Dec 14 (Island) Those running the country’s premier vegetable and fruit wholesale market in the Pettah yesterday launched a massive protest opposite the Fort Railway Station demanding that the govt reverse its controversial decision to make mandatory the use of plastic crates for the transport and storage of several types of perishable items. Traders blocked traffic for several hours in spite of heavy police presence at the scene. more..

Dec 14 (DN) Building global citizens with many skills is one of the main targets of the government. English language skills, information technology and culture are the major factors to carry the national identity to the world. To achieve these targets, it is important to provide a sound education in these areas, said Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana. The minister was addressing the Pranama Sarani-2011 teachers felicitation ceremony at the Janakala Centre recently. more..

Dec 14 (LB) Both the Ranil Wickremesinghe and Karu Jayasuriya factions of the UNP are promoting candidates for the party leadership, and informed sources from the UNP said that its internal power struggle for the reins could worsen in the coming weeks. As per the new Constitution of the party, the UNP has to appoint a new leader within the month of December before he/she is ratified at a party convention. more..

Dec 14 (DN) Roads in Colombo Fort, used as the track for the Colombo Night Race and several junctions to enter Colombo city, will be closed on December 16 and 17, from 6 pm to 6 am, on each day, the Police Public Relations Unit has announced. No roads will be closed during the day time on December 16 and 17. The temporary traffic plan will be used to minimize traffic congestion during the race hours. more..

Dec 14 (Island) The recalcitrance of the vegetable traders in defying the govt directive to use plastic crates will become a damp squib with the govt employing lorries of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment and the Cooperative Movement to transport the vegetables to Colombo. "We employed as many as 55 lorries yesterday to transport vegetables to Colombo and we will increase the number today. The govt is not going to allow these traders to more..

Dec 14 (Island) The battle for the UNP leadership has gathered momentum with a majority of the vacancies in the 92-member Working Committee being approved by the Advisory Committee and the next WC meeting fixed for Sunday, Dec 18. Informed sources said that with Co-Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya openly challenging Ranil Wickremesinghe for the top post, they expect a new UNP leader by Sunday, which has already been declared the ‘Day of Destiny’. more..

Dec 14 (DN) The Customs Intelligence Division uncovered a massive low quality tea export racket being carried out with several forged documents, following the detection of four shipments, which are not permitted by the Sri Lanka Tea Board for export. The market value of the four shipments is Rs. 80 million. The Customs Intelligence Division also arrested six suspects including two wharf clerks and four leading businessmen of Colombo. more..

Dec 14 (Island) Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Nimal Welgama who was among the recipients of the Business Today Twenty Awards 2010-2011 Monday night having been placed seventh declared that such independent rankings gave credence to the SLT’s performance as a business entity. "Reaching the Business Today Top ten is a true accomplishment and we appreciate the valued contribution by Business Today to promote Sri Lanka business and more..

Dec 14 (DM) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said yesterday he would instruct the Police Chief to inquire why JVP dissident MP Ajith Kumara was not allowed to visit displaced families living in the Menik Farm welfare village in Vavuniya. Mr. Rajapaksa gave this assurance in response to a question of privilege raised by Mr. Kumara who said his rights as a parliamentarian had been breached by being denied entry to the welfare village. more..

Dec 14 (LS) Eldest son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Namal Rajapaksa schedule to take oaths has a lawyer today. According to the Divaina newspaper Namal Rajapaksa will take oaths as Supreme Court lawyer. He will take oaths before the three judge panel which includes Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike. 250 students who passed their law final year examination in year 2011 will take oaths today.

Dec 14 (ST) The Army has taken over control at the Dambulla Economic centre - a day after police and farmers clashed during a protest agaisnt the law on compulsory use of plastic crates to transport vegetables. More than 300 army personnel have been deployed in the Dambulla Economic Centre, despite only a few lorries turning up with vegetables. Most shops remains closed as the usual number of lorries failed to turn up. more..

Dec 14 (HN) Today is the 11th Day of the Committee Stage Debate of the 3rd Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the 2012 Budget. Accordingly the expenditures for 3 Ministries will be taken up for discussion with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development being taken up for debate. Meanwhile the Minister Johnston Fernando stated today in Parliament that a special more..

Dec 14 (SM) No lorries transported vegetables and fruits today as well to Colombo’s Manning Market and other economic centres. Farmers are continuing to protest the compulsory use of plastic containers in the transportation of their produce. Police have arrested 83 protestors during yesterday. President of the Manning Market Traders Association Lal Hettige said not a single vegetable lorry came to the market this morning. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Modern democracy despite all its defects and drawbacks, aberrations and attacks has still proved to be the only sustainable and substantial process through which the sovereignty of the people is exercised or in simple words where the people are kings or queens. At its highest and noblest dimensions, democracy as seen by legendary pioneers like Abraham Lincoln is a govt of the people for the people and by the people. Sri Lanka is, and we hope still is one of the oldest more..

Dec 14 (LBO) Stocks closed 0.7 percent Wednesday amid thin trading while bond yields edged up. All Share Index fell 43.6 points to 5,950.99 points and the Milanka Index of more liquid stocks fell 39.2 points to 5,228.4 points or 0.75 percent. Asha Central Hospital fell 34 rupees in 182.00 rupees, Asian Alliance Insurance fell 3.0 rupees 166.00. Dialog Axiata closed flat at 7.80 rupees amid strong speculation that a deal to buy Suntel, a fixed access wireless telco was imminent. more..

Dec 14 (DM) After two and a half years of the end of the war many Sri Lankans were hopeful that democracy would be upheld in the North and East after the dispelling of terrorism in those parts. No one anticipated that this would happened in a day, a week or a month, however people hoped that democracy would be established in the North and East systematically and the groundwork would be established for a free and fair society. more..

Dec 14 (LBO) The new chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission has not been pressured by large investors to stop probes on securities fraud. Tilak Karunaratne, businessman and former politician was appointed by the finance ministry to chair the SEC after Indrani Sugathadasa, its former chief resigned to "uphold" her principles. "In order to ensure the creation and maintenance of a fair, efficient and orderly market the SEC undertakes continuance more..

Dec 14 (Bernama) Several Malaysian construction and infrastructure service providers concluded a marketing mission to Sri Lanka with potential sales of RM16.3 million. The companies were part of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation's (Matrade) two-day marketing mission to the South Asian country. "Products most sought after other than building materials were solar power related products to accommodate the increasing demand for alternative power source in the country," more..

Dec 14 (GDI) The Sri Lanka Transport Board has recorded Rs. 21 billion revenue this year. This is the first time where SLTB which was running at a loss during the past two decades has earned a record income. The SLTB was established in 1958 as the Ceylon Transport Board by nationalizing the Private Bus Companies aiming at providing a best and efficient transport service to the public as the first nationalized service in the country by the more..

Dec 14 (CI) The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in South Africa, Twenty20 cricket was not a recognised format of the game, even at domestic level, the ICC rankings had only just come into being and Gary Kirsten was part of South Africa's top order. That was nine years ago, in the summer of 2002. Then, Sri Lanka were expected to lose the series. When they showed signs of tenacity in the second Test and Dilhara Fernando almost bowled them to victory, they were heralded. more..

Dec 14 (BBC) If you're planning an escape to Sri Lanka in the New Year, you'll have to pay for a new online visa, but make your travel arrangements by the end of the year and you could bypass it if you travel before the end of March. Plus the perils of booking cheap flights, and the cost of getting online on the high seas. Travel expert Simon Calder has more advice for people doing battle with airlines and agents. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena today suspended payments on a stock of BTI with immediate effect imported illegally and secretly to the country by a group of officials with the blessings of a prominent sports personality turned politician. He also instructed the Dengue Control Programme (DCP) not to use the BTI stock for dengue control. The stock of BTI in the form of doughnut shaped cubes has been imported from the US more..

Dec 14 (CT) “Given this situation, the PM will have to consider carefully how additional steps toward us might affect his domestic political standing. Too sharp a tilt toward the U.S. could potentially subject him to harsh criticism from the Opposition, which will reverberate to the prime minister’s disadvantage in press channels and among the leftist intellectual set.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington. The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa today brought to the attention of Minister Johnston Fernando the need to consult stakeholders of the vegetable trade at the grassroots level on the introduction of plastic crates for the transportation of vegetables and fruits. The Speaker said that he introduced these plastic crates in 2005 as the then Agriculture Minister, and distributed them among vegetable growers free of charge. “It is advisable to involve the local govt more..

Dec 14 (LT) The Political Bureau of the JVP has issued a media statement regarding the two disappeared political activists Lalith Kumara and Kugan Murugan whose whereabouts are still not known. Here is the full text of the JVP statement: Media has reported that there hasn’t been any information regarding Lalith Kumara and Kugan Murugan, the two political activists who disappeared in Jaffna. The JVP vehemently condemns this act of disappearing persons more..

Dec 14 (AN) The Centre for Performing Arts founded by Fr Nicholapillai Maria Saveri, a Tamil Catholic priest, has celebrated its 46th anniversary by organising a number of activities, including inter-faith ceremonies, alms giving, tree planting and blood donations in its 20 centres across the island nation. Established in 1965, the CPA provides a venue for theatre and dance that focus on peace, harmony and equality among the country’s Sinhalese, more..

Dec 14 (CI) We don't tour South Africa that often, so when we get an opportunity, it's a big occasion for us. The South African team has played some really good cricket. They've got some really good fast bowlers, and a good spinner now in Imran Tahir. As a unit they are very potent. We want to take the challenge upon us to try and do something different and win a Test match here. We've come close a few times but we haven't got over the line yet, so that is a major goal for us more..

Dec 14 (LBO) Sri Lanka has got ADB aid to upgrade six access roads linking the newly opened southern expressway with the rest of the island's road network. The ADB will give a loan of 85 million US dollars for the project to rehabilitate access roads to the Southern Expressway with the govt providing 20.6 million dollars. "These rehabilitation works are crucial to improve the connectivity of roads and to realize the full potential benefits from the southern expressway," more..

Dec 14 (DM) A job fair for the disabled will be held today as a step towards promoting and increasing employment opportunities. The job fair will be open to the visually handicapped, the deaf, those without limbs, legs and other physical disabilities. The fair will comprise over 30 public and private sector businesses, banks and manufacturing industries that will interview applicants and pick suitable candidates for available vacancies. more..

Dec 14 (LBO) Sri Lanka has identified 14 sites along its coastline to build power plants using energy from ocean waves as part of a move to shift to renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on costly fossil fuel. The island's energy deficit is increasing as rapid economic growth generates higher demand for electricity, said Kamal Tennakoon, a scientist and director of the Oceanography Division of the National Aquatic Resources Agency. more..

Dec 14 (LP) As Sri Lanka’s domestic manufacturing industries are continued to be challenged by rising energy costs, Sri Lanka’s Industry and Commerce Ministry moved into implement much needed industry grade energy efficiencies at factory level, using the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. “As we face a climate of global recession and increasing energy costs, international markets demand more and more low cost products. To reduce our industrial and manufacturing costs more..

Dec 14 (USE) The United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program was renewed on November 4, 2011, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced procedures for claiming duty refunds for exports eligible under the GSP program. There will be an April 18, 2012, deadline for filing claims for refunds of duties paid on GSP -eligible merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption during the period January 1 through November 4, 2011. more..

Dec 14 (LP) Politics between the National Cricket players of Sri Lanka led to the defeat in Pakistan , Sports Minister Mahindananda Alutgamage charged in Parliament a short while ago. He was responding to the statement made by DNA MP Arjuna Ranatunga. The Sri Lankan Cricket team recently lost to Pakistan in Dubai. Referencing to the defeat, the Sports Minister claimed it was petty politics within the team that led to the defeat. more..

Dec 14 (AD) NFF politburo member Piyasiri Wijenayake today questioned whether Minister Johnston Fernando was operating with the UNP mentality. Criticizing the Minister’s decision regarding the new regulations on vegetable and fruit transportation he added that it has created a major fiasco in the country. The country’s market and economy is at the doorstep of disarray due to the issue, he added. The whole way in which the matter was brought about is wrong. more..

Dec 14 (USE) The U.S. Embassy in Colombo wishes to clarify the article which appeared under the headline “U.S. to make representations if 25,000 sign” in the Daily Mirror on December 13. The U.S. Govt has given no assurance that we will act on the on-line petition regarding Sarath Fonseka in any manner. The White House web site includes a place for people to express their opinions and advocate for action with an on-line petition initiative entitled “We the People.” more..

Dec 14 (LBO) A visiting Australian parliamentary delegation has said Sri Lanka's reconciliation efforts after the end of its 30-year ethnic war must ensure sustainable peace and progress. Five Australian-members of parliament have gained a "first-hand insight" into Sri Lanka’s current political, economic and social situation during a week-long visit to the country," the Australian high commission said in a statement. more..

Dec 14 (AD) There will be no change in the Opposition leadership, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe today stated in parliament. Answering a question raised by Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena, Wickremasinghe said that what the country needed now was a change in government and not a change within the opposition. A statement was earlier made by UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella that there was a proposal to appoint two different persons for the UNP leadership and opposition leader post. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Fishermen and representatives of fishermen’s organizations in the Kalpitiya area staged a demonstration at Palakudawa junction demanding immediate action to prevent the use of illegal fishing gear including purse seiner in the sea off the Kalpitiya Lagoon. They complained that the use of illegal fishing gear was going on unchecked in the Kalpitiya seas. The protestors accused the authorities failing to take legal action against individuals more..

Dec 14 (AD) Private bus operators have decided to go for an islandwide strike as authorities have failed to fulfill promises made to them, President of the Private Bus Owners Association, Gemunu Wijeratne said today. On December 13 Wijerathne addressing a media briefing he said that the month that was given to the government to respond to their demand is now over while the bus owners will meet to decide on what steps are to be taken. more..