Apr 10 (CI) The Sri Lanka Women squad for the tour of the Caribbean in April and May is a mix of youth and experience as the selectors build for the World Twenty20 in August. Chandima Gunaratne, Inoka Ranaweera and allrounder Madhuri Samudrika are the new faces in the 14-player squad, which is led by Dilani Manodara. Sri Lanka Women will play three ODIs and five Twenty20 matches during the tour of the West Indies. Two T20 matches will in Barbados and the other three in Trinidad. more..

Apr 10 (Island) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce had decided last Friday to request the govt to grant 25 per cent of the Tenders on Oil and gas exploration in Sri Lanka to local businessmen, Chamber sources said yesterday. The Director General Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat Saliya Wickremasuriya had advised the business community that petroleum exploration activities in Sri Lanka might increase significantly in the future, and more..

Apr 10 (LBO) Sri Lanka's stock exchange has scrapped the minimum brokerage fee of 10 rupees and minimum central depository system fee of five rupees on transactions after it introduced a new trading system. A statement said the fee of 25 rupees charged from custodian banks for custodian trades has also been done away with from March 19, 2012. The boards of the CSE and SEC have approved the removal of the minimum brokerage fee of 10 rupees and the minimum CDS fee of more..

Apr 10 (GDI) The Sri Lankan office of the global advertising agency Leo Burnett has once again made history with its award winning short film, “Pass it on when you’re done with it“ making it into the prestigious Gunn “Showreel of the year” Report. The commercial has made an appearance in the “Top 100 Creative Ideas of 2011” rankings report, which compiles the 100 most creative pieces of advertising from the industry, globally. In the 2011 Gunn Report, Leo Burnett more..

Apr 10 (GDI) Australian national Kumar Gunaratnam who was alleged to have been missing and some even claimed that the govt has abducted him walked up to the Police Station last night and surrendered by himself. He was followed to the Police Station by the Australian High Commissioner. This was stated by the Minister Basil Rajapaksa at a media conference held this morning. He said that this Australian national has arrived in the country on a tourist visa more..

Apr 10 (GDI) Sri Lanka’s achievement of over 8% economic growth for two consecutive years is a great success as normally the trend is to experience a reduction in the following year. There are only about 5 countries in the world which have an economic growth of 8% or over 8%. Hence Sri Lanka’s economic growth of this magnitude is a matter that all Sri Lankans can be happy about. Maintaining the inflation on a single digit for several months is another significant achievement more..

Apr 10 (Xinhua) The mine contaminated areas of former war ravaged Sri Lanka will totally be cleared only by 2020, an official said on Tuesday. Marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance to Mine Action, Monty Ranatunga, director of the National Mine Action Center, said Sri Lanka has cleared 1936 square kilometers from mines and only 124 square kilometers remaining to be cleared. Since 2002, while the war was continuing, Ranatunga said demining and more..

Apr 10 (IBN) Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga said that she was rather bewildered by India's decision to vote against the country at a US-sponsored UN resolution seeking action against Lanka on the purported war crimes committed during its almost three-decade-long war against the LTTE. Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Kumaratunga said something "serious must have happened" that India took a decision of not supporting Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 10 (DM) While confirming the departure of Frontline Socialist Party’s leader Kumar Gunaratnam’s from Sri Lanka, the Australian authorities today thanked the police and other agencies in Sri Lanka for facilitating his departure. A spokesman for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the person who went missing in Kiribathgoda, Sri Lanka is safe. “We can confirm a 42 year old man from New South Wales who was reported missing in the region of Kiribathgoda, more..

Apr 10 (DM) The TNA is split over its decision to hold the May Day rally with the main opposition UNP in Jaffna this year, Tamil politicians said yesterday. The TNA took this decision recently after a series of meetings. TELO political leader M.K. Sivajilingam said TELO and two other parties were opposed to this decision. He said any political alignment with the UNP at this time would be interpreted by the govt as being too confrontational. “Any alignment with the UNP at this time would be interpreted by the govt as more..

Apr 10 (DM) Defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa speaking on the alleged abduction of Kumar Gunarathnam said that the Australian High Commission did not furnish him with any information regarding Gunarathnam when he requested for them a few months ago. “When the JVP split there were a lot of stories being circulated about the group, there were stories to the effect that they were joining hands with the rehabilitated LTTE cadres, that they were ready for more..

Apr 10 (Xinhua) Nearly 15,000 electricity workers in Sri Lanka are preparing to go on strike ahead of an important festive season demanding higher salaries, a union leader said here Tuesday. Twenty-five trade unions affiliated with the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have decided to abstain from work on Wednesday, a day ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year that is the most celebrated holiday in Sri Lanka. United Trade Union Front General Secretary more..

Apr 10 (LBO) Losses at Sri Lanka's state-run railway rose in 2011 despite the acquisition of more rolling stock and increased carriage of passengers and goods, the central bank said. Passenger kilometreage increased by four percent from the year before despite a stretch of coastal railway line between Aluthgama and Galle being closed for rail track upgrading. The goods kilometreage increased by eight percent indicating increased use of the railway for oil transportation, more..

Apr 10 (BBC) A demonstration held in London has called the Sri Lanka government to stop abductions and disappearances. Protesters who gathered in front of the Sri Lankan High commission in London on Tuesday blamed the government for not being able to stop abductions that are increasing at an alarming rate in Sri Lanka, as they claimed. Barrister Sudharman Perera who was among the protesters said that Sri Lanka government is responsible for these adductions. more..

Apr 10 (AD) Police officers in civilian attire are to be placed in buses during the festive season to prevent crimes and other malpractices which take place inside buses. Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana stated that these officers will purchase tickets and travel on the bus as normal passengers. He said that the decision to place policemen in civilian clothing was taken due to complaints, via phone calls and letters, received from passengers complaining about bus drivers, more..

Apr 10 (DM) The External Affairs Ministry informed all the diplomatic missions based in Colombo today that Kumar Gunaratnam was deported from Sri Lanka because his stay in the country was in breach of immigration laws. Issuing statement, the Ministry said Mr. Gunaratnam had now re-appeared and had in fact been deported from Sri Lanka because his stay in this country was in breach of Sri Lanka’s Immigration laws and therefore illegal. Following is the letter more..

Apr 11 (NS) There have recently been many references in the press, both in Sri Lanka and the UK, to Marie Antoinette. She was the wife of Louis XVI of France who was deposed by the revolting peasants in 1792. Nine months after the execution of Louis, Marie Antoinette was herself tried, convicted of treason and guillotined. The French people had at first been charmed by her personality and beauty but came to loathe her, accusing “L’Autre-chienne” (“Autrichienne” meaning more..

Apr 11 (NS) When in August 2009, I was the first to report and publish photos via the web on severe flooding that affected thousands in Menik Farm, I also flagged what was, at the time, a Sinhala and English mainstream media blackout of this news. The severe flooding occurred one Friday evening, at a time when Menik Farm was one of the largest concentrations of interned IDPs in the World. Conditions were horrific. The flooding made it even worse. A week after the disaster I wrote: more..

Apr 11 (SO) It was March 25 at 9.21 am that she lovingly said 'I do' on the beautifully decorated poruwe amidst over 500 guests. The beautiful young bride who was courageous enough to share the rest of her life with a groom, who will never able to see her beauty, put on the gold ring to show him that 'he is mine'. "Yes I got married", exclaimed Lance Corporal Charith Kularuwan Kulathilleke recalling his wedding a few weeks ago. The 23-year-old who more..

Apr 11 (DM) According to him (and his Leninist mathematics) Geneva 2012 is a “defeat”. If, as he says, this is a “defeat” then what happened to his “victory” in 2009? His victory was supposed to have been an outstanding "victory" that saved Sri Lanka. Besides, Sri Lanka also won in 2011. But his Leninist mathematics applies only to "defeats" and not to the two earlier "victories". The fluctuations of "defeats" and "victories" can only lead to the conclusion that both more..

Apr 11 (DM) Influential sections of civil society and vocal sections of the Tamil Diaspora all kept a hypocritical silence on such brutality. Some pro- Tiger activist further justified such killings as an overall necessary means to achieve the overall goal of Tamil Eelam. Some others also claim that violence as an innate part of rebel movements to achieve self-determination. In addition to brutal eradication of Tamil opposition, Tigers also eliminated all forms of dissenting more..

Apr 11 (DM) Ego clashes were reported to have occurred among the members of the high profile Govt delegation to Geneva led by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Special Envoy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Also we had Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam, an unassuming savvy diplomat. When I met her she was suffering from laryngitis and had lost her normal voice and suffered a lot to communicate with others. more..

Apr 11 (CT) Over the last few years I have been astonished at the manner in which very clear instructions from the President are simply ignored. For instance, there are two extremely visionary recommendations in last year’s budget, but it seems no one has done anything about them. One is the suggestion, which indeed harks back to his 2005 manifesto, that we move to a school based system of teacher recruitment. Another, vital in the context of our efforts to implement more..

Apr 11 (DM) The Govt needs to be congratulated for taking the vote in its stride. It owes as much to the political leadership’s ready acceptance of political realities elsewhere. The criticism of the Govt nearer home over the vote has also been muted, even where stated. There is now a need for the Govt to acknowledge the political realities nearer home, as well. Such realities need to go beyond parliamentary majorities. On the parliamentary majority should be built more..

Apr 11 (SL) UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa weighed in on the passing of the UN Resolution in Geneva and where he thinks Sri Lanka went wrong in terms of foreign policy. Q: What is your opinion on the UN Resolution? A: I very sincerely believe that it goes against international law and is a gross infringement of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. Take the United Nations Charter – in Chapter 1, article 2 it says that all states are equal. Article 2(4) states that no member state shall use force or more..

Apr 11 (DBS) A comprehensive calculus of ethnic, political, and strategic factors has shaped India’s firm vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC on 22 March. In a broad sense, India has cast a Diaspora Vote, which is compatible with the so-called ‘Indira Doctrine’ of the 1980s. However, New Delhi, by casting its lot with the United States and by being the lone Asian voice against Sri Lanka on this occasion, has charted a newly interesting and uncharted course in foreign policy. more..

Apr 11 (Island) The University is an institution which produces and disseminates universal knowledge. According to its design various arts and sciences are studied as grouped together in its various units termed the Faculties. It is because of its diversity of intellectual concerns that it is called "university" in English and: vishvavidyalaya in Sinhala. The generally held view is that the scholar who has undergone a university education is a person with a more..

Apr 11 (CT) Ravaya Editor Victor Ivan has stated that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the cause of every problem, according to a source close to Wilfred Wickramasinghe (Willa), a businessman and close confidant of both President Rajapaksa and Victor Ivan. Our source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that Willa Wickramasinghe has told him that Victor Ivan is doing a fantastic job of canvassing on behalf of more..

Apr 11 (Island) Leader of the JVP rebel faction Kumar Gunaratnam, who mysteriously disappeared on Saturday, reappeared as an Australian citizen named Noel Mudalige yesterday! Gunaratnam's statement to the police, recorded in the presence of Australian High Commissioner in Colombo Robyn Mudie and another diplomat is as intriguing as his disappearance and reappearance. He has said that he was treated well in captivity. This is the first time a white van victim has returned alive more..

Apr 11 (FT) National mobile services provider Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel officially launched its first regional contact centre in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota, expanding its capacity to serve its customers even better. The new contact centre is located in the Sooriyawewa Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium Complex. This is the first-ever regional contact centre opened by Mobitel. Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel successfully reached the completion of this more..

Apr 11 (Island) Despite a sluggish global economic recovery the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has seen its profits increase by 89 percent to Rs. 8.3 billion in 2011 while 84 new companies were registered as freight forwarders, bringing the total number of freight forwarders to 429 at the end of 2011, the Central Bank said. "A steady growth was seen in the ports sector in 2011. Despite severe set-backs in the pace of global economic recovery, total container handling increased by 3 per cent more..

Apr 11 (EAR) The long and episodic war between the Govt of Sri Lanka and the Tamil liberation forces commanded by the LTTE from the 1980s to 2009 involved numerous atrocities on both sides, notably those in the Eastern Province in 1990. It is puzzling why, today, certain Western states and the human rights lobby are concentrating solely on the crunch situation in 2009 at the end of Eelam War IV in pressing alleged war crimes charges against the Sri Lankan govt; more..

Apr 11 (CT) Sri Lanka’s national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, has cut down meal services and is scaling down scheduled flights to several European sectors as a cost-cutting measure, a spokesperson from the airline said yesterday. “We have cut down several scheduled flights to Europe, including those to London, due to the low demand for seats,” the official said, adding that the airline has reduced the previous 12 scheduled flights per week to 7. more..

Apr 11 (DN) 'The reconstructed Southern coastal railway line from Colombo to Matara will open today,' Sri Lanka Railways Planning Director Wiyaya Samarasinghe said. The modernized railway line is Sri Lanka's first high speed line and it will allow trains to run at speeds of 100 kilometres per hour. The Southern coastal line was reconstructed in three stages. The Indian govt had provided USD 168 million to implement the comprehensive project for upgrading the more..

Apr 11 (DN) Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Authority (CDDA) officers who raided a private pharmacy in a leading private hospital in the heart of Colombo for not renewing its licence yesterday, took into custody drugs worth four million rupees, a Health Ministry spokesman said. The raid was carried out following a tip- off on email from a foreigner who obtained treatment from the hospital. CDDA officials had immediately raided the hospital on receipt of the email and found several more..

Apr 11 (DN) Both local and foreign experts yesterday called Sri Lanka’s mine clearance programme, the most efficient in the world. As per an initial survey carried out by authorities it was estimated that there may be about one million landmines and unexploded ordnances(UXOs) in the abandoned battle fields, at the end of the conflict in 2009. In addition it was estimated that a 6,215 square kilometre land area may be contaminated with mines. more..

Apr 11 (Island) A 35-year-old Chinese who was working at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant project, died on admission to the Puttalam Hospital on Tuesday morning, Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said. The diseased was identified as Zhandhai Rui. According to the police the chines worker had taken ill suddenly and his fellow workers had taken him to the Puttalam Hospital OPD section on Tuesday around 7.40 a.m. But he was dead on admission to the hospital. more..

Apr 11 (Island) The government of Singapore has expressed its willingness to assist Sri Lanka in upgrading and refreshing the industrial skills of newly emerging ventures in the country. At a discussion held at the Ministry recently with Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, CEO of Temasek Foundation Benedict Cheong and Senior Director/International Development of Nan yang Polytechnic International (NYPI) Tze Foon Foong said Singapore had pledged more..