from the mongoose family and sometimes referred to as Green Leopard for hunt for prey. This pair was seized from a possession of a Sri Lankan returning to the island from Dubai. The Ferrets are categorized as an invasive species that breeds fast. They were handed over to the Dehiwala Zoo as setting them free could be an environmental hazard being carnivorous animals. more..

June 26 (LP) The EPDP, an ally of the ruling coalition, has initiated a dialogue with like-minded Tamil parties on arriving at a consensus with regard to a political solution to what it described as the Tamil national question. According to Party leader and Minister Douglas Devananda, representatives from seven political parties, TNLA led by former MP N. Sri Kantha, the TULF led by V. Anandasangari, the PLOTE, more..

June 26 (LT) The ‘Peoples Movement to Protect Sigiriya’ (PMPS) has been able to stop all activities carried out by the government that harmed the archeological value of Sigiriya, the world heritage site. PMPS carried out a continuous agitation against the attempt to carry out various constructions at Sigiriya and when this was revealed through the media the government had to abandon the construction of various structures. more..

June 26 (LT) Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne says the price of what flour should be further increased. Participating at ceremonies held to declare open the 198th and 199th CWE shops at Bothalapitiya at Gampola and Pussellawa the Prime Minister said, “We remember the value of rice only if the price of flour is further increased. We, who had eaten rice for all our three daily meals, have got used to eating flour. more..

June 26 (CT) JHU leader Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera says his party does not oppose the executive president holding office for more than two occasions - through a people's mandate - only if the position respects the supremacy of the legislature and is genuinely held accountable to parliament. The prelate has made the remark to 'Ravaya' newspaper while clarifying the party's position regarding the executive presidency. more..

June 26 (LNP) Rathu Sahodarayas used to tease their ruling party counterparts in Parliament during the war by calling the UPFA government edavela tours a derisive term for a private bus operator dependent on his daily income to live at the subsistence level. The JVP claimed that the government found or invented some political issue and promised a solution to it on a daily basis to keep itself going like a bus mudalali teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. more..

June 26 (DN) I have never really understood ‘visuals’. I realized this most acutely when I started working as a part time copywriter at Phoenix Ogilvy. I could put word to image but could never imagine appropriate visual for text. Years ago, when I was working in the Sunday Island, Nihal Fernando, Lanka-lover who saw, worked, loved, respected and was through and of lens, suggested in his self-effacing and charming way that we work together on a project. more..

June 26 (DN) UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha yesterday expressed confidence that the proposed constitutional amendments would be supported by all UPFA constituent partners. The Minister said all forces supportive of the UPFA would back President Mahinda Rajapaksa to go ahead with the Constitutional amendments. The Minister referring to the pre-1978 Constitution pointed out that more..

June 26 (DN) The Transport Ministry will promote technical education among schoolchildren by supplying a bus with an operative engine and gear box for a selected school in each zonal education division, Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake said. The program is a result of recent discussions held between the Ministry and the Education Ministry officials. Already 93 schools have been selected through respective zonal education divisions more..

June 26 (DN) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the principal arm of the UN in the global fight against drugs. The UNODC with its Narcotics Laboratory and the scientific research division along with its training and enforcement divisions is logistically and scientifically equipped to lead the global fight against this scourge of narcotic drugs. There are two aspects to the problem of narcotic drugs. The supply and the demand. more..

June 26 (LBO) Sri Lanka's private bus sector can push up revenues by about 20 percent by cutting leakages with an online ticket machine, but the subsidy-happy operators want taxpayer support help them earn bigger profits. "On average about daily ticket collection are lost due to leakages in the system," Amal S Kumarage, an academic specializing in transport and Sri Lankan Moratuwa University told a forum in Colombo. more..

June 26 (Island) Thirty percent of the marks for the subject of English at the GCE O/L examination will be awarded for speaking skills from 2012 onwards, if a recommendation made to that effect by the National Education Commission (NEC) is acted upon by the Ministry of Education. The recommendations spell out that the assessment of English speaking skills will be introduced through School Based Assessments to Grade 10 in 2011 and to Grade 11 in 2012. more..

June 26 (DM) It came as a big relief when one learnt that the grenade explosion at Bodhiraja Mawatha, Pettah, on Thursday, had nothing to do with the LTTE. However the fact remains that the blast injured nine people and killed the peace of mind of thousands of others. As mobile alerts beeped, people thought ‘oh again’ thinking that the residual elements of the LTTE were at work. Irrespective of the hand behind the blast, still it has left behind a rather high casualty figure. more..

June 26 (Island) Minister S. B. Dissanayake told The Island yesterday that three UNP stalwarts would join the government in November as part of a move to help President Mahinda Rajapaksa muster a two-thirds majority. He said the three parliamentarians would cross over immediately after President Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in for his second term. Asked whether the crossovers would be given ministerial portfolios, he said it was a matter for President Rajapaksa to decide. more..

June 26 (Island) Army Commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya, calling on the Maha Nayaka Thero of Asgiriya Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha, said that the establishment of permanent camps for security forces in the liberated North and East were well in progress. The camps would be provided with all the basic facilities to make life comfortable for security forces personnel, the Army Commander told the Ven. Mahanayaka Thero. more..

June 26 (DM) Russia, China and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) have expressed their reservation and displeasure at the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s appointment of a panel of experts to advise him on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the External Affairs Ministry said yesterday. The two countries and NAM President had communicated their stance on the three-member panel to the Sri Lankan Government through the Minister of External Affairs. more..

June 26 (LG) That was from the Policy Agreement entered into between Mahinda Rajapaksa, the then Presidential candidate, and the JVP in the run-up to the 2005 Presidential Election. That election was a close and hard fought one and the JVP’s support proved crucial as Rajapaksa narrowly edged to victory. The LTTE’s significant role in that election is now history. Into his second term, President Rajapakse now seems intent on consolidating and more..

June 26 (DM) UNP front-liner Sajith Premadasa yesterday blamed the United Nations and the European Union for the dispute that had arisen with Sri Lanka, saying it could cause local and international repercussions. He also blamed the government for giving the UN and the EU an opening to intervene in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. He commented on the ‘List of Actions’ or conditions laid down by the EU to consider the extension of GSP+ more..

June 26 (DM) Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said yesterday the price of wheat flour and bread should be further increased so that many more people would turn to eating rice. He made these comments when he addressed public function. “We virtually import everything today. This has made us unnecessarily spend a lot of foreign exchange. We now import even green gram, cowpea and kurakkan,” more..

June 26 (HT) Vivek Oberoi has just wrapped up a hectic schedule of Ram Gopal Varma’s Hindi-Telugu bilingual, Rakta Charitra. And he is preparing to fly down to his school in Vrindavan that not only educates 1,500 girls from families below the poverty line, but even offers them free meals. “We have also set up filteration plants in the villages so these children don’t have to walk miles for a pot of undrinkable water,” more..