Mar 8 (LG) When historians go back to describe the events in South Asia of 2009, the big story will be the displacement of the Tamils of Sri Lanka. The lead lines hardly mention the IDP camps but what has been conveniently forgotten is not only the displacement of Tamils but also the many hundreds, in fact, thousands of Sri Lankans, Sinhala and Tamil who have lost their homes, their life and limb during the thirty odd year war. more..

Mar 8 (LG) Unknown to the general public the government recently sent a high powered delegation to meet the panel set up by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to advise him on the implementation of the government’s commitment to have accountability on the issue of any human rights violations in the last phase of the war. The government was upfront and open about the meeting that its high powered delegation with the UN Secretary General, but more..

Mar 8 (TC) The latest development that has the effect of exerting considerable pressure, not only on the government of Sri Lanka but also the US, comes in the form of a US Senate Resolution, dated 1 March, 2011. It is broadly aimed at ‘Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting peace.’ The resolution recognizes the establishment of the LLRC, more..

Mar 8 (LG) The tumult surrounding the Los Angeles consul general continues with little sign of abatement. Mr. Jeff Goonewardena is digging in his heels, holding on to the consulate car and other government property, and refusing to leave. UNP supporters and pro-Fonseka activists have perked up, rallying to launch a petition and email campaigns to get President Rajapaksa to rescind the order issued last week recalling Goonewardena from the post of more..

Mar 8 (DM) No keen observer of the Sri Lankan political scene would have been surprised that the JVP has now rendered qualified support to that bad word called ‘federalism’. Nor should anyone be shocked that the party has decided to give up alliance politics at the sixth national summit in February. To take the second issue first, the party has no doubt benefited from alliance politics in the short and the medium terms after being rendered clueless and rudder-less in the years after more..

Mar 8 (SO) Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said our migrant workers are the highest foreign exchange earners for Sri Lanka. The Minister stressed the importance of safeguarding the rights of migrant workers without undermining their dignity. The Minister in an interview said his ultimate goal is to introduce a Migrant Workers' Charter to make migrant workers into a dignified and reputed work force that should be respected by the entire nation. more..

Mar 8 (DM) Q: This year is supposed to be the centenary celebration of women’s day, and for years women have been campaigning for their rights. But how far do you think that we have come, what has been achieved in the past one hundred years? A: I think there is a great change for the better with a few gaps which can be addressed. Women have managed to distinguish themselves as human beings with hearts, minds and needs in equal proportion. We have established that like more..

Mar 8 (DM) I wonder how many people will be aware that this year we celebrate the centenary of International women’s day which was first observed on March 19 1911 in Germany following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. The evolution of women’s day was strengthened when more..

Mar 8 (LB) One of the government’s electronic media arms ITN dropped a STINKING bombshell story last Sunday, in connection with the 11-run loss suffered by Sri Lanka at the hands of Pakistan at the Khettarama Stadium, 24 hours earlier, at the on-going 2011 ICC World Cup tournament. The so-called ‘explosive’ story was telecast during ITN’s regular ‘Wimasuma’ programme which is aired daily, at the end of its evening main Sinhala news bulletin. more..

Mar 8 (Island) Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is reported to have turned down an offer by an Indian university to confer an honorary doctorate on him. A lesser person sans any achievements to boast of would have grabbed it. Tendulkar has cited personal reasons for his decision and mentioned that he declined such doctorates from foreign universities as well. Tendulkar is loved and respected by all Indians and cricket lovers the world over. Is there a better way a person can more..

Mar 8 (DM) Women constitute over half the country’s population. They also contribute a larger portion to the country’s economy, whether it is from the dreary corners of the Middle East, by the pluck of every tender leaf in the highest elevations in our own country or stitching garments in a multitude of factories throughout. They are the hundreds of thousands of mothers toiling away to meet every cent count in a day- in-day-out struggle to survive. more..

Mar 8 (ST) Arguably the most expensive road stretch in Sri Lanka is already showing signs of disintegrating after commissioning in December. Some residents say it’s bad construction, the RDA says it’s the bad weather. Yasasmin Kaviratne reports from Batticaloa. What is easily Sri Lanka’s showpiece highway that cost the taxpayer Rs 100,000 per metre or over four hundred million rupees for just four kilometres is in rack and ruin just two months after it was constructed. more..

Mar 8 (ST) I still remember my first experience of Knuckles in the early’80s where I enjoyed the endemic Horned Lizards and unique Knuckles landscapes. However I was not physically in Knuckles, but was watching a documentary. The fact that I still remember this documentary after almost three decades highlights the power of a good wildlife film. We now have the luxury of seeing the wilder side of nature through Discovery Channel, National Geographic or Animal Planet through cable TV, more..

Mar 8 (Island) After a bowler-dominated first day’s play on Saturday, half centuries by Ruwinda Shamen, Charitha Kumarasinghe and Sineth Gunawardena helped batsmen restore some respect as the 82nd ‘Battle of the Maroons’ Big Match between Ananda College and Nalanda College ended in a draw at SSC Grounds in Colombo, yesterday. Ananda, continuing from their overnight score of 102 for five wickets, went on to post 156 for nine wickets declared as more..

Mar 8 (UCAN) The Catholic Church has joined with local state officials to take basic needs, medicines and fuel to thousands of people in flood devastated Arippu parish whichremains cut off from the mainland of Mannar diocese in northern Sri Lanka. During heavy rain and wind, Caritas Valvuthayam Mannar and the local priests took the provisions by sea. The only bridge that connected the Arippu parish with Mannar district was washed away. Even the sole suspension bridge more..

Mar 8 (Island) Healthcare Minister Maithripala Sirisena has asked the Western Province Healthcare Minister Jagath Angage to take disciplinary action against Gampaha Hospital Director Dr. A. Dharmaratne over a shortage of 20 kinds of drugs. Minister Sirisena told The Island that on March 3, he had telephoned Gampaha Hospital Director and asked him whether the hospital was short of drugs. The Director had told him that 20 kinds of drugs had been out of stock for more..

Mar 8 (DN) Sitting for an English paper at the GCE (Advanced Level) will be compulsory for students seeking admission to Universities and Higher Technological Education Institutions from this year. Students seeking higher education will have to sit for the General English question paper in the GCE (Advanced Level) Examination from this year, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said. more..

Mar 8 (AT) In a press conference held yesterday, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Sri Lanka Consulate in Dubai announced the first ever Sri Lankan pavilion at the Dubai International Boat Show from 1_5 March 2011 at the Dubai International Marine Club in Mina Seyahi. Sri Lankan Consul General Mr. MM Abdul Raheem was joined by representatives from market leaders in the boating industry who gave a comprehensive snapshot on the nation’s booming marine sector. more..

Mar 8 (GT) UAE Olympic national team will face Sri Lanka in the, qualifying round of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, at the Bani Yas Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The match kicks off at 7.15 pm. Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Abu Dhabi, coach Mehdi Ali said though the team was able to prepare for the qualifier from the beginning of this month as some of the players were busy with AFC Champions League and other competitions, they are ready for the match. more..

Mar 8 (National) As the train from Colombo to Kandy, the capital of Sri Lanka's Hill Country, pulled into Peradeniya, the unmistakable voice of cricket announcer David Lloyd could be heard over what seemed to be the station loudspeakers. He and Nasser Hussain were discussing the state of England's game with South Africa. It turned out the staff just had their television turned up loud, but it was enough to bring a momentary hush to more..

Mar 8 (BBC) The Isle of Man government has donated tens of thousands of pounds to help flood victims in Sri Lanka. More than £40,000 in emergency aid has been pledged to support relief efforts in Sri Lanka after heavy monsoon rains devastated the country. The overseas aid committee will support the work of charities, Y Care International and Care International. Both organisations are helping to protect people from waterborne diseases in flood-hit areas. more..

Mar 8 (CY) Sri Lanka and Ireland have gained a place each in the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table after 22 matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Sri Lanka has moved ahead of South Africa in third place after Sunday's six-run defeat against England meant the Proteas conceded two ratings points which has dropped them one point behind Kumar Sangakkara's side on 116 ratings points. Ireland has moved into 10th position after it stunned England to defeat by more..

Mar 8 (DM) A group of monks yesterday called on the government to adopt good governance to mark the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthiya and thus save Rs 2.9 billion wasted every year because of corruption. The National Bikkhu Front Patron Ven. Attthagane Ratanapala Thera told a news conference that the government should adopt good governance to save these funds and use them to provide relief to the people who are hit by the sky rocketing cost of living today. more..

Mar 8 (Scoop) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes reports that a habeas corpus petition submitted by the family of missing Lanka-e-News cartoonist and columnist Prageeth Eknaligoda will be considered by a court of appeal in Sri Lanka on May 26. Eknaligoda’s wife Sandhya filed the petition with a Colombo court in August 2010, after six hearings into the case of Prageeth’s disappearance on January 24, 2010 yielded no significant progress. more..

Mar 8 (LBO) Sri Lanka's Road Development Authority is considering building an elevated highway to connect the capital's city centre with two key suburban towns and reduce congestion, R W R Pemasiri, its director-general, said. "We can make it a toll road," Pemasiri said. "We're planning a feasibility study on the project soon to ease Colombo city congestion." The proposed elevated highway will be built over existing roads, so there will be no need for major land acquisition, more..

Mar 8 (Reuters) The International Rugby Board has stripped Sri Lanka's rugby union of full member status after it failed to conduct board elections in accordance with IRB bye laws. The decision followed ongoing concerns regarding the governance and management of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) after it missed a Jan. 31 deadline for elections in line with its constitution, the IRB said in a statement. more..

Mar 8 (CI) Canada won only their second World Cup match in four tournaments, beating Kenya in a low-profile, low-scoring scrap, and walked away from the Feroz Shah Kotlawith with bragging rights. Jimmy Hansra and Ashish Bagai put on 132 - Canada's fifth highest one-day partnership - to steer the chase on a slow subcontinent surface, in the fourth successive match in which a tough track was served up in a World Cup widely expected to be a runfest. more..

Mar 8 (DN) While condemning the attack on a pregnant UPFA candidate vying for the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha by UNP activists, President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday stressed that this type of political culture cannot be allowed in the country under any circumstances. He said the political situation has degenerated in the country, that even pregnant candidates are attacked by members of the Opposition. President Rajapaksa stressed that women were always more..

Mar 8 (IL) International Women’s Day (IWD) falls tomorrow (08 March) and Sri Lanka celebrated this special day which is dedicated for women around the globe today on 07 March, the day before the official day at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. International Women's Day was marked for the first time in March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland and since then this day was annually celebrated worldwide as a global event. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) The World Health Organization has declared the period 08 March to 12 March as World Glaucoma Week. This year’s theme is ‘Don’t lose sight of your family’. The theme chosen is a clever play on words as untreated glaucoma damages sight, making the sufferer unable to see his/her beloved family members. The World Glaucoma Day was to educate the public and those at risk of glaucoma on its detection, prevention, and treatment. more..

Mar 8 (Island) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a circulation standard commemorative coin in the denomination of Rs. 2 to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The obverse depicts the 60th Anniversary logo of Sri Lanka Air Force in the center. An artist’s impression of a Chipmunk aircraft appears below the logo and another three aircrafts; Mig 27, C 130, and MI 24 appear above the logo. The words "Sri Lanka Air Force" in English, more..

Mar 8 (DM) Govt sponsored or other events being held in the light of the International Women’s Day which falls today should not be used for election propaganda purposes for the upcoming Local Govt elections by candidates, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said. The Elections Commissioner added that events such as the International Women’s Day were celebrated nationally and that it was illegal for Local Govt election candidates to more..

Mar 8 (DM) The talks between the Govt and the TNA will recommence in the third week of March after the Parliament week commences on March 22, Government MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena said. The reason for the postponement of talks between the Govt and the TNA was attributed to the unavailability of Govt members due to LG election obligations and campaigns. The meeting which was scheduled between the TNA and the Govt on February 28 was postponed at the last minute. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) During last 6 years the present government has recruited over 600 thousand persons to the government service. But the United National Party during its rule took steps to reduce the number of government servants and to deny them their pension rights. Minister of Petroleum Mr. Susil Premajayanth addressing a Media Conference said that not a single person was recruited to the Government service during the UNP government from 2001 to 2003. more..

Mar 8 (Island) Postal voting for the March 17 LG Polls commences today amidst a sharp drop of around 100,000 applications, according to the Campaign For Free and Fair Elections. Of the 301 local government bodies, 235 are scheduled to go to the polls on March 17. Elections to other 66 Councils have been postponed due to several reasons including the on-going Cricket World Cup and court cases over rejected nomination lists. more..

Mar 8 (Island) The UNP yesterday urged public servants to use the ballot to win their lost rights and freedoms, when postal voting for the March 17, Local Government Election commences on March 08. UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunathillake said that the high percentage drop in the number of postal vote applications in comparison to recently held polls was an indication that the working class was disgusted with the manner in which they had been duped more..

Mar 8 (Island) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe over the weekend lashed out at the UPFA government for unleashing violence in the run-up to the LG polls on March 17. Addressing a series of public meetings at Ampara, Samanthurai, Badulla, Ridimaliyadde, Bandarawela and Girandurukotte, he alleged that the police had turned a blind eye to a government organized terror campaign directed at the UNP and some constituent members of the UPFA. more..

Mar 8 (NN) Sri Lanka is confident it can retain full status from the International Rugby Board (IRB) after certain issues regarding the elections are resolved. Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that he has sought a report from the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) over the issue. “There was an issue over the vote. I have sought a report and once I get that I will give them (SLRFU) advice and we will have the vote and we will get back the status. more..

Mar 8 (LBO) Sri Lanka is among Asian countries that had lower risks of social unrest from high inflation due to popular administrations, higher growth and lower unemployment, Standard and Poor's Corporation, a rating agency said. S & P said in a sovereign rating review of the Asia Pacific region that inflation has become an "important risk" to economic and social stability. more..