June 18 (DM) As if from a deep slumber Sri Lankan authorities after 21 years have woken up to Commemorate the more than six hundred police personnel who were brutally killed by the LTTE on June 11, 1990 after they surrendered to the outfit on the orders of the “higher ups.” The police Department held special religious rites in a special commemoration ceremony last Saturday. These hapless police personnel serving in the Eastern Province, especially in the Ampara District were never before considered to be reckoned with, more..

June 19 (ST) Trouble is brewing in the UNP and the grand old party may see a rof speech and movement are inherent rights of the people. The conduct of the army personnel, in entering the hall in which a meeting, to introduce the candidates of the TNA at the local elections, was held, is highly deplorable. They had assaulted the people who had assembled there and chased them away and also caused damage to more..

June 18 (GV) The recently telecast Channel 4 documentary on ‘Killing Fields of Sri Lanka’ sheds no new light (despite claims to the contrary), in terms of groundbreaking evidence, regarding the incidents related to the end of the war in Sri Lanka. If anything, it will seek to entrench already hardened attitudes and decrease the ever reducing space for dialogue and reconciliation. From the govt’s perspective, it will seek to discredit the documentary as fake as more..

June 18 (SL) The Sunday Leader spoke to MP and economist Dr. Harsha De Silva to discuss the contents and effects of the much hyped Private Sector Pensions Bill. Q: What is the current situation of the Pensions Bill? A: First they said it was only applicable to the Free Trade Zone, then the SLFP central committee said that the bill will not be presented after all. But the SLFP central committee has no authority to decide this; the minister who presented it more..

June 18 (DM) In the aftermath of a bloody and horrifying three-decade war, a new Sri Lanka needs to be built with a new vision of a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural community of deep unity in diversity. Our journey towards this vision of a new Lanka will involve two vital goals – devolution or sharing of power and poverty eradication through a more equitable distribution of the country’s wealth and resources. Both need to take place at the same time but in view of more..

June 18 (Island) Thursday's savage attack on a group of TNA MPs at a meeting in Jaffna must be condemned unreservedly. Among the injured are TNA members and the police officers providing security to MPs. The TNA has identified the assailants as military personnel. The govt and the army top brass must not try to cover up the brutal attack. They must pluck up courage to face it and take steps to ensure that the assailants, who are a disgrace to the armed forces, are brought to justice more..

June 18 (USL) In May 2011 NBC cancelled ‘Outsourced’ much to the chagrin of fans around the country who, according to a Neilsen Survey, number 3.3 million. ‘Outsourced’, America’s first South Asian sitcom, opened the doors to success for many South Asians. Love it or hate it, the sitcom created so much buzz that fans are taking their campaign to Facebook and Twitter in hopes of renewing the series. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan actress Thushari Jayasekara more..

June 18 (SAAG) My attention has been drawn to a disturbing documentary titled “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” produced by Mr. Jon Snow of the Channel4 TV channel of the UK. 2. The documentary highlights the results of a forensic investigation into the bloody culmination phase of the counter-insurgency operations of the Sri Lankan Security Forces against the LTTE in April-May, 2009. It alleges that the culmination phase, which physically wiped out the leadership of more..

June 18 (GV) The state sponsored triumphalist ideological noise of Sinhalese ethno-nationalism was suddenly disturbed, on the eve of the officially declared month for the commemoration of war heroes (ranaviru), by an unexpected eruption of workers at Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ) into the political field. The majority of these were women workers who came from rural areas, effectively defying the sanctioned definition of traditional Sinhala women, as propagated by more..

June 18 (FT) Secretary to Ministry of Finance and Planning as well as Ministry of Economic Development Dr. P.B. Jayasundera yesterday denied rumours of him having given his resignation letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa before the latter left to Russia. “There is no truth in the rumours and I am very much at work,” Dr. ace=2 style="pld the Daily FT yesterday. He also said he does not have any interest in joining the IMF or more..

June 18 (Island) Five young advertising professionals have been selected to represent Sri Lanka at the highly acclaimed Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and at the Roger Hatchuel Academy. The announcement of the winners was made at a media briefing. The Cannes Young Lions programme is open to advertising professionals 28 years and under working in advertising/ communications businesses. The participating teams, are selected through more..

June 18 (FT) SriLankan Airlines has signed a long-term collective agreement with its Aircraft Engineers’ Union, strengthening its efforts to position Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) as a regional hub for aircraft maintenance. CEO Manoj Gunawardena said: “SriLankan Engineering is expected to become a thrust industry for the airline and turn BIA into a centre that serves the aircraft engineering requirements of airlines throughout the region. more..

June 18 (DN) Around 30 new fully-fledged blood banks will be opened countrywide soon. A new electronic card introduced among blood donors will help get their details and contact them when the need arises, Blood Bank director Dr Ananda Gunasekara said. "Sri Lanka will also carry out bone marrow transplants soon with the advancement of new technologies at the National Blood Bank," he said at the World Blood Donors Day celebrations at the National Blood Centre, more..

June 18 (BBC) Muslim leaders in the govt and a pro-govt religious group representing all faiths have condemned attacks on the Muslim world by Western countries. The protesting denounced the recent killing of Osama bin Laden by the US troops in Pakistan. The protest, after the prayers at the Kollupitiya mosque, was organised by the World Muslim Organisation (WMO) and Inter Faith Organisation (IFO). The Governor of the Western Province Alavi Moulana was among the main organisers. more..

June 18 (SL) The temple down Allen Methiniyarama road has a Grama Niladari at its entrance. Walking past, the temple itself finally appears. What draws the attention, however, is the large takarang shed on the left. Two elephants can be seen here, placidly eating bamboo shoots. They are surrounded by mahouts and oddly a policeman, who repeatedly says, “No pictures, no pictures.” The general reaction was one of suspicion. However, eventually the mahouts told us that more..

June 18 (C4) Nagendrarajah Suthakaran tried to hang himself early on Thursday morning at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow airport, in a desperate bid to avoid being deported back to Sri Lanka. He was revived at Hillingdon Hospital and just hours later transferred to the waiting chartered aircraft to be flown back to Colombo. With just two minutes before the deadline at the Royal Courts of Justice, his lawyer obtained an injunction, more..

June 18 (Island) 'I have no pecuniary ends to pursue in my duties. My sole intention is to serve my motherland to the best of my ability. I have to do it simply because I owe a huge responsibility to my country in terms of money – that is I have gained my entire education with public money through a scholarship right from Grade 5 upto the end of my university education. I don’t consider it a privilege, but a great commitment that I have to respect and try to redeem the debt more..

June 18 (SL) An economist warned of the dangers of foreign portfolio investments and foreign investments into government securities saying that they could go out as fast as they came in. Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, Principal Researcher, Point Pedro Institute of Development, a private think tank, speaking at the 106th birth anniversary lecture of Dr. N.M. Perera on Monday cited the crisis that beset the country in 2008 when there was a sudden outflow of foreign capital, more..

June 18 (DN) "Only a few of the non governmental organization representatives are demanding for the revision of the constitution whereas the masses need the development of the country," said Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa. He was addressing the inauguration of the construction work on the Janasevana Viru Upahara housing village at Thambalagamuwa Jayapura in Trincomalee recently. more..

June 18 (Island) A section of the media was yesterday forced to walk out when the outgoing IGP, Mahinda Balasuriya, failed to turn up on schedule for a press conference, organised by the police media unit, in connection with his retirement. The media personnel were kept waiting for more than two hours and disgusted journalists left the conference room since there were no signs of the outgoing Police Chief attending the scheduled news conference. more..

June 18 (GDI) Chinese President Hu Jintao told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that China opposes external forces trying to interfere in the Sri Lankan affairs. Hu Jintao who met visiting Sri Lankan President on the sideline of Petersburg Economic Forum in Russia said Friday that China is ready to join hands with Sri Lanka to lift the all-round cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new height. more..

June 18 (Hindu) At least two women refugees in the Chinna Salem camp have sought permission to go to Sri Lanka on various purposes. When District Collector C.T.Manimekalai visited the camp on Friday to inspect its condition, Sri Lekha and Rajesh Kumari approached her to seek permission for their travel to Sri Lanka. Ms. Sri Lekha told the Collector that since she wanted to pursue higher education in Sri Lanka she would not return to Tamil Nadu; whereas Ms Rajesh Kumari would dispose of more..

June 18 (CI) If any doubts lingered, they've been emphatically dispelled now. When Chris Tremlett took the plunge at the end of a dismal 2009 season, and said farewell to the Rose Bowl in a bid to further his England ambitions, he did so in the knowledge that his career was at its make-or-break moment. Three promising Tests against India in 2007 had given way to two seasons of flaky form and lost focus, and his shift to Surrey was a final opportunity to prove he more..

June 18 (DM) The Indo-Lanka ferry service which is currently operational is to expand into cargo transportation, with a separate cargo service slated to begin in three weeks time.Chamber of Tourism and Industry Chairman M. A. Jaufer told Daily Mirror that the ferry service will continue and expand despite the request that had been made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyalalitha Jeyaram from the central government of India to cancel the service. more..

June 18 (Hindu) Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were recently arrested for straying into Sri Lankan waters, reached Mandapam on Friday. Official sources said Marimuthu (40), Pradap (28), Jeyakumar (45) and Sundar (48) ventured into the sea in a mechanised boat on June 1. They were to return the next day. Their boat capsized owing to gusty winds and the crew members swam to safety to an island near Jaffna. The Sri Lankan authorities arrested and put them behind bars. more..

June 18 (Island) Nuwara-Eliya district is affected by a low birth rate of 33 per cent, which is a matter of great concern. People in Nuwara Eliya have got used to consuming wheat flour based food products. Some large-scale businessmen and trade professionals are deliberately precipitating malnutrition in Sri Lanka. The Nuwara-Eliya district has recorded the highest malnutrition rate among the districts of the country, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said more..

June 18 (CI) Chris Tremlett continued an impressive performance at his former home ground to claim a career-best 6 for 42 on a rain-hit second day to leave Sri Lanka 177 for 9 when the weather closed in again. That the visitors didn't collapse completely was down to Prasanna Jayawardene's fighting 43 and an unbeaten 33 from Dilhara Fernando at No. 9. As had been predicted from a few days out, heavy rain greeted players and fans on the second morning more..

June 18 (Hindu) Sri Lankan refugees in seven camps in different parts of the district need not struggle in thatched sheds, bordering with open drainage canals or live in a vacant warehouse godowns and languish without even kitchen or toilet facilities as they will soon get concrete houses near their camps, thanks to the preliminary work kick-started by the district administration. Inspecting various camps, he said 977 families from Sri Lanka would be benefited under this special scheme. more..

June 18 (HDN) The aggressive marketing of the “Turkish model” as elixir for the “Arab Spring” in so many circles smacks of a certain intellectual laziness. I feel much the same about the new ball in play to import a U.S. or Russian “presidential model” to Turkey. Both discussions constrain original, critical thought. But “models” have captivated the public discourse. So let’s add the “Sri Lanka model.” Turkey and Sri Lanka are more different than alike. more..

June 18 (Hindu) Russia and China have reassured Sri Lanka of their support in its struggle to defeat the forces of destabilisation working from outside the island nation, in separate bilateral meetings between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Presidents of both countries, in St. Petersburg. “The Presidents of both Russia and China have conveyed their strong support. They made it clear that any external intervention will be unproductive,” more..

June 18 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday granted interim relief to hotelier K. G. H. Samaratunga, of Kamburupitiya, by restraining the DIG of Police, Southern Range, Kingsley Ekanayake, Chief Inspector of Police Kamburupitiya D. M. Abeysekera and Inspector of the same police station N. S. Wijerame, from making any attempt to implement their order on the hotelier to close down the Restaurant and the Bar of the Samaratunga City Inn Hotel. more..

June 18 (Island) Total foreign exchange earnings from the tourism sector grew 64.28 percent in 2010 to US$ 575 million from US$ 350 million in 2009 as arrivals surged 46.12 percent to 654,476 during the first full year of peace from 447,890 in 2009, but employment generation was low, the Treasury said. "The total number of direct employment opportunities created by the tourism industry in 2010 was 55,023. It is a 5.6 percent increase compared to the 52,071 persons more..

June 18 (Island) Professor Nalin de Silva, Head of Kelaniya University Science Faculty, urged the Govt to ban the importation of pesticides that cause kidney diseases and instead promote alternatives. He said there was Arsenic in all plants, the soil and water in the Rajarata area. However, he said, tests conducted on the Arsenic content in water had to be done with extreme caution as there was the chance of evaporation due to intense heat levels. more..

June 18 (wsws) A visit by a high-level Indian delegation to Sri Lanka last week underscored the tense relations between the two neighbours. New Delhi is particularly concerned about Sri Lanka’s deepening relations with India’s rival, China, and is exploiting a UN report on Sri Lankan war crimes to put pressure on Colombo. The delegation, headed by National Defence Advisor Shivashankar Menon, included Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and more..

June 18 (BL) Ceylon Cold Stores Plc (CCS) which markets its products under the brand ‘Elephant House’ is planning on introducing a sugar-free version of the firm’s much touted ‘KIK Cola’ which was launched in December last year. According to the firm’s Annual Report released last week, the new product would be known as ‘KIK Diet Cola’ and launched by the end of this financial year. more..

June 18 (ANI) Pakistan has handed over some sacred Buddhist relics to Sri Lanka for an exhibition on the occasion of the 2600th anniversary of Lord Buddha's enlightenment. Pakistan's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Seema Ilahi Baloch, handed over the relics to monks of the Bodhingyana Asapuwa temple in Kaduwela. The Speaker of the Parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa, the Most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero and more..

June 18 (DM) The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, a constituent party of the ruling UPFA, vowed to contest the proposed Northern Provincial Election alone if EPDP leader Douglas Devananda was fielded as the UPFA’s chief ministerial candidate. An ACMC spokesman said the party was disappointed with the EPDP, another constituent party of the UPFA, because the deputy mayoral post of the more..

June 18 (AFP) Three baby elephants were killed when they were hit by a passenger train in Sri Lanka on Saturday, an official said. The trio were crossing the tracks in a forested area near Ambanpola, 150 kilometres north of Colombo, when they were struck by a passenger train bound for the capital, railway general manager Wije Samarasinghe said. "This is the worst train accident involving elephants," Samarasinghe told AFP. more..

June 18 (NN) Another Sri Lankan maid has died in the Middle East and suspicion has been raised over the circumstances which led to her death. The maid, a resident of Chilaw, has died in Jordan and her family was informed of the death this week, a family member said today. The victim was identified as Seetha Nimali and she had reportedly been abused by her employer in Jordan as well as the recruitment agency in Jordan. more..