June 13 (Cimic) Govt, under its development project for the North “Uthuru Wasanthaya” has started improvements and reconstructions of all main roads in the peninsula. Under the project, 14 of A class roads, 9 of B class roads and 5 bridges in Jaffna are improved. Widening and carpeting of Jaffna-Point Pedro road was completed a few months ago. Reconstruction of Jaffna-Palaly road and Jaffna Kankesanthurai road is now in progress. more..

June 13 (LG) I write in response to the article ‘Rajitha urges fresh dialogue with Norway’ by Shamindra Ferdinando, published in today’s Sunday Island. As per my investment in the Ceasefire aspect of the war – manifested through the agreement between the Hon Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE in 2002, Norway was strongly influenced by the faith that Tamils of Northern Sri Lanka had in Norway. Without that investment, Norway did not have the moral authority to get directly involved. more..

June 13 (LG) Journalists are not the favoured group of politicians but they are quintessential tools for them to propagate their agenda. Island editor Manik De Silva, despite his many decades in journalism, has got his sun shades on full time and is impervious to the truth of the war that supposedly ended terrorism in our soil. Although a veteran journalist and a nephew of that statesman politician Dr Colvin R. De Silva, he has been brainwashed by his very long stay at Lake House where more..

June 13 (SO) The Trinity 'Lions' roared and pounced back with a vengeance to grab the Bradby Shield after three years when they beat Royal by 40 points (3 goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties and drop goal) to 5 (1 try) in a pulsating Singer schools 'A' division rugby match in their 2nd 'leg' at the Royal College grounds yesterday. The fancied Royalist were made to bite the dust as Trinity's forwards and backs gave a fascinating display of open rugby. more..

June 13 (LG) The Minister of Labour has already confirmed through a communication from the Ministry on the 03/06/2011, to the members of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) that the Pension Fund Bill has definitely been withdrawn. Amidst all this information, an effort is made in certain quarters to reformulate the bill to be tabled in the Parliament after consultation with the NLAC members. 'Lankadeepa' on 07th June 2011 announced this in more..

June 13 (LG) Extreme police brutality as manifested recently during the protests by the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ) workers is nothing that one should be astonished at. This is but a logical culmination of the militarization of the Sri Lanka Police which has been steadily progressing apace during the past years. This process had, of course, accelerated with astonishing speed during the past three years. It would be natural, for example, for police officers of more..

June 13 (ST) The bumpy red-earth road off Katana leads us through lush greenery to the old gate, and going down the circular drive we stop under the porch of an old house. It’s a beauty, with ornate mal vaeda along the roof and lawns all round, bordered by narrow footpaths leading down the two-acre expanse of land behind and on the side of it. One is reminded upon stepping in to the large verandah, of long-awaited holiday trips to the ancestral home, more..

June 13 (Island) Nothing exemplifies the old adage, Too many cooks spoil the broth, better than Sri Lanka's conflict resolution process. It is doubtful whether there is a single country in the world that does not want to have a finger in Sri Lanka's pie. All the meddlesome foreigners who forced themselves on this country as mediators, facilitators, co-chairs and the like have, instead of helping resolve the conflict, left it aggravated, compounded and intractable. more..

June 13 (DM) The country last week celebrated the victory over the three decade war. It would probably be better called Peace (Victory) Day rather than a war victory as the victims were both, sadly Sri Lankan youth and citizens. The victory celebrations also starred a seminar titled ‘Defeating Terrorism, Sri Lanka Experience, Sri Lanka Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya encouraged countries facing terrorism challenges to them head on and he said them Sri Lanka experience more..

June 13 (USL) Michael Balonek had been schooled in vocal music since he was young. He had got his undergraduate degree in music from State University of New York at Potsdam. He had performed a few times in Italy. A chance visit to Sri Lanka changed his musical destiny, so to speak. In 2005, Balonek and his wife Amanda visited Sri Lanka for tsunami relief soon after the tsunami hit. Of this visit, Balonek says, “It was my first exposure with Sri Lanka at all.” more..

June 13 (NS) The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) is to implement a new programme to register all day-care centres and tuition classes in the country. “People might wonder as to why the NCPA has decided to implement such a programme but we wish to do this purely because we want to be aware of their location and whereabouts, as well as their workers and their behaviours. We want to create awareness on the safety of the children of our country and how we all more..

June 13 (NS) The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka laid out a framework for devolution of power including police and land powers to the provincial councils in an attempt to empower regional governance frameworks. Although never fully implemented, the amendment remained one of the most talked-about issues over the past three decades. Now, two years after the conclusion of the conflict, the amendment still remains a hot topic as India applies pressure on the Sri Lankan govt to more..

June 13 (USE) Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, told an audience at the East-West Center here that critics of the country are distorting the facts of Sri Lanka’s 2009 victory over terrorism, and that the resettlement of civilians displaced by the conflict has been been continuous since the conflict’s end. “Peace and freedom from fear and violence are very basic human rights,” more..

June 13 (BL) The ‘Techno 2011’ which is to be held from October 7 to 9 is to showcase breakthrough technologies such as robotic and Nano technologies. Professor and engineer A.K.W.Jayawardena, President of IESL stressed that it is important that the engineering community and other stakeholders in the country are aware of such breakthrough developments. more..

June 13 (wsws) The main plantation unions in Sri Lanka—the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU) and Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre (JPTUC)—signed a collective agreement on Monday with the Ceylon Employers Federation, maintaining poverty-level wages for another two years. Unions and employers brought negotiations to a rapid conclusion after protests over the past three weeks by tens of thousands of free trade zone (FTZ) workers more..

June 13 (TC) It was the time of the month to conjure the Tiger from the dead, retell terrifying stories about its evil deeds and issue dark warnings about its ominous intents. Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne read his script with dutiful assiduity, requesting the parliament to support the Emergency, because ‘the security authorities are continuing to hunt for LTTE remnants in the South’. It is against logic and commonsense to believe that more..

June 13 (DN) The Kachchathivu island in the Palk Straits is a territory of the Sri Lankan State. Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratna said yesterday the resolution moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha to retrieve the island from Sri Lanka carries zero weight in terms of its sovereign ownership by the country. He stressed that the exercise of the Kachchativu island’s jurisdiction is with Sri Lanka. Its jurisdiction had been cemented by successive agreements signed more..

June 13 (FT) Young marketers of Sri Lanka have emerged best in the globe by winning the most number of World Prizes at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) examinations held in 2010. The CIM Sri Lanka Region recently felicitated five Sri Lankan students for their outstanding achievements. They were Mohan Perera – Stakeholder Marketing March 2010; Sabrina Edirisinghe – Stakeholder Marketing September 2010; Sajith Samaraweera – Managing Marketing December 2010; more..

June 13 (ST) World Environment Day was celebrated worldwide, last Sunday, June 5. Sri Lanka’s National Environment Day was held at Pinnawala, while India was selected as the Global host. The event in Pinnawala included a tree-planting campaign and an exhibition at raising awareness of forests resources, to go along with the theme “Forests: Nature at Your Service”. At the beginning of the last century, about 70 per cent of Sri Lanka’s land area more..

June 13 (DM) A leading Indian business magnate Dr. P. Mohomed Ali, who has extensive business interests in the Sutanate of Oman as well as India has invested over US $ 60 million in an eastern province based tourism development project in Sri Lanka, according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Dr. Ali who is largely into construction and engineering works made this investment to acquire a 20 acre land stretch at the beach front in Kuchcheveli on a 99 years lease more..

June 13 (DN) The licences of 197 gem miners in the Ratnapura district who used backhoe and sucker machines were suspended, an official of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) told the Daily News. He said that investigations are on to find out whether they had violated NGJA conditions. He said that their licences will be cancelled if found guilty. The officials also said that the NGJA has not issued any new licence for gem mining with the use of backhoe machines. more..

June 13 (Hindu) Former Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi has appealed to his political adversaries to stop targeting him on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue while enthusiastically welcoming the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly calling for economic sanctions on the island nation and declaration of those who committed crimes during the war as war criminals. He wondered why several people had chosen to make disparaging remarks against him while speaking on the resolution, more..

June 13 (CI) There were cricket matches abandoned across the country on Sunday, and Sri Lanka's Tour Match against Essex at Chelmsford was one of those to fall foul of inclement weather. Less than 13 overs were bowled before persistent rain led to an early end after lunch on day three, although that was still enough time for 17-year-old seamer Reece Topley to rattle the tourists' top order with two quick wickets as they reached 38 for 3 in their second innings. more..

June 13 (DM) Additional Solicitor General S. Eva Wanasundara PC is expected to be appointed as the next Solicitor General. ASG Mrs. Wanasundara will become the first woman Solicitor General in the history of country’s Attorney General’s Department. Appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, ASG Wanasundara has earlier served as the first female Acting Attorney General in the absence of the Attorney General on several occasions. Sworn in as an Attorney-at-Law in 1977, more..

June 13 (DM) The looming boom in the tourism industry could spur child sex exploitation, National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said expressing its fears to the Daily Mirror. The crime had already started to increase, NCPA Chairman Mrs. Anoma Dissanayake speaking to Daily Mirror said. “Based to the surveillance we have carried out so far, we had strong reasons to believe that the rackets have already started going up and were continuing to increase,” she said. more..

June 13 (Hindu) The passenger ferry service between Tuticorin in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka is expected to give a fillip to tourism, trade and strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries. All government agencies — Customs, Immigration, Port Health, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Police, District Administration, Coast Guard and Navy have extended their cooperation in the operation of the ferry service. The maiden voyage of m.v. Scotia Prince will be launched by Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan at more..

June 13 (Island) UNP National Organizer and MP Ravi Karunanayake says after vilifying UNSG Ban Ki-moon over ‘Darusman Report’, which dealt with accountability issues in Sri Lanka, the government has endorsed a second term for the UN Chief. MP Karunanayake says the government owes the public an explanation on its policy U-turn. "Had the UNP said something in favour of the UNSG, the State run-media would have called us traitors and LTTE agents, said MP Karunanayake. more..

June 13 (Xinhua) The Sri Lankan govt said that it is prepared to use a top Tamil Tiger rebel who is in Sri Lankan custody, as a state witness to gather more information about the operations of the terrorist outfit. Former Tamil Tiger chief arms procurer Kumaran Padmanathan has been in the custody of the Sri Lankan govt after he was arrested in Malaysia in 2009, but has yet to be produced in a civil court. The Sri Lankan authorities may use Padmanathan as a " crown witness" which more..

June 13 (DC) Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has emerged as the darling of the Tamil Diaspora after she piloted the unanimous resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly demanding that India should impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka and also pressure the UN to investigate war crime allegations against the island nation. Bitter with the Indian leaders for not doing enough to halt the large-scale deaths of the civilians during the final phase of the Eelam war, more..

June 13 (ST) Soft skills relating to social harmony and conflict resolution will be the theme of a one-day workshop for this year’s university entrants. The workshop is part of a three-month pre-orientation programme (POP) that new entrants will be following in the next 12 weeks before they start attending lectures in October. The pre-orientation follows the conclusion of a three-week leadership training, which ends today. This year’s university entrants are the first batch of more..

June 13 (LB) Colombo District UPFA MP Thilanga Sumathipala moving a private member’s motion in Parliament highlighted the fact that the drainage system found in the Colombo city is more than 100-years old. Speaking in parliament he said: I can specifically, clearly, say that not a single government or any of the officials in charge of the Ministry has addressed this issue effectively in the country hitherto. Concerning such an important issue it is important that more..

June 13 (AFP) Sri Lanka were resigned to being without captain Tillakaratne Dilshan for the upcoming third and final Test against England after rain had the final say in their warm-up match with Essex. Bad weather at Chelmsford on Sunday's third and final day meant only just over 12 overs' play was possible before a draw was agreed. Dilshan was sitting out the match after suffering a broken thumb when hit twice by England fast bowler Chris Tremlett while more..

June 13 (Hindu) Taking into consideration “the tendency of the major Opposition parties to blame the govt for all problems,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the ruling UPFA have lobbed the ball back at the Opposition on what kind of autonomy the Northern Province should get. Mr. Rajapaksa had earlier stated that he had a solution in mind, but wanted the TNA and govt representatives to reach a broad agreement on the issues raised by either side. more..

June 13 (DM) While the government is trying to boost the country’s tourism attracting more and more tourists to the country with the aim of making Sri Lanka the ‘Miracle of Asia’, tourists complain of what they are subjected to at some of the popular tourist sites. The latest complaint was from internationally renowned British actor Ben Cross who was visiting Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage recently. Early 1980s Hollywood movie ‘Chariot of Fire’ fame actor Cross complained that more..

June 13 (Island) In spite of IGP Mahinda Balasuirya having gone on leave on June 1 prior to retirement on June 18, over the killing of a 22-year-old garment worker at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on May 30, the police website (www.police.lk) is yet to make that announcement. The Information Technology Division runs the police website. Balasuriya joined the Police Department in 1978 and was appointed IGP on Nov 2, 2009 following the retirement of Jayantha Wickremaratne. more..

June 13 (LB) The govt has decided to introduce a new system for elections, which is an amalgam of the first-past-the-post system and Proportional Representation, at the Eastern Local Govt polls, expected to be held in two years time, sources said. As a result, the Eastern LG polls that are due to take place in 2013 will be conducted as per the new system and will be the first poll to be held in this manner since the old voting system was scrapped. more..

June 13 (DM) Heroin worth Rs.40 million and Rs.4 million in cash had been seized in Hanwella, Police said. A leading businessman who is suspected to be the distributor of heroin and another woman also had been taken into custody. On interrogating the suspect under detention orders, the police were able to locate the safe house in Hanwella where 8 kg and 200 g of heroin was found. A woman who was in charge the residence was also taken in to custody by the police. more..

June 13 (Island) The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has used an influential section of British parliamentarians and defeated MPs in its campaign to throw their weight behind its war crimes campaign against Sri Lanka. Two of the MPs, Siobhain McDonagh (Labour) and Lee Scott (Conservative), who were at the launch of the GTF at the House of Commons on Feb. 24, last year sponsored a motion calling for an independent, more..

June 13 (JT) The labour minister on Saturday started investigating allegations of sexual abuse, torture and rape against foreign workers in a garment factory in Jordan’s Al Hassan Industrial Estate (QIZ) reported by a US-based labour advocacy group. The 82-page report, issued by the IGLHR, cited testimonies compiled via interviewing foreign workers at Classic Fashion in Al Hassan Industrial Estate alleging systematic rape and torture more..