July 9 (LB) The Human Rights Logo-Initiative is sponsoring the world’s largest contest ever. You might have never realised that, for love we have the heart sign. For peace we have a dove or the peace sign but Human Rights has no logo! So this is a global campaign to find that one logo which would demarcate Human Rights across the globe. This world wide competition was launched on the 3rd of May 2011 and will be open until the 31st of July 2011. The Top 100 logos will more..

July 9 (TS) IT was a happy and sunny morning, and fresh dewdrops were still sparkling on the colourful flowers as we drove up to the garden of a serene Buddhist monastery on the outskirts of Colombo. Skirting the main buildings and the long row of large votive statues, we came to a small jetty on the grassy banks of a scenic lake. On the far side of the placid waters were two gaily-painted aircraft, their sides decorated with cheerful depictions of local tourist attractions. more..

July 9 (Island) The govt yesterday expressed confidence that the ITAK would eventually participate in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee on the National Question. Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told The Island that despite the ITAK or TNA as its popularly known, rejecting the government’s invitation to the PSCNC, he believed it would change its stance. When told that the ITAK has publicly referred to the PSCNC as a waste of time, more..

July 9 (DN) IGP N K Illangakoon said that the arresting of a suspect in connection with the mysterious killings in Kahawatta region was possible due to public help. He said another suspect is to be arrested soon. Seven murders were reported in the last three years in the region and most victims were elderly women who lived alone. Killings from July 20, 2008 to June 19, 2011 had resulted in tension and fear among residents of Kahawatta. more..

July 9 (Island) The Prof. Senaka Bibile Commemorative Association (a collective of six trade unions) warns that it will go on strike if the government decides to charge patients for health services by way of a health insurance policy. General Secretary of the PSBCA, Dr. E. M. Jayantha Bandara said on Thursday (07) that nonavailability of drugs, certain medical equipment and chemicals for laboratory tests in government hospitals had already caused difficulties to patients. more..

July 9 (Island) The Ministry of Coconut Development and the Coconut Research Institute have taken steps to establish 20 research laboratories to remedy the diseases and viruses related to coconut. "Already, four such laboratories have been established in the Chilaw, Puttlam, Batticoloa and Kurunegala districts and another five laboratories will be set up before the end of this year," Acting Director of the Coconut Research Institute Dr. Jayantha Gunathilaka said. more..

July 9 (NN) The government is to present a report on former LTTE arms procurer Kumaran Padmanathan (KP) to parliament, a government Minister said today. Responding to a question posed by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, government Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament today that KP is still under government custody. Karunanayake asked the government why KP is not being arrested over some of the revelations he had made to the media recently. more..

July 9 (DM) Sri Lanka lasses saw the winning post at last when they defeated host Singapore 62-51 in the ninth to 16th ranking encounter played in the morning at the Singapore Indoor Stadium yesterday. A win for the Sri Lankan girls was badly needed and in winning the encounter the Sri Lankans have put themselves in line to go up the ranking. When the world championship got underway on July 3 the Sri Lanka team was ranked 18th. The Sri Lankan lasses were too good for the host side as more..

July 9 (Hindu) Kumar Sangakkara is regarded in cricket circles as an intelligent man unafraid to say it as he sees it, an original thinker whose thoughts extend beyond the game. At the MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture, which the former Sri Lankan captain delivered on July 4 at Lord's, he trapped lightning in a bottle: never were his ideas more forceful; never was his articulation as lucid and felicitous. In an hour-long speech that earned a standing ovation, he told the evocative story of more..

July 9 (DM) Former Ceylinco Chairman Lalith Kotelawala and the Golden Key Credit Card Company (GKCCC) Board of Directors were yesterday indicted in the Colombo High Court on charges of criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust. The Attorney General has framed charges against Mr. Kotelawala and others under the Penal Code and Finance Companies Act for the offences they had committed from March 1999 to December 2008. more..

July 9 (DM) UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella in Parliament yesterday warned that Sri Lanka's image would be tarnished further if the Channel 4 video was publicly screened in Tamil Nadu in the coming days. Speaking during an adjournment debate in the House yesterday, Mr. Kiriella said public screening of this footage was a result of the 'failure on the part of Sri Lankan government to handle the issue tactfully. He said Sri Lanka was in a muddle with regard to the Darusman report as well. more..

July 9 (Island) After being shot out for 174 at Trent Bridge on a green top, conditions could favour the Sri Lankans here at Old Trafford in Manchester as Tillakaratne Dilshan searches for his moment of glory on his first tour as captain of Sri Lanka. The series is leveled at 2-2 with today’s final ODI here becoming the decider at Muttiah Muralitharan’s home ground for years where he was the overseas professional for Lancashire. more..

July 9 (CI) It is not often that after four desperately one-sided games you can head into a final match all square. But that's exactly how Sri Lanka and England have ended up after this curious one-day series. Despite the agonising over personnel, balance, batting orders, and plenty else, it has been conditions that have dictated this series. Given a surface with movement for the quicks and some clouds to help - more..

July 9 (Island) An event to commemorate the formation of the India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association as well as to mark the forthcoming visits of parliamentary delegations led by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to India was held at India House on July, 7. Welcoming the august gathering which included Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Leader of House Nimal Siripala de Silva, Leader of Opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe, several Ministers, MPs, more..

July 9 (Island) A 3.4 km-long fuel pipeline from the Colombo Port to the Kolonnawa oil storage facility is to replaced by the Kolonnawa Lanka Petrol Wholesale Storage Company. A spokesman for the Ministry of Petroleum Industries told The Island that the guarantee period of the pipeline was over 12 years and it was in a poor condition due to corrosion and that the project would be implemented on Monday. It has been revealed that both petrol and diesel had been continuously leaking from more..

July 9 (Island) Close on the heels of Kumar Sangakkara’s criticism of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for corruption and political interference, the COPE has blamed the recently dismissed members of the Interim Committee for plunging SLC into a financial crisis. In spite of its financial woes, some 133 employees of SLC had shared a staggering Rs. 14,965,000 among themselves as bonuses for World Cup 2011. more..

July 9 (Island) With a possible power crisis looming, if rains fail, the Power and Energy Ministry has planned to provide free CFL bulbs, starting with places of religious worship, to cut down electricity bills and consumption. On the recommendation of three-member committee, appointed by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) Chairman Chandana Haputhantri had taken measures to produce CFL bulbs in large quantities and more..

July 9 (DM) Traffic on the Badulla- Welimada road came to a complete halt for about four hours yesterday due to an earth slip that had obstructed the road at Mirahalgamuwa in Attampitiya. A worker attached to the road widening project taking place in the area had been buried under the mound of earth along with two bulldozers. Thankfully, the worker had been rescued by other workers who had witnessed their colleague getting buried under the huge mountain of earth. more..

July 9 (Island) A concerted campaign is to be undertaken by the Colombo Municipal Council to further develop the ayurvedic and Western dispensaries, sports grounds and children’s playgrounds, under its purview, within the next six months. Special Commissioner of the CMC Omar Kamil said that there are 20 ayurvedic dispensaries, 29 western dispensaries, 35 sports grounds, children’s playgrounds, more..

July 9 (Island) Top lawyer Gomin Dayasri says those who have been rattled by Sri Lankan cricketing great Kumar Sangakkara lashing out at Sri Lanka Cricket, at the 2011 Sir Colin Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s, had opportunely missed his praising Sri Lanka’s battlefield victory over the LTTE. Dayasri emphasized that Sangakkara couldn’t have picked a better place to deliver that message than London, more..

July 9 (DM) A leading election monitoring group reiterated the need for disciplined behaviour by all candidates contesting the July 23 elections to 65 local councils and urged political party leaders to convince their candidates to adhere to and uphold democratic standards and election laws. PAFFREL said elections were to he held to 301 local councils on March 17 this year but due to legal challenges, demining operations and non-settlement of IDPs, more..

July 9 (DM) A less than fully fit Chaminda Wijekoon proved to be the saving grace for Sri Lanka as he ran through pain and suffering to clinch a bronze medal in the men’s 1500 metres and ensure that the national team did not return home with a blank from the 19th Asian Athletics Championships at Universiade Stadium in Kobe yesterday. Wijekoon clocked a below-par 3:44.01, but remained a constant threat to the gold medallist Mohammad Alazemi of Kuwait and more..

July 9 (DC) The horrific visuals of the British Channel Four video, ‘Killing Fields’, repeatedly telecast by a TV channel to stunned homes across the country have brought fresh pressure upon the Indian Govt to act firmly against Colombo for delivering justice to the minority Tamils in the island nation. The outrage was particularly loud in Chennai where the news channel held a public ‘hearing’ along with the screening, where more..

July 9 (DM) Inflation, as measured by the year-on-year change in the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index was 7.1 per cent in June 2011, compared to 8.1 per cent in May 2011. Annual average inflation was 6.7 per cent by June 2011. Sri Lanka’s economy expanded by 7.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, sustaining its high growth momentum in the previous year into 2011 as well. The expanded productive capacity of the economy will help enhance supplies of more..

July 9 (DM) The Medical Research Institute’s (MRI) Nutrition Unit has launched a pilot project to check the feasibility of mixing iron with salt to produce iodised salt, which is helpful in preventing iron deficiency among people. “The incorrect methods used in preparing food and some incorrect food patterns has contributed to iron deficiency and anaemia among a large number of people especially women and children,” more..

July 9 (DM) Parliament was yesterday informed that the post of Auditor General, that has been vacant since August 26, 2010 would be filled soon. Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardene gave this assurance in response to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake in the House yesterday. He said the Senior Deputy Auditor General had been acting in the post since it fell vacant. more..

July 9 (DM) The evidence collected during the interviews with former LTTE chief arms procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP and other former LTTE cadres who are in government custody will be produced in the relevant Dutch Courts in September, an embassy official said yesterday. The Netherlands Embassy First Secretary Jaco Beerends said 13 former LTTE cadres were interviewed and the Dutch detectives had left the country last week. more..

July 9 (DM) The govt yesterday said Sri Lanka would not be able to achieve its development goals without India which was going to play a vital role in achieving such targets. Minister G. L. Peiris told Parliament that no country could formulate its economic development goals in isolation. Therefore he pointed out that it is vital for Sri Lanka to work with the neighbouring countries to achieve its economic goals. more..

July 10 (EAR) In an article entitled Sri Lanka should address India’s Concerns, published in the Hindu Business Line, dated July 7, 2011, former Indian diplomat, G Parthasarathy, has made out a good case pleading that in the interests of sound bilateral relations, Colombo should address Tamil Nadu’s concerns relating to fishing rights of Indian fishermen and the necessity to usher in a new political system in which Sri Lankan Tamils can enjoy equal rights with the Sinhalese. more..

July 10 (ENS) Urging the Centre to introduce a resolution at the UN for declaring Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa as a war criminal, the CPI on Friday made it clear that it was ready to join hands with its arch rival, the BJP, to press for this demand in Parliament. 'It is time to nationalise the issue, since a unanimous resolution pressing for this demand has been passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, which represents the will of Tamil people. more..

July 10 (CI) Four one-sided games preceded this match at Old Trafford, but with the series at stake England and Sri Lanka traded blows in a see-sawing encounter that saw two fluent partnerships bookended by clutches of wickets as both teams struggled for ascendancy. Alastair Cook and Craig Kieswetter raced to 85 in quick time before three quick strikes brought Sri Lanka back into the game, and Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan's 118-run stand then more..

July 10 (AN) More than 500 Sinhalese and Tamil Muslims demonstrated outside the saudi Embassy in Colombo demanding the immediate release of Rizana Nafeek, a Sri Lankan maid sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for allegedly killing an infant. The Muslim Rights Organization (MRO) and other civil society organisations staged the demonstration in Colombo’s famous Lipton Circus. Concern over Rizana’s fate rose after an Indonesian woman was executed in Saudi Arabia after more..

July 10 (NN) The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has warned that if water levels continue to recede at the Kelaniya river, sea water may sweep in and this may affect the water supply in parts of Colombo. Board Chairman Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that sand bags will be placed in areas where sea water may slip into the Kelani river. However he said it may be difficult to ensure smooth water supply distribution if there is no rain for the next couple of weeks. more..

July 10 (DBS) Former Sri Lankan Cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara wont be penalised for allegedly “controversial” statements made in his MCC lecture at Lords. Sangakkara impressed his illustrious audience through an illuminating ,multi-faceted oration & received a standing ovation at the end. The Only other person to get a standing ovation after the spirit of cricket Cowdrey lecture at Lords was South African Bishop Desmond Tutu. more..

July 10 (SMH) Australians will not tolerate cruelty to animals. Less clear is our tolerance for bestiality towards people. Or so one might think from the stony silence after a British documentary aired on Australian TV last week. The film proved that Sri Lanka's 'rescue' of hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians in 2009 was a bloody and cruel affair. Monday's ABC Four Corners broadcast of Sri Lanka's Killing Fields was almost unwatchable horror. more..

July 10 (SMH) Representatives of the 71 Commonwealth nations assessing the Gold Coast's bid for the 2018 Games are being advised not to 'take a risk' by awarding the event to the developing Sri Lankan city of Hambantota. "After the difficulties in Delhi, it's not the time to take risks; that's the subtle message we'll be sending the delegates,' the chief executive of the Gold Coast 2018 bid, Mark Peters, said. Delegates are rotating through the Gold Coast in regional blocs: more..

July 10 (NN) British Defence Secretary Liam Fox has urged Sri Lanka to take the allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by both sides of the conflict seriously and fully investigate them. Speaking at the Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture in Colombo today, Fox said that he also homes the recommendations of the LLRC will play a key role in strengthening the process of accountability and support peace. more..

July 10 (SG) More Saudi families now want to personally interview and hire their domestic workers to ensure they get trained workers and do not have to hire illegal housemaids. “Saudis now seem more cautious than before. They wish to interview their housemaids personally. It actually makes our work easier because our clients have to share the responsibility if their maids cheat them,” said Amer Muhammad, the manager of Al-Kuba recruitment company. “Despite fingerprinting, more..

July 10 (NN) A protest was staged against the Akmeemana police in the Galle area today over the murder of an elderly couple two days ago. The protestors were agitated that the police had yet to arrest the suspects involved in the murder of the couple who had been stabbed to death. Relatives of the couple as well as area residents took part in the protest by burning tyres and blocking the road. Meanwhile the protestors later moved from one location to another to continue their protest and more..