Jan 28 (TN) Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, while addressing a news conference at the army headquarters in Colombo, said that the defence ministry will not move out the security forces stationed in the Jaffna peninsula, the state-run Dinamina newspaper said in a front page article Friday. The SLA Commander further said no plans are afoot to relax the security imposed in the Jaffna peninsula and across other parts of Sri Lanka, more..

Jan 28 (GR) Rajapakse’s recent recital of the 13 Amendment mantra to redress the Eelam Tamils’ trauma deservedly passed off as a non-event. Rajapakse and SL customarily play games over this issue; now it is the 13 Amendment. SL’s end game is to extricate itself from the international war crimes without compromising an iota on achieving its genocide objectives. The SL genocide is to defeat alleged attempts at separation by the Eelam Tamils whether as the more..

Jan 28 (DM) The Medical Officer at the Anuradhapura Prison hospital and the hospital staff stopped their work and left the hospital after the inmates of the prison threatened them with the death. Dr. (Mrs) L K Jayasundera had lodged a complaint with Anuradhapura District Health Services Director to the effect that the unruly behaviour of the prisoners last Monday had culminated in the complete destruction of the prison hospital more..

Jan 28 (Island) Chief of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Dr. N. P. Wijayananda says that had it not been for two boys from a tsunami village, the country wouldn’t have even heard about the recent earth cracks in Kuchchuveli. One of the boys had stepped on a crack, from which an unidentified sticky substance oozed, Dr. Wijayananda said. Dr. Vijayananda said that it was a normal happening and there was absolutely nothing to worry about. more..

Jan 28 (TOI) The recent attack on the Maha Bodhi Society, a Buddhist centre in the heart of Chennai, in the wake of killings of two Tamil fishermen, sent shock waves across the small Sinhala community in the city. But, though small in numbers, the Sinhalese say they have never been afraid to live in the city or anywhere in Tamil Nadu despite the state's passionate pro-Tamil and pro-LTTE sentiments. Shiromi Alexander, a Sinhalese tour guide who has been living in Chennai for more..

Jan 28 (Island) The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign employment has granted loans to the tune of Rs.8.6 million to 118 persons to assist them to secure employment at the Korean Daewo Corporation in Libya, but, according to Minister Dilan Perera, they had to return home due to differences with the management over their working hours. The Miniser said that certain politicians exploit insignificant issues to sabotage the complex and sensitive foreign employment process through more..

Jan 28 (SLBC) The relief materials for flood victims sent by the Italian government were officially handed over to the Government of Sri Lanka by the Italian Embassy this morning. Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera and Deputy Minister of Disaster Management Dulip Wijesekara received the relief items on behalf of the Government at the Bandaranaike International Airport today. more..

Jan 28 (DM) The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) yesterday said submissions would be accepted from the public only till January 31. LLRC Coordinator, Lakshman Wickremasinghe said thereafter the commission would analyze the submissions within three months before May15, when the final report would be presented to the President. “The LLRC will not accept submissions after the end of January unless the LLRC makes an exception,” more..

Jan 28 (Island) Elections Commisioner Dayananda Dissanayake has a good opportunity to redeem himself by conducting the forthcoming local government elections in a free and fair manner, the UNP said yesterday. Deputy Leader of the UNP, Karu Jayasuirya told a news conference in Colombo that Dayananda Dissanayake could retire with dignity, if he ensured that the laws were strictly enforced at the LG polls. more..

Jan 28 (Island) The war displaced Northern Muslims have expressed their willingness to settle down in Puttalam, which has been their home for about two decades, Secretary of the Ministry for Resettlement B. M. U. D Basnayaka says. "A housing project, fully funded by the World Bank, is already under construction to provide permanent housing to the Northern Muslims," he said. more..

Jan 28 (Island) Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal told the LLRC that contrary to popular belief Sri Lanka’s defense budget, as a percentage of GDP, was much lower to most countries. "Contrary to popular belief, Sri Lanka has expended just about 4 percent of its GDP on defense over the 4 years, 2006 to 2009. For a country that has been plagued by terrorism, this quantum of government spending on defense, indicates restraint and more..

Jan 28 (Island) The world’s largest floating book fair, Logos Hope, will arrive at the Colombo Port on March 18 and will be in the country till April 03. The exhibition will be open to the public from March 19 – April 03. The ship will exhibit half a million books and will have a wide selection with 7,000 different titles ranging from education, technology, history, philosophy, art, cookery and fiction to a selection of children’s books as well. more..

Jan 28 (DS) Bangladesh and Sri Lanka yesterday agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, tourism, connectivity and shipping, and work together in regional and multilateral sectors. The agreement was reached at the first-ever Foreign Secretary Level Consultation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the state guesthouse Meghna. more..

Jan 28 (NN) The DNA says it will decide if Jayantha Ketagoda will fill the seat in parliament made vacant by the imprisonment of its party leader Sarath Fonseka only after the next court hearing regarding the parliamentary seat concludes. DNA MP Vijitha Herath said that although discussions were ongoing, no party decision had been reached regarding the seat made vacant. “As a party we have not decided yet. We will only make a decision after more..

Jan 28 (GDI) Building of ten new tanks in and around Colombo to absorb flood waters, at a cost of Rs.400 million, is taking place. The five tanks that are currently being dug at Rampalawatta at Pelawatta, Talawathugoda, Heen Ela at Kirimandala Mawatha in Narahenpita, Peliyagoda and at Diyawannawa near Waters Edge, under the first phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid this year. more..

Jan 28 (Hindu) Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will travel to Colombo on Saturday to discuss with the Sri Lankan government the killing of Indian fishermen in the past one month allegedly by its navy. “External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has asked the Foreign Secretary to go to Sri Lanka tomorrow to discuss the killing of Indian fishermen with the government there,” sources said here on Friday. more..

Jan 28 (AFP) Does it make sense to defend freedom of speech by calling on writers not to speak at a literary festival? The question is being asked in Sri Lanka this week, after media freedom group Reporters Without Borders called on authors to boycott the Galle Literary Festival because of the country's human rights record. The campaign has seen the Paris-based group, also known by its French name Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), more..

Jan 29 (IRIN) Weather experts in Sri Lanka warn of more heavy rains and possible flooding in the country's eastern and northern regions. GB Samarasinghe, head of the country's Meteorological Department, told IRIN strong winds were being predicted for end-February. "Weather experts warn of the possibility of extreme weather again," he said, predicting that the flood-affected areas might suffer a second onslaught. Heavy rains and floods since November 2010 more..

Jan 29 (NN) UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara is to file legal action against the accepting of the nomination papers of a UPFA candidate who is holding a woman’s identity card despite being a man. The UNP MP said that he had lodged a complaint with the elections officials over the matter yesterday however the nomination papers of the candidate from Chilaw was still accepted. According to the UNP MP the UPFA candidate had an ID with a sequence number usually found on a national ID of a woman. more..

Jan 29 (CI) Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored his third hundred in three games against England Under-19 to set up a 31-run win, on the Duckworth/Lewis method, in the first of five Youth one-day internationals. Rajapaksa, who cracked centuries in both drawn Tests at Colombo and Galle, raced to 130 at a-run-a-ball before being dismissed by opposing captain Lewis Gregory as Sri Lanka reached 290 for 8. = more..

Jan 29 (BBC) A group of eight Muslim women, thought to be the first in the district, are contesting local elections from the district of Trincomalee. The group contests the local polls for Trincomalee Urban Council and Kinniya Urban and Divisional councils. All eight women contest from the UNP. Selabadeen Aleen, one of the contestants said that they campaign to develop women’s self-employment opportunities, children’s pre-schools and local roads, among other issues. more..

Jan 29 (LBO) The Sri Lanka Navy has ventured into wild life tourism by offering whale watching tours to the public off the island’s southern tip of Galle starting next month. The Navy is to deploy the fast passenger vessel (FPV) 503 previously used to transport service personnel and civilians between the eastern port city of Trincomalee and Jaffna in the Island’s north. “Just as the passenger vessel Jetliner now being used for tourism, more..

Jan 29 (LT) The Western Provincial Council Member of the UNP Nimal R. Peiris who was arrested yesterday (27th) by Welikada Police for abusing and threatening the Colombo District Retuning Officer Somapala Hapuarachchi and preventing him from carrying out his official duties was bailed out today. Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis today morning ordered him to be released on two personal bails of Rs. 200,000 each. more..

Jan 29 (LT) LSSP, a partner of the ruling UPFA, has handed over nominations to contest several local councils at the forthcoming local government elections alone say reports. The LSSP has handed over nominations for several local councils including Baddegama Pradehisya Sabha in Galle District and Beruwala Pradehiya Sabha in Kalutara District. Provincial Council Member Ven. Baddegama Samithe Thero says the party decided to contest Baddegama PS alone as more..

Jan 29 (GDI) Media personnel could destroy the character of a politician by two or three news items and similarly he could raise the character of a politician similarly. The voters who are groomed by politicians for a period of 45 days have to go behind them for many years to get something done by them. Therefore, media personnel command the respect of everyone. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Economic Development more..

Jan 29 (LT) An inner conflict in the SLFP has developed with the handing over of nominations. Many former Chairmen, Members of local councils and party activists have not received nominations. They have been denied nominations to give preference to supporters of Minister Basil Rajapakse and MP Namal Rajapakse say sources in the SLFP. The former UPFA Members of Wilgamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha have handed over nominations as an independent group due to the former Chairman of more..

Jan 29 (FB) At the beginning of December, Sri Lanka-based Elephant House, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings, introduced Kik Cola. By the middle of January, it was claiming sales of over a million litres and 60% market coverage of Sri Lanka’s retail channel. “We are happy to say the consumers have embraced this brand,” said Jit Gunaratna, JKH president – consumer foods. Kik Cola is marketed with youth in mind, and emphasis is on it being ‘a truly Sri Lankan cola drink’. more..

Jan 29 (Guardian) The Sri Lankan military is getting a makeover. Now that the war with the Tamil Tigers is over it is time to wash off the stains and spruce up. Military personnel may be spotted painting public buildings or engaged in projects to beautify Colombo, with defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa personally overseeing the transformation and development of the city. The military playing a role in postwar reconstruction is more..

Jan 29 (BBC) Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of the disappeared journalist has appealed to international writers and authors to help find her husband, Prageeth. Distributing leaflets among the participants of Galle Literary Festival (GLF) Mrs Ekneligoda has requested the help of world renowned writers to exert pressure on Sri Lanka government. “Although I expected to address the forum, I could only distribute my letter among the participants,” she told BBC more..

Jan 29 (NN) Atleast 21 underage children who were on the streets and were used for labour without being sent to school were rounded up in Welimada by the police today, the National Child Protection Authority said. These children were living in mostly makeshift homes made out of cardboard close to the Welimada town at the time they were rounded up and taken to a children’s home in Badulla, NCPA chairperson Anoma Dissanayake said. She said that the children aged between 3-15 were living in more..

Jan 29 (DM) The Supreme Court today directed the Registrar of the Court to issue notice to the Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasooriya to be present in Court on February 11 pursuant to the action filed by aggrieved Superintendent of Police J.R.Jayawardena against the IGP for the alleged contempt of court. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justices N.G.Amaratunga and K.Sripavan made this order. more..

Jan 29 (Reuters) Both annual inflation and 12-month moving average inflation to have stabilised at 6.9 percent and 5.9 percent respectively, unchanged from December figures. Reasons for inflation stabilising. Many analysts said as in the past, the island nation's inflation figures may show minimum changes from the previous month, despite high local and global food prices. The main opposition UNP had said the index fails to reflect real consumer spending patterns. more..

Jan 29 (Hindu) Living up to its promise of touching upon Sri Lankan post conflict concerns at an event that celebrated literature, the fifth edition of the Galle Literary Festival 2011 discussed at length the problem of ethnicities and identities getting entangled in politics. There was a strong opinion that ethnicity is part of a person’s identity and hence, the need for a single national identity should not insist that one’s ethnic identity is forgotten or cast aside. more..

Jan 29 (LT) The JVP calls upon all voters to defeat the ‘BMW’ (Bunk-Malpractices- Wile) policy of the government and embark on a new journey said Information Secretary of the JVP Vijithe Herath. He said, “The JVP was able to hand over nominations for 275 of the 301 local councils the elections are to be held. Handing over nominations for Jaffna, Mannar, Killinochchi and Mulathivu districts in the North is a great achievement. more..

Jan 29 (LG) Mr. Anthony Ayya Devaraj was illegally arrested by police officers attached to the Matugama Police Station in the district of Kaluthara. He was primarily asked to help the police officers find three suspects while he was working in a paddy field. Though he was able to show the officers the place they were seeking, as he was not able to find the suspects or their belongings, the police officers tortured the man. more..

Jan 29 (LG) Talent is inborn. Enthusiasm and determination are cultivated. To be self-confident to throw out challenges is admirable. Not many human beings have all such qualities combined. It is equally tragic if someone who believes in his own knowledge, invention and willingness to offer ‘the secret of saving power (gas and electricity)’ to his Motherland is allowed to go unheeded despite crying out in good faith. more..

Jan 29 (MoD) 65 Division of Sri Lanka Army organized a colourful musical extravaganza to celebrate the "New Year" and "Thaipongal" festival in Mallavi last Sunday. Many enthusiasts in the area have assisted the security personnel to add much glamour to this event and make it a success one. Over 2000 people gathered at Mallavi town to witness this glamorous musical event. "Seeduwa Sakura" performed until midnight tantalizing the crowd more..

Jan 29 (TC) Trixie Marthenez’s book “Those Delhi Days (1950-54)” tells part of the story. Chandra Samarasinghe was barely out of her teens when she set off to New Delhi from Colombo in 1950, to start a new chapter in her life. She had dreamed of becoming a doctor and was studying for her university entrance exams but there she was sitting in a train with the two other Ceylonese girls who had been selected together with her, for four years at one of Asia’s leading more..