Jan 2 (ST) An MP who recently sold his duty-free vehicle permit to a person unknown to him through a broker has now been called upon to pay a luxury tax as the new owner has imported a vehicle over the engine power permitted. The MP has admitted to the Motor Traffic Department that he does not know the identity of the person to whom his permit was sold. The details came to light when the MP was asked to pay a luxury tax of Rs.100,000 by more..

Jan 2 (PTI) The 2G spectrum scam and other issues like the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils will work against the ruling DMK in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls due in May, MDMK chief Vaiko said on Saturday. While 2010 was the year of scams with the 2G spectrum allocation scam at the top, 2011 would be a year of changes in the political arena, he said. Describing the spectrum allocation scam as the "monster of all scams," Vaiko said even the common man was aware of the issue. more..

Jan 2 (ST) Shane Duff, a fitness trainer who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Movement Studies from the Australian Catholic University, Sydney would be in Sri Lanka for a ten day period at the invitation of SLC from January 15 to 25th. Duff, a Grade I cricketer and former professional rugby league player has been invited by Sri Lanka Cricket at the request of Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara who wants to have a closer look at his wicket-keeping skills and more..

Jan 2 (BBC) The night is warm and there is no air-conditioning - but on a Saturday evening in December, the hall of a central Colombo school is crammed with expectant crowds. Tickets have been sold out for days. Concert-goers fill the space for the Christmas concert of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka. A striking number are young. A few who have turned up on the night manage to get returned tickets and conductor Eshantha Peiris embarks on the programme more..

Jan 2 (SO) The National Hospital of Sri Lanka recorded a 100 percent increase in the number of casualties yesterday, December 31, compared to the corresponding period in 2009, the Director of the Accident Service, Dr. Prasad Ariyawanse told the Sunday Observer. Of the 322 persons who sought treatment at the National hospital for injuries, 121 were admitted to hospital for further treatment. Two persons who were admitted to the hospital succumbed to their injuries. more..

Jan 2 (NS) Test wise it was a bad year for Sri Lanka not by performance but by scheduling of matches. Originally it looked a real bleak year with only three Tests against West Indies scheduled for the entire year. However due to the cordial relationship that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) enjoyed with their Indian counterparts the Indian Cricket Board, they managed to squeeze in a three-Test series in June-July so that Sri Lanka were not left with a paucity of Test matches for the year. more..

Jan 2 (Island) It is not as if the government’s right hand does not know what its left hand is doing. It is as though there is no central coordination between what the government’s many hands are doing. The government is more hyper than it is organized and it is less given to thinking than doing. I am not the only one saying this and the national anthem cockup is not the only instance where the government has come into public view with its pants down. more..

Jan 2 (NS) Christmas and the New Year have already passed but the talk of the season was the rising prices of essential commodities, particularly the prices of vegetables. Vegetable was not the only hot topic last week and eggs, chicken, coconuts came into the spotlight as the prices of these commodities’ prices increased during the season. Every year, we see an increase in the prices of vegetables and other essential food items during the end of the year due to more..

Jan 2 (SO) Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in the US Jaliya Wickremasuriya has called upon all lankans living in the US to help make the island nation a ‘Wonder of Asia”. He said that terrorism which haunted Sri Lanka has been now defeated and the entire country is enjoying the dividends of peace. Wickremasuriya outlined how Sri Lanka’s numerous major achievements in the area of post-conflict rebuilding and reconciliation over the past year were achieved. more..

Jan 2 (ST) The second decade of the 21st century dawned yesterday with many an uncertainty in Sri Lanka's ever changing political landscape. It was felt most in the country's main opposition UNP, which is torn by internal feuding and power struggles. On Wednesday night, the UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had just returned to Colombo after another visit to India. Whilst moves were afoot in Colombo to oust him from leadership, he was in New Delhi. more..

Jan 2 (LB) A government wakes up to the reality that tackling the anti- government tsunami from abroad may be more difficult than handling the problems at home. And an opposition is waking up from a long and deep slumber, only to be told by its leader that he wants them to go back to sleep at least for a while longer i.e.: Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested that he needs anything from eight months to two years to make an ‘honourable exit’ as the leader of the UNP. more..

Jan 2 (ST) The night of December 31st – traditionally a time of good cheer and celebrations – turned into a hideous nightmare for a group of 29 persons travelling from Kataragama to Vavuniya when they were threatened, abused and assaulted by a couple of drunks and their friends. The party – all employees attached to the Vavuniya bus depot – had gone to Kataragama to have a specially built bus blessed. The trouble began when the bus stopped in Buttala for a tea break. more..

Jan 2 (SLN) The Sri Lanka Navy in its’ continuing efforts to keep clean the canal network of Colombo and add splendour to city while preventing catastrophic flooding in the area has extended the altruist work in maintaining the resurrected waterways of Lunawa lagoon. It is scheduled to be ceremonially opened for water sports facilities tomorrow. Navy will provide training and instructions to more..

Jan 2 (Island) It’s indeed disappointing news to those who jumped in joy on receipt of that email from the "USA Visa Lottery, National Visa Center, USA" declaring that they were "amongst the lucky winners of the third annual USA Visa Lottery Program 2010" to be granted visas to travel to the United States to "start a new life and work there". "This is a big scam", US Embassy sources in Colombo said last week. more..

Jan 2 (LB) The Rs1 billion fraud through two bogus garment firms situated in Colombo, concerned two garment factories which were bogus companies with one said to have been situated at Jethawana Road and the other located at Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Director General of Customs Athula Lankadeva said. He said that customs officials were of the view that more suspects could still be at large in this one billion scam bust, and more..

Jan 2 (ST) Sri Lanka hoteliers yesterday expressed serious concern over government moves to charge for visas from foreigners visiting the country, except those from Singapore and the Maldives.“One of the reasons why we attract a large number of visitors to Sri Lanka is because of the easy access to the country. That is why we urge the government to defer this move until 2012,” Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Anura Lokuhetti said more..

Jan 2 (LB) In a new twist in education policy, the state has decided to scrap external degree courses citing lack of facilities and funds. However, several university officials expressed their displeasure over the decision taken by the University Grants Commission (UGC), via a circular, to terminate external degree courses within the university sector from 2011 onwards. more..

Jan 2 (NS) A ground survey conducted by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has indicated that a majority of the Muslims in the East are not keen on the party contesting the upcoming local elections in alliance with the UPFA. A delegation headed by SLMC general secretary Hasan Ali undertook a field visit to ascertain for itself the pulse of the party supporters on the forthcoming elections last week. more..

Jan 2 (ST) Be prepared for a shock that is bigger than the one you are certain to get when you see this month’s electricity bill. Many traders seem to have no qualms about passing to the consumer the additional cost they will incur as a result of the eight percent hike in electricity tariffs from this month. Even people who use fewer than 120 units of electricity and thus spared the eight percent electricity tariff hike will have to spend more for their food, clothes and household items. more..

Jan 2 (Island) Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Nihal Jayasinghe will bid goodbye this week after completing his tenure in London. Although he has been offered the slot as Chairman of the Bribery Commission, the Sunday Island learns that he would not accept the job as he is keen to take up a top position in Cambodia. At present he is one of the judges presiding over the war crimes tribunal in Cambodia. more..

Jan 2 (ST) Naming the key events for 2010 was what the Business Times asked its readers this week in an email poll and gave a choice of 10 options with the majority of the respondents picking the victory by Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January Presidential poll as the main event. In second place, as the most significant event of the year, was the jailing of former Army commander Sarath Fonseka while the ruling UPFA win at parliamentary poll drew readers response as the third, more..

Jan 2 (LB) A new era of moral purity is in the offing in the New Year; if the new government directive has its way, miniskirts would be banned from public places. Minister T.B.Ekanayake has instructed the Arts Council attached to his ministry to prepare guidelines over ‘wearing of miniskirts.’ He said individuals and ‘groups’ had complained to him about the cultural impact of the miniskirt. more..

Jan 3 (LG) The UPFA lost the budget vote in the Anuradhapura Municipal Council, its sixth such defeat; the budget of the Maharagama MC was voted-down, for the second time. Former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake publicly lamented the plight of senior ministers while Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa waxed eloquent about astronomical food prices. Not the advent of a rebellion, not by a very long chalk; but nevertheless hints of a subterranean seam of more..

Jan 3 (LG) We don’t know whether we are we coming or going’, a colleague remarked expressing the state of confusion that prevails on some of our key foreign policy issues. He was referring particularly to the status of the said visit to Sri Lanka of the three member panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon regarding allegations of ‘war crimes’ by our armed forces. Moon had said that after long consultations between him and President Rajapaksa the more..

Jan 3 (TC) A curtain of fear is coming down on the Jaffna peninsula as unidentified gunmen return and, sometimes, white vans resurface. Three killings and two abductions reported within a fortnight have sent shock waves within a Jaffna populace that has gone through much in the past. Last Sunday, deputy director of education, Markandu Sivalingam was shot dead at his residence in Urumpirai. Armed men who came in a motorcycle shot Sivalingam, 52, more..

Jan 3 (LG) I defended the struggle of Tamil nationality for democracy and freedom, since 1974. However, I never advocated separation; on the contrary I appealed for voluntary unity in one country. This is the position of Marxism. I believe Tamils have a right to take up arms to defend and resist oppression and brutality. At the same time I condemn violence against innocent people, in particular violence against children and women. more..

Jan 3 (LG) Richard de Zoysa’s poem was about his emotions in another context. But these are the same emotions that many in our country will experience as we turn another year in our history. These are the emotions that are expressed so correctly in Bishop Duleep de Chickera’s Christmas message this year. Christmas messages usually tend to be sanctimonious platitudes wishing everyone goodwill and good cheer but rarely touching the lives of people. more..

Jan 3 (TC) Q: As a human rights campaigner and a Tamil party leader, what do you think of the current situation on Tamil rights in Sri Lanka? A: A: There are two counts. First count is the Tamil daily life. It’s horrible today in the north. Only 2 days before, a Zonal Director of Education was shot killed. 3 days before that a Tamil Hindu priest was murdered by gunfire. more..

Jan 3 (Island) The kolapuwa, that flimsy outer covering of huskier hanassa encasing the coconut flower burns bright and fierce. The ginipenella or torch made of dried coconut fronds twisted tight, on the other hand, is a slow-burner and gives but a poor light. Not many people know how to light a fire and get the milk to boil and overflow on festive or ceremonious occasions. It is indeed happy that the world has progressed to where it has. more..

Jan 3 (Island) Harim Peiris, advisor to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her spokesperson from 2001 to 2005, has written at length on friends, friendships and the importance one should pay to their concerns (‘Rahul Gandhi, the UN and US express concern regarding Sri Lanka’). Harim is absolutely correct in his basic contention: ‘When friends who helped you fight your war, express serious concerns regarding your post war conduct, it places certain constraints.’ more..

Jan 3 (BBC) The dissident UNP MPs have informed the party leader of the urgency to appoint Sajith Premadasa as the new leader to rejuvenate the party. Working Committee (WC) member Dayasiri Jayasekara addressed Mr Premadasa as “our new leader.” He urged UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe and the party seniors to pave the way for the new generation to strengthen the party to face the forthcoming local elections. more..

Jan 3 (Island) Gina of Colombo seems to have eclipsed (John) Cena, the wrestler, if the wide publicity she has received in the local media during the past few weeks is anything to go by. Her forte has been playing a different game, though. She has been arrested for running a gymnasium of sex or a luxury bordello located on an upper floor of a shopping mall in Colombo, with foreign women on her payroll. It is reported that she is likely to be indicted shortly for more..

Jan 3 (DM) We hear that the Labour and Labour Relations Ministry is in the process of introducing a five-day week for the private sector and has started discussions with the Employers and the Trade Unions, Labour and Labour Relations. According to news reports about 8 million private sector employees would be “benefited” from the implementation of the five-day week. “If the ongoing trialogue (Employers Federation, Trade Unions and the Ministry) on more..

Jan 3 (TC) When the year 2010 dawned, I dreamed that by the dawn of the year 2011, the Executive Presidency shall be abolished; an all party Govt. is installed; nepotism, corruption and violence are banished; a just superlative Govt. is established and Sri Lanka shall be put back on the top slot of the world. But unfortunately, a wicked force which has not even an iota of love for my motherland and my people militated against it and plundered my dream. more..

Jan 3 (LG) Ketheeswaran Thevarajah, who was working in a post office in Vadamaraadchi and was killed Friday night was an environmentalist, who was protesting to scooping of sand in Vadamaraadchi that was causing environmental damages. Sometimes back, he was dispatching photographs through Facebook, showing environmental damage caused by sand-scooping in his locality. A feedback on his contribution to environmental protection has more..

Jan 3 (TC) Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, President of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), recently leveled a serious accusation against the LLRC. In an unexpected manner, this has caused some embarrassment, I believe, to both Dr. Amarasekera and Prof. GL Peiris, Minister of External Affairs. The reason for this embarrassment is a peculiar one; for it is not only the nature of the accusation, but the inability of Dr. Amarasekera to clarify the more..

Jan 3 (ST) At least 250 cases of traffic offences and detection of wanted persons were made via Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in the Colombo city and its suburbs on the eve of the New Year, Senior DIG Gamini Nawaratna said yesterday. He said the relevant video clips had been sent to the City Traffic Police which would file action against the offenders in courts. He said the minimum fine usually imposed on the offender would be Rs. 1000, more..

Jan 3 (LB) LLRC and Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director Lakshman Hulugalle kept on blaming each other for barring 10 journalists from six newspapers from covering the sessions on December, 30 at the Boosa Detention Centre. LLRC Secretary SB Athugoda said that he informed journalists that it had no permission to authorize journalists to cover the sessions. “It is a detention camp; even we had to get permission from the authorities. more..

Jan 3 (NN) The University Grants Commission (UGC) says the use of the name ‘University’ by groups not affiliated to a State campus is illegal. UGC Chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayake, speaking to News Now.lk, said that groups like the IUSF use the name ‘University’ giving the impression they are affiliated to all the State universities in the country. However he stressed that these groups have no affiliation with State universities and more..

Jan 3 (ST) Still more Sri Lankan Tamils who came to Thailand hoping to seek asylum in a third country by legal or illegal means have decided to return home. Since December 23 another 20 or so Sri Lankan Tamils have abandoned their quest for refuge and returned to Sri Lanka after they were arrested by Thai police for violating the country's immigration laws by overstaying their visas or for illegal entry. more..