Aug 1 (ST) The man who exploded bombs in the Norwegian capital of Oslo and gunned down at least 76 young people in cold-blood at a nearby island resort, investigators have found, has been a keen student of modern terrorist warfare and made some reference to Sri LTTE and has offered his support to some weird theory that Sri Lanka was preparing to deport all Muslims from the country. In a 1,518 page manifesto, the self-confessed killer Anders Behring Breveik had compiled over nine months more..

Aug 1 (DM) Making an order in a case over a state land dispute which was argued on the basis of 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the Court of Appeal held that the Provincial High Court had the jurisdiction to hear cases relating to state land. The Appeal Court made this direction overruling an order of the Southern Provincial High Court judge who had dismissed a state land dispute on the basis that Provincial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear more..

Aug 1 (Hindu) With more facilities being provided at the passenger terminal in V.O. Chidambaranar Port here, tourism industry is expected to get a major fillip. The terminal was established ahead of the launch of ferry service between Tuticorin and Colombo in Sri Lanka. G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping, launched the ferry service on June 13. In the wake of the increased arrival of tourists from the cruise vessel, ‘Scotia Prince,' which is being operated by a more..

Aug 1 (DM) Following the fresh leadership crisis in the party, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had decided to cut short his visit to the UK and rush back to Sri Lanka, MP John Amaratunga said yesterday. Mr. Wickremesinghe had been scheduled to return to the country only on August 3, 2011. However, Mr. Amaratunga said that his leader would arrive in the country today to look into the crisis emerged after deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya expressed his willingness to take up the leadership. more..

Aug 1 (ST) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed that the terms of the multi-million dollar Skyline Hotel and Rainbow multi-function projects by China National Aero Technology (CATIC) near Galle Face Green be reviewed. The move, the Sunday Times learns, will mean that a large extent of land will not be sold outright to CATIC. Instead, President Rajapaksa has directed at a Cabinet meeting on July 13 that it be granted on a long-term lease. more..

Aug 1 (4H) Following the end of a three-decade long civil war in 2009, Sri Lanka has witnessed unprecedented growth and with a real GDP growth rate of 8% in 2010, a jump of 125.2% in the stock market in 2009, and 32% year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals in 2010, Sri Lanka is on its way to becoming a major tourism destination in South Asia. In the past one year, HVS India has received numerous inquiries about Sri Lanka from hotel operators, investors, and developers. more..

Aug 1 (DM) During the last two years, 1700 persons have been abducted according to a new report prepared by the Police Department. The number includes personal issues as well. Most of them have been abducted for extortion according to information gathered by the police, a senior police officer said. In 2009, 926 persons were abducted and 774 persons were abducted during the last year, the police said. Police also stated that 202 suspects are yet to be identified more..

Aug 1 (Island) The govt of Sri Lanka has invited the UK-based Channel 4 News to visit Sri Lanka to study the ground situation. Sri Lanka’s No: 2 at the UN Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva has informed Foreign Affairs Correspondent of Channel 4 News, Jonathan Miller of Sri Lanka’s readiness to facilitate a visit. Ambassador Silva said that he had informed both Channel 4 News headquarters in London and Miller the outfit could send a team to Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 1 (Island) Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena stressed that every infant one hour after birth should be given mother’s milk. It was extremely important to breast feed every infant to prevent the infants from contracting various diseases. The National Breast Feeding Month would commence today. During this month several awareness programmes on importance of breast feeding would be conducted country-wide by Provincial Health Directors, Minister Sirisena told the media recently. more..

Aug 1 (DM) The 615th ‘Nenasala’ Arivakam or wisdom outlet was declared open by MP Namal Rajapaksa in Kilinochchi on July 20. Elaborating on the objectives of Nenasala, the ICTA Chairman Prof. P. W. Epasinghe, said that the objective of the Nenasala was to provide the optimal benefits of ICT to the community. He noted that Nenasala must act as a resource centre to the community and that the services offered by the Nenasala were varied and adapted to the needs of the milieu. more..

Aug 1 (DM) The one month time limit for the armed groups and others to hand over their firearms ended yesterday, but only two people had handed in their firearms, according to the army. One person had come to the Batticaloa Army camp on Saturday and handed over a new T 56 and a hand bomb of foreign make to the army, said a senior army official of the area. A person who had hidden three T 56 weapons in the roof of an abandoned house had given informed the army about his weapons, more..

Aug 1 (DN) Over 60 percent of Colombo city hotels flout the Food Act and established food safety practices, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Medical Officer Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam said. He said that over 60 percent of the city hotels have failed to obtain medical certificates on workers’ personal hygiene and also continue to violate established food safety practices. Out of over 550 food outlets in Colombo, only 220 had obtained the certification from health authorities to ply their trade, he added. more..

Aug 1 (DM) UNP groups in the Central, Southern and Western provincial councils have decided to pass resolutions calling for the immediate settlement of the fresh leadership crisis. A UNP member of the Southern Provincial Council said on condition of anonymity that several members were planning to move a resolution to the provincial council group calling for the appointment of Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya as the new party leader in order to resolve the crisis. more..

Aug 1 (DBS) Pro-LTTE elements in Sydney NSW, launch”Operation Excreta” against Tamil broadcaster of Australian Tamil Broadcasting Corporation (ATBC) Radio. Suspected pro-tiger hoodlums dumped bags of human excreta (SHIT) over the gate of ATBC radio journalist Raguram in a “brave” night operation. Aussie Police are currently investigating this ”shitty” attack conducted by pro-tiger elements in Sydney following a complaint more..

Aug 1 (GDI) "The false claims and allegations made by Tamil Diaspora together with the LTTE international network will be laid to rest with the release of the factual analysis reports, said Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He expressed these views addressing the gathering at the launching of the report titled "Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 - May 2009," today, at the Hilton Colombo. more..

Aug 1 (DM) Representatives of the Singapore- based Emirates International Oil Company which supplied the sub standard stock of petrol to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) arrived in the country a few days ago on a fact finding mission about the allegations against them. Minister Premajayantha aid that a detailed report would be furnished by the CPC to be submitted to the Company as part of the formalities in claiming compensations for the losses incurred more..

Aug 1 (IRIN) More than two years after Sri Lanka's decades-long conflict officially ended, the whereabouts of 630 children are unknown, according to a govt database. Most went missing during the final phase of the war that ended on 18 May 2009, when govt forces declared victory over the now defeated LTTE, who had been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983. 64 percent of those missing were recruited by the LTTE while 30 percent were last seen behind govt lines. more..

Aug 1 (Island) Beleaguered UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the BBC on Saturday that he was not aware of any challenge to his leadership. Asked by the BBC whether he agreed with the process of providing the Party leadership to Karu Jayasuriya, Wickremesinghe had replied "No. I do not know what you are talking about. No one has informed such a thing to me. This could be a story created by you. more..

Aug 1 (GDI) The indigenous people of the world have lost the rights enjoyed by the Adi Vasis in Sri Lanka. The govt of Sri Lanka as a people-friendly govt will stand for strengthening and safeguarding the rights of the Adivasis said the President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a ceremony held yesterday on the Sallativu coast in Vakarai to coincide with the World Indigenous People’s day. President noted that the govt will provide a conducive atmosphere for the Adivasis, where they can live with dignity. more..

Aug 1 (AP) Sri Lanka's govt Monday acknowledged for the first time that there were civilian casualties in the final phase of the civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels but calls them unavoidable. A Defense Ministry report said "it was impossible" to avoid civilian deaths despite its best efforts, given the magnitude of the fighting and ruthlessness of the opponent. The govt had so far maintained that non-combatants were not among the war dead because more..

Aug 2 (DM) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday said it had been given no proposal by brokerages to withdraw a plan to end margin trading by the year’s end, which has frustrated brokers by dampening trading volumes and prices. Market speculation that the SEC may ease up the restriction drove the Colombo Stock Exchange up by 6.8 percent in four sessions this week, from a 7-month-low that also saw it dip into negative growth on the year for the first time since 2008. more..

Aug 2 (LT) The four suspects in Rs 400 billion VAT scam are reported to be endowed with super facilities inside the prison, according to prison sources. These suspects have been inside the prison for over a period of 4 years. They are detained in EDP wards of the Magazine prison and have been provided with facilities to use mobile phones and laptop computers inside the prison. While most of these suspects are owners of garment factories, they are carrying out their more..

Aug 2 (DM) Minister G.L. Peiris appealed to the International community to do justice to Sri Lanka and to listen to its voice. “We do not want anyone to pressurise us, corner or polarise. Nobody needs to threaten us with economic sanctions. We are a proud nation with a rich history. Therefore we will do anything that we think which is right for our people and to our country. We want the International community to help us in developing this nation to move more..

Aug 2 (AD) Sri Lanka has climbed one place in the ICC ODI rankings stepping over world champions India to claim the No.2 spot. An annual update of the list shows Australia extending their lead at the top to 12 points. Despite capturing the World Cup 2011, India slipped to the third spot behind runners-up Sri Lanka in the updated rankings. “This is due to the fact that in the 2008-09 rating year, now dropped, India won 17 ODIs and lost only five games, which was easily the best record during that period. more..

Aug 2 (TOI) In a major security lapse, a Sri Lankan national, arrested by the Delhi airport police for travelling on a forged passport, managed to escape from the clutches of police personnel and reached Hyderabad by boarding a flight right under their nose. The Delhi police managed to track him down and alerted their counterparts in Hyderabad . Though he was nabbed 18 hours later, the incident exposes chinks in the security cover at the country's top airport. more..

Aug 2 (IANS) AIADMK members in the Lok Sabha on Monday shouted slogans to protest the presence of a Sri Lankan delegation, led by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, who were in the house as special foreign guests. AIADMK members, shouted "shame, shame" as soon as Speaker Meira Kumar began reading out her welcome message to Rajapaksa and his other colleagues, including Sri Lankan ministers, sitting in the special box to the left of her. more..

Aug 2 (GDI) Minister Basil Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest of opening ceremony of the Valachchenai modernized Fisheries Harbor on 30 of July. The Valaichchenai Fisheries Harbor in Batticaloa which was destroyed by the LTTE in 1992 was modernized and was declared open by the Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday (30). It had not been in use for nearly 20 years due to LTTE threats and the area was again badly affected by the Tsunami in the year 2004. more..

Aug 2 (CN) A boxer from Sri Lanka who was named in a list of 30 suspected war criminals hiding in Canada is no longer in this country. Illandaridevage Kulatunga disappeared after being knocked out during his first match in the 1994 Commonwealth Games which took place in Victoria. After being located in Toronto, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada announced he was wanted in Sri Lanka for "crimes against humanity" in the torture and killing of civilians. more..

Aug 2 (DM) The Govt of Sri Lanka today updated its request to the European Union (EU) to list front organizations of the LTTE as terrorist entities, as they had done the LTTE since 2006, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Brussels said. “This call was made, as the EU through Council Implementing Regulation of 18 July 2011, re-listed the LTTE as a terrorist entity. The EU terrorist re-listings made in terms of article 2 (3) of Council Regulation of more..

Aug 2 (GDI) Sri Lankan scout contingent attending the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden make use of their ten day World Jamboree to promote the image of the country as a destination for lovers of wild life, eco tourism and site seeing in the midst of a people with friendly and hospitality atmosphere. The Jamboree organizers have set up a special exhibition centre for the countries to show case the image of participating countries. The 122 member entire Sri Lankan contingent more..

Aug 2 (NN) The TMVP claims it does not have in its possession any illegal weapons. TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana, speaking to News Now.lk, said that all such weapons were handed over by the TMVP in 2008. The military began an operation today to arrest any individual who had in their possession illegal weapons after a one month amnesty period came to an end. “In 2008 we had a function and handed over all our weapons to the army eastern command. Since then we did not carry weapons,” more..

Aug 2 (LBO) A Singapore arbitrator has voided an oil hedging deal between Sri Lanka and Citibank, rejecting the bank's demand for 192 million US dollars and interest payments, Reuters reported quoting sources. "The decision has said that the entirety of the transaction is not right and Citibank's claim has been dismissed," one of five sources involved with the case at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes told Reuters. more..

Aug 2 (DM) An organized gang including two Sri Lankans from Chilaw and an Indian couple were taken into custody during a raid conducted by the Crime Investigation Division of the Nuwara Eliya police for the robbery of cash and jewellery of devotees attending religious observances at Hindu temples in several areas of the country. They were produced before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate, Saman Sri Kariyawasam and remanded. The suspects were arrested by the police when more..

Aug 2 (GDI) The Department of Archaeology has started research on an Ola Leaf Scripture found in a land near Pilikuttuwa Raja Maha Viharaya. An Ola Leaf Scripture containing Pre- Brahmi Scriptures was also found near the Viharaya. The Viharaya is situated in a 200 acre area in Gampaha district and it has been confirmed that there had been pre-historic settlements in the area. The forest surrounding the area contains many medicinal herbs. The historical texts state that more..

Aug 2 (LG) I have read somewhere last week a news item that informed us that the Election Commission had decided to reduce the number of seats in Jaffna Peninsula (District of Jaffna on the administrative map) from 10 to 6 at future elections and the four seats taken away from Jaffna District would be allocated to four districts in the South. The justification given is that the number of voters in Jaffna Peninsula has reduced in the last three decades or so and therefore more..

Aug 2 (LG) The freedom of expression and of the media received another brutal blow with the murderous assault on senior journalist and news editor of the Uthayan newspaper, Gnanasundaram Kuganathan, in Jaffna on Friday. He is now in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of Jaffna Hospital with head injuries due to blows from iron bars. The victim had previously been targeted by assailants who stormed the Uthayan office in May 2006, asked for him by name more..

Aug 2 (Cimic) Ten more houses constructed by the 511 Brigade of Atchelu with financial assistance of some charity organizations in Kandy were handed over to ten homeless families on Saturday. Those houses were symbolically given to poor residents at Selvanayagapuram and those who were once displaced due to war during a ceremony organized at the Headquarters 9th Sri Lanka Light Infantry at Atchuvely. Building materials to construct the more..

Aug 2 (LG) I am surprised at your decision to reduce the number of seats in Parliament for the Jaffna District, from nine to six. Let there be no confusion in this matter. I am sure you are referring to the Jaffna Electoral District which is comprised of both the Administrative Districts of Jaffna and Kilinochchi and not the Jaffna District alone. Before Kilinochchi was carved out of the Jaffna District, it had eleven electorates. The number came down to nine at one stage and more..

Aug 2 (LG) There is much talk about reconciliation in relation to the Sri Lankan ethnic problem. My first use of conscious use of Reconciliation was as an articled clerk at M/s Satchithananda Schokman Wijeyeratne & Co – Chartered Accountants. No, it was NOT an exercise of reconciling the differences between the three cultures – depicted in the name. It was to reconcile between the Bank Balance as per Bank Statement and as per our Cash Book. Using this simple exercise more..