May 31 (Island) UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday said that he would take forward the campaign calling for a broader debate, inside and outside Parliament, on the Private Sector Pension Bill. "We wish to make it clear to the government, as the main Opposition Party in Parliament, that we are not at all against moves to grant a pension to the private sector, but the way the government is trying to do it". "We are in the process of inviting outside consultants to more..

May 31 (DM) Employees of all free trade zones will halt work today to protest against the police forcefully dispersing Katunayake FTZ workers who were protesting against the private sector pension scheme yesterday, the Inter Company Employees Union (ICEU) said yesterday. Trade Unions said about 100 FTZ workers had been hospitalized, some with bullet wounds and others with serious injuries. Unions said they would reveal their proper course of action today more..

May 31 (Island) UNPer Lal Perera says he has not been appointed UNP Co-Deputy leader MP Sajith Premadasa’s media spokesperson, though he functions as the media secretary to UNP trade union arm, the JSS and spokesperson for the newly formed Movement to Protect the UNP. Lal Perera, who contested the last presidential election in January 2010 as an independent candidate in support of Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s candidature, more..

May 31 (PTI) Having put its 30 years of conflict behind, Sri lanka now sees its earlier war-prone Eastern province as a suitable region for tourism promotion as it is bestowed with very beautiful beaches. "Eastern is a virgin territory, its a fantastic area with beach fronts where joint ventures or investments can work," said Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India. He said that there is lot of confidence amongst more..

May 31 (AT) SL’ Magazine - a quarterly magazine in English medium to enlighten the international community as well as reading public on Sri Lankan Icons was launched with the first copy of it being presented to the Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. The magazine is expected to highlight and bring forth facts and figures on Sri Lanka which will enable more..

May 31 (DM) While China said that SL could handle its own matters, Cuba opposed a re-opening of Sri Lanka's case, the BBC reported. African and Islamic members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council moved to quell any attempt to reopen the debate on Sri Lanka's conduct at the end of the war. “The international community must support national efforts to win peace in Sri Lanka,” said Pakistan's Ambassador Zamir Akram, more..

May 31 (OC) The Immigration and Refugee Board on Monday ordered the deportation of another Tamil migrant from the MV Sun Sea, after finding that his activities in Sri Lanka — including an appearance in a Tamil Tiger propaganda video — constituted membership in a terrorist organization. This is the fourth migrant from the Sun Sea to be ordered deported on such grounds since the ship carrying almost 500 asylum-seekers arrived on the West Coast last August. more..

May 31 (DM) Sri Lanka Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya encouraged countries facing terrorism challenges to face it head on and said Sri Lanka experience can be used to counter them. Making the opening address on ‘Defeating Terrorism, Sri Lanka Experience,’ organized by the Sri Lankan Army to share its experience in eradicating the LTTE, the Sri Lanka Army Chief said that certain alliances are fighting against terrorism in parts of the world. more..

May 31 (Island) Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle, yesterday told the Supreme Court that, the University Act, in Section 19, empowers the Minister of Higher Education to give directions in respect of the University Education. He was appearing for the Attorney General, who was made a respondent, in a petition filed by a student, who had objected to the mandatory requirement stated recently by the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, more..

May 31 (LT) Once again it has proved that the working people’s power is more powerful than the two third majority in Parliament, said JVP political bureau member MP Anura Dissanayake at a media briefing. He said that the Government had to suspend the Private Sector Pension Act before the strength of the working people and it should be persuaded until the Govt withdraws the Bill perpetually. more..

May 31 (AFP) Sri Lanka pressed ahead Tuesday with an international seminar aimed at sharing its experience of defeating terrorism despite a boycott campaign and new claims that its troops committed war crimes. The seminar entitled "Defeating Terrorism, Sri Lankan Experience" is co-sponsored by China, but rights groups have called for a boycott and major nations such as the United States and Japan have stayed away. more..