Nov 22 (LB) On the 10th of November, addressing a UNP meeting, Ranil Wickremesinghe, referring to the incarceration of Sarath Fonseka and the question of his (Fonseka’s) parliamentary seat, insisted that it is the obligation and responsibility of the Speaker to seek the advice of the Commonwealth on the issue. In other words, Chamal Rajapaksa should inquire from the Commonwealth whether or not, it is constitutional and legal for Fonseka to attend parliamentary sittings. more..

Nov 22 (LB) There goes the UNP again... whine, whine and whine. This time they are distressed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is spending a little bit of our money on celebrating his birthday and the start of his second term. So what if a spot of the tax-payer’s income is used to celebrate this great man and to help promote his image? He did end the war, which is more than what Ranil Wickremesinghe could manage. He is popular, looks impressive, speaks a language people can understand and more..

Nov 22 (BBC) As India and China jostle for influence in the Indian Ocean region, the island nation of Sri Lanka seems to be getting unintended economic benefits. China has pledged more financial assistance as Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Shanghai Expo exhibition earlier this month. China is already the biggest lender for the Indian Ocean island. China has, so far, pledged more than $3bn (£1.9bn) for more..

Nov 22 (Island) The much dreaded monstrous 68-tonne M1 Abrams tanks propelled by jet engines and fitted with 120 mm guns capable of destroying targets kilometres away are set to roll in to help pull the US-led forces out of the Afghan imbroglio after nine years of fierce fighting. Although the US is said to be working on its exit strategy, the Taliban are far from vanquished and Afghan President Hamid Karzai is on the war path lambasting as more..

Nov 22 (DM) According to the media, one of the first functions of the President as he embarks on his second term of office, is the removal of key public servants who have failed to perform. The media reported that several Secretaries of Ministries, Corporation Headsand Board Chairmen were billed to be removed following this decision. Given the rate at which political appointees, with little or absolutely no higher education qualifications have more..

Nov 22 (NS) The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’s announcement to join the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in a bid to become a stakeholder in Sri Lanka’s development process has certainly irked some and left many questions unanswered. The Nation, in an exclusive interview with party leader Rauf Hakeem, details the reasons, the rumours and the SLMC’s future plans. The following are excerpts from the interview. more..

Nov 22 (DM) Troops searching the general areas of Panndikketakulam, Kokkuthuduwai, Visuamadukulam and Mulliyawelai recovered 4 hand grenades, 111 anti personnel mines and one 60 mm pounder on Saturday, the army said. Meanwhile, de-mining groups recovered 45 anti personnel mines and three anti tank mines from Piramanalankulam, Periyathampanai, Sinnapandivirichchan, Periyapandivirichchan, Periyavilayankaddu, Gajabapura, Akkarayankulam and Iranamadu areas on the same day (20). more..

Nov 22 (NF) This is the year in the history of Sri Lanka, where the maximum amount of gold jewellery was pawned, says Karu Jayasuriya, Deputy Leader of the UNP. He made this statement addressing a meeting at Kundasale in Kandy this afternoon. “Unlimited taxes are being imposed on even dhal and sugar. In certain cases the it's as high as 700 per cent and on certain food items, the tax is 500 per cent. “You have to pay these taxes. Why do we have to pay such high taxes? more..

Nov 22 (NF) Unruly university students will be kicked out of universities and it's not a big issue, says S.B. Dissanayake, Minister of Higher Education. Addressing a function at the Gelioya Pragnarathana Central College in Kandy, to present certificates and gifts in appreciation of the services of teachers, he said that the decision to send out about 150 students from universities was taken to eradicate the distorted culture in universities. more..

Nov 22 (DM) Certain anti-government political elements in the South are attempting to create disharmony and disruption in the North colluding with the remnants of extremists in the north, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. Addressing a function held in connection with the launching of a series of development activities in Rambukkana yesterday, he said politicians must refrain from acting or making statements that would hurt the feelings of minorities. more..

Nov 22 (Island) The IMF is closely watching the govt’s fiscal performance and although it is satisfied with the government’s fiscal performance this year, the IMF says implementation of reforms would be crucial in containing Sri Lanka’s high budget deficits to 5 percent by 2012. The budgets of the past have been a case of underestimating revenue and overestimating expenditure and expanding deficits but the govt is committed to bringing the deficit down more..

Nov 22 (Island) Dr. V. Shanmugarajah, who worked as the Medical Superintendent of the District General Hospital in Mullaitivu during the war in Wanni (Sept. 2006 to May 15, 2009) appearing before the LLRC on November 18 at the Kadirgamar Institute of Foreign Relations said that he and the staff with support of the health volunteers had ensured that neither pregnant mothers nor their babies died during the last phase of the war in Wanni. more..

Nov 22 (Island) The Department of Registration of Persons has issued a total of 270,526 National Identity Cards (Normal Service) within the first five months this year. The highest number of NICs was issued in March (71,098). In January 62,638 NICs were issued, 60,259 in February, 37,655 in April and 38,876 in May. Under the same day service scheme during period (January to May), 34,205 NICs were issued and the department raked in Rs. 17,102,500 as revenue. more..

Nov 22 (Island) A Belgian trade and investment delegation will be visiting Sri Lanka from Nov. 22 to 26. The delegation consists of 40 companies (over 50 persons) in the fields of agro-food, machinery, construction, interior, energy, fisheries, gems, information technology, infrastructure, water supply, financial services, textile, tobacco, tourism investments and various trading companies. Most of them are seeking to do business with Sri Lanka for the first time. more..

Nov 22 (LB) JVP MP Sunil Handunetti said that when a person buys a loaf of bread and a coconut which costs Rs 100, his income is simply insufficient to make ends meet. He charged that the government has so far only given a lukewarm response to the call for salary increments made by opposition parties, but said the govt had sufficient funds to waste on lavish events. Meanwhile, Opposition parties are demanding salary hikes for both govt and private sector employees. more..

Nov 22 (DH) Though Krishna’s visit to Sri Lanka coincides with the birth-anniversary (Nov 26) of the slain LTTE chief V Prabhakaran, New Delhi seems keen to take its ties with Colombo out of the shadow of the conflict that the tiny country on the Indian Ocean witnessed for over 25 years. “Our defence and security dialogue with Sri Lanka, now that the conflict within the country is behind us, requires special focus,” said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. more..

Nov 22 (DM) Kebithigollewa Magistrate and Additional District Judge, Thilina Gamage said the responsibility of Lawyers is not just to collect retainers for appearing for their clients and that it was their responsibility to uphold the dignity of both the Judiciary as well as that of their own professional ethics. Magistrate and Additional District Judge- Gamage told the Lady lawyer who accepted her guilt by a sworn submission that she had chosen to be away from more..

Nov 22 (N360) Muttaih Muralitharan met President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the Temple Trees. The legendary spinner who set a world record by claiming 800 test wickets expressed his gratitude to the President for the support given to him during his career. He also handed over a token of appreciation to the President. Muralitharan who has already retired from test cricket is still playing the one day and the T20 version. more..

Nov 22 (ST) Continuing allegations of tender irregularities at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) are being probed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister Susil Premajayantha said. “We are looking at these issues and taking remedial measures,” he told the Sunday Times when asked about allegations that high-ups at the CPC had intervened in tender issues at the Corporation. He declined to give details. CPC Chairman Harry Jayawardene or other CPC officials were not available for comment more..

Nov 22 (DM) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that categories of horrors had struck the country today-suppression of media, Sarath Fonseka and displaced people -created by the ‘King’ of Sri Lanka and only his party couild dispel these horrors. “One is the suppression of media, the other, the suppression of the rights of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, while the third one is the economic suppression of people. Only the UNP can dispel these horrors,” more..

Nov 22 (AD) The Director General of the MCNS Lakshman Hulugalla said that the govt has not ordered the International Red Cross to close its offices in Jaffna. He said this in reply to the ICRC claiming that the govt. had ordered them to scale down their operations. He further added that though the govt has not issured such an order it was the prerogative of the NGO to identify that the reason they were stationed in the North is no more there. more..

Nov 22 (LBO) Sri Lanka is awaiting a budget for 2011 which will increase total taxes extracted from the people to fund state spending, while there are hopes that excessively taxed sections will get some reductions and the deficit will narrow. Excessive borrowings and printing to finance deficits created by a bloated state has been the key problem dogging Sri Lanka's people for decades. It has pushed up interest rates, created a large national debt more..

Nov 22 (Island) ‘Exercise-Cormorants Strike’, the first joint security forces (Blue forces) exercise involving several thousand troops got underway Sunday evening with the SLAF inducting Special Forces and Commandos into enemy (Red forces) held area in the north-western region. The SLAF mission involved helicopters and Y 12 fixed wing aircraft in the aftermath of the Special Boat squadron (SBS) securing beaches ahead of a large scale amphibious landing more..

Nov 22 (Hindu) During his first term, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, underestimated by his political opponents and the outside world, achieved overwhelming political dominance after his politico-military strategy eliminated the LTTE as a military force and he went on to score two big electoral victories. As he embarks on a second presidential term, which began on Nov 19, he reflects on the tasks and challenges ahead more..

Nov 22 (ST) JVP parliamentarian Sunil Handunetti met a Lebanese couple when he was on a visit to that country sometime ago. The husband is a political activist in a students union in that country. When the news spread that Handunetti was assaulted during a visit to Jaffna early this week, the couple who were in Colombo, were shocked. They decided to join the JVP protest rally at Lipton Circus on Thursday to express their solidarity with their friend. more..

Nov 22 (DM) No ministerial or deputy ministerial portfolios would be offered to those who entered Parliament for the first time at the last general election at tomorrows Cabinet reshuffle, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga said. “There will be no ministerial or deputy ministerial portfolios for those who entered Parliament for the first time at the last general election. All new faces in the Cabinet are from veteran parliamentarians,” Mr. Weeratunga told Daily Mirror. more..

Nov 22 (Island) The government is planning to provide formal education to former LTTE cadres being rehabilitated in the North. Deputy Minister of Rehabilitation, Vijithamuni Zoysa told The Island that nearly 70% of ex – cadres who were being rehabilitated had never received school education beyond Grade 8 and some of them were still in the school going age. He said that 10% of ex-LTTE cadres in rehabilitation centers had never been to school and more..

Nov 22 (Island) More than 300 Sri Lankan domestic workers have left Bahrain in the last six months, mostly complaining about physical abuse, sexual harassment, non-payment of salaries and being overworked. Those who file complaints against their sponsors return home while their cases continue in the courts after passing power of attorney to Sri Lankan honorary consul general P B Higgoda. more..

Nov 22 (Island) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says his party is ready to extend conditional support for the government’s budget to be presented today. Addressing a public gathering at Kumbulkanda in the Kundasale electorate, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday assured President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his support for Budget 2011 if the UPFA agreed to grant Rs. 10,000 salary hike to public workers in two instalmemnts. more..

Nov 22 (DM) Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said that he intended to regulate private tuition classes under proposed reforms in the entire education sector. Mr. Gunwardane said that there were unqualified persons conducting tuition classes for school children as their means of income." “According to universally accepted principles, anybody has the right to impart his or her knowledge to others. more..

Nov 22 (DM) The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is to venture into a surgical waste disposal programme following its successful launch of the project for e-waste disposal, CEA Chairman Charitha Herath said yesterday. “The surgical waste disposal is a new area the CEA expects to deal with the assistance of the health ministry as the haphazard disposal of surgical waste poses a major threat to the public health,” Dr. Herath said. more..

Nov 22 (Island) The much anticipated proposals to reform Sri Lanka’s archaic, complex and often ad-hoc tax system which has consistently failed to deliver on revenue targets, compiled by a Presidential Taxation Commission is expected to see fruition today when Budget 2011 is presented in parliament. But a source close the commission said the desired results would not be achieved if the government picks and chooses some recommendations leaving out others. more..

Nov 22 (DM) The IUSF which responded to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement that he would visit all the universities to become aware of the crisis, said he was welcome to do so but said they would inform him on the current issues in writing prior to the visits. IUSF Acting Convener Sanjeewa Bandara said that the President should start implementing measures to resolve the current issues in the university before he begins the visits. more..

Nov 22 (IPS) Percy Mahinda Rajapaksa is the quintessential Sri Lankan politician - someone who senses the subtle shifts in the political landscape quickly and can turn a narrowest of victories into the strongest of legacies. On Nov. 19, Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice Asoka de Silva swore in Rajapaksa as the country’s executive president for his second term. Unlike 2005 when his victory was wafer thin at a mere 180,000 votes, more..

Nov 22 (DM) The number of Cabinet ministers is expected to increase to 55 with the Cabinet reshuffle today, government sources said. Accordingly 10 new Cabinet portfolios are to be created. Among them are the portfolios of Public Relations Ministry, Coconut cultivation and development Ministry, Aviation Services Ministry, Productivity Improvement Ministry, Private Bus Transport Ministry, Cultural and aesthetics Ministry, more..

Nov 22 (AFP) Sri Lanka's president expanded his cabinet on Monday, retaining key positions for himself while adding 12 new ministers ahead of the presentation of the first budget of his second term, officials said. Mahinda Rajapakse kept the crucial defence and finance portfolios for himself and left younger brother Basil in charge of the economic development ministry. He also retained Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne. more..

Nov 22 (IL) New Faces in the Cabinet appointed by President today include Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Rauff Hakeem, Wasudeva Nanayakkara, Naveen Dissanayaka, Lakshman Senevirathne, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dilan Perera, Mervyn Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Jagath Pushpakumara, Gunrathne Weerakone, S.M. Chandrasena, Reginold Cooray. more..

Nov 23 (LBO) The Sri Lankan government intends to distribute among small farmers uncultivated land on tea estates operated by listed regional plantations corporations, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told parliament. The RPCs will be given six months' notice to cultivate unused land, he said during a speech on the government budget for 2011. If such unused lands are not cultivated after the six month period, they will be distributed among small holders, he said. more..

Nov 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka has cut a series of taxes on banks in a bid to increase banking activities, but raised a tax on stock trading, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said presenting the budget for 2011 in parliament. A debit tax on withdrawals from banks would be lifted and a so-called financial value added tax would be cut from 20 to 12 percent. Income tax on banks would be cut to 28 from 35 percent. 0.2 percent tax on stock trading will be raised to 0.3 percent more..

Nov 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka is planning to run a budget deficit of 433.7 billion rupees or 6.8 percent of gross domestic product, down from a revised 446.7 billion rupees or 8.0 percent gap in 2010, a budget presented to parliament said. In 2011 the government is planning to increase tax revenues by 151 billion rupees to 963.5 billion rupees from 828.2 billion rupees in 2010. In 2010 the government extracted 128.7 billion more taxes from the people compared to 2009. more..

Nov 23 (AP) A Jordanian recruitment agency has dismissed a report alleging abuse of a Sri Lankan domestic worker. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said last week that a Jordanian employer forced a Sri Lankan housemaid to swallow nails, calling it an example of "wider abuse" of domestics in the Arab world. But Deeb al-Hafnawi, of the Al-Hafnawi Agency who recruited the woman, said Monday that he has two signed letters from the woman saying she deliberately more..

Nov 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka's business operating costs are to rise with wages expenses rising by 4.0 percent following another state managed forced savings plans being set up, though income taxes have been cut to 28 percent from 35 percent. The budget speech said the state will force employers to transfer the entire gratuity received by a private sector employee to this new fund. Sri Lanka's private sector employees are already on a forced savings scheme, more..

Nov 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka's government will raise an employee income tax threshold and end discrimination that exempted state workers from paying tax, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told parliament. The PAYE (pay as your earn) tax threshold is to be raised to 600,000 rupees a year or 50,000 rupees a month, Rajapaksa said in a speech presenting the government budget for 2011. Applicable tax rates for employees earning over 600,000 rupees a year will be reduced more..

Nov 23 (Hindu) Confirming that he had a political solution to the Tamil question in mind and that discussions with political parties and the people would go ahead, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told The Hindu: “[On devolution] “we must know the minds of the people… What we want is reconfirmation of what they want… The solution that I have in mind might not be good enough for them; they might not accept it. Not only the political parties, the people must accept it… more..

Nov 23 (PTI) Sri Lanka's pro-LTTE TNA has removed its only MP from the Sinahala majority community, Podi Appuhami Piaysena, after he supported the government on a key bill in Parliament. TNA political bureau decided to remove Piaysena as he backed the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse at the parliamentary vote on the 18th amendment to the Constitution, party sources said. The passage of the 18th amendment bill in Parliament has paved the way for more..

Nov 23 (F2F) The SLGBOA recently revealed that, since the country lost its GSP plus concession facility earlier this year, a steady fall has been witnessed in its apparel shipments to the US and EU. As stated by Hiran Bandaranaike, Secretary SLGBOA, initially though Sri Lanka enjoyed GSP plus concession from EU, but now loss of this concession has had a dribbling effect on its apparel exporters even to US, more..

Nov 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka will cut corporate income taxes from 35 to 28 percent except for tobacco and alcohol, while income taxes for casinos, a newly legalized industry will be set at 40 percent, a budget for 2011 said. At present companies and non-governmental organizations are taxed at rates around 30 percent, 33.3 percent and 35 percent, the budget speech said. But income taxes on tobacco, alcohol and casinos will be raised to 40 percent. more..

Nov 23 (LT) A meeting of NWS Australian Trade Union Leaders and Labour Council Members was also held during this tour. Messrs Dissanayake and Ranatunga have explained the present situation in Sri Lanka at these meeting. Mr Arjuna Ranatunga has expressed his hope depending on the co-operation of NWS Trade Union to safeguard the democracy in Sri Lanka for the sake of the future generation. Mr Ranatunga has explicated his entering into politics and more..

Nov 23 (LBO) The Sri Lankan government plans to raise taxes on exports of bulk tea and raw rubber in penalizing producers and restricting their market access in a bid to support value added production, the budget for 2011 said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa told parliament during his budget speech that the island has been able to diversify export products and markets but that value addition was not enough. "I propose to impose a cess on all exports in raw and more..