Apr 2 (Hindu) About 150 terrorists, trained in India, have landed in Sri Lankan shores in the garb of fishermen to destabilise the country, The Island newspaper reported on Monday, quoting Sri Lankan state intelligence. “State intelligence services have received information that around 150 terrorists who underwent a special arms training at three secret camps in Tamil Nadu, have returned to Sri Lanka and are hiding in the North and the East to carryout a destabilisation campaign,” more..

Apr 2 (DM) The series of self-immolations by Tibetan Buddhist monks in western Chinese cities and India have shaken up many neigbhouring nations. The tragedy hints of an alarming trend of growing unrest. For them, whatever that went wrong cannot be simple factors, given that Buddhism followed by them preaches suicide to be one of the gravest sins. Yet, Tibetans have come to view such victims as martyrs and their fatal acts, ultimate sacrifices. Their suicides are glorified on more..

Apr 2 (National) Among a montage of pictures celebrating cricket's greats at the indoor nets at Lord's, which still is surely the most renowned seat of learning in the sport, lies a perfect testament to evolution. The photograph is of WG Grace, the superstar batsman of Victorian England, swinging his bat back ready to address the ball. The image is instructive as to how far the game has come for lots of reasons, but one is strikingly more relevant now than the others. more..

Apr 2 (DM) In a shocking disclosure, police yesterday said that at least 578 people have been killed and 1270 seriously injured due to accidents in the country so far this year up to March 28. Police Headquarters said within the 24-hours ending 6.00 am yesterday 11 people were killed and 23 were injured due to road accidents reported in various parts of the country. Two people including a woman were killed and seven injured when the car they more..

Apr 2 (GDI) The Sri Lankan delegation participating in the 126th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at Kampala in Uganda met Mr. Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uganda on Friday. The 126th Assembly of the IPU will be held in Kampala (Uganda) from 31 March to 5 April 2012. The overall theme of the General debate will be "Parliaments and people: Bridging the gap". The Assembly and its related meetings will take place in the more..

Apr 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka's motor distributor stocks fell in the first hour of trading following a steep hike in tax on vehicles over the weekend though trading volumes were low, brokers said. United Motors Limited, which has the agency for Japan's Mitsubishi, opened at 108.00 rupees and fell 5.80 to 102.20 rupees. Diesel and Motor Engineering Limited fell 42.20 rupees to 940.00. Colonial motors fell 29.80 cents to 290 rupees on 783 shares traded, falling 9.3 percent. more..

Apr 2 (Xinhua) The govt said Monday it needs another six months to complete the resettlement of the war-displaced families in the northern part of the country. Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon said that the construction of permanent houses for some 1,700 families living in a camp for the displaced in Vavuniya in the north has already begun. "We will need at least six months to fully complete the resettlement process. more..

Apr 2 (LT) A large number of people who had reserved vehicles and paid advance are being severely inconvenienced due to the massive increase in taxes for vehicles. It is revealed that the situation is worse for those who have paid advance money to buy new motorcycles and three-wheelers. Also, the new taxes have complicated matters for those who have ordered vehicles on bank loans and leasing. During the latter part of 2010 the duty for vehicles were brought down even when more..

Apr 2 (Reuters) Lanka IOC, the Sri Lankan arm of India's state petroleum company Indian Oil Corp Ltd, is seeking more than 70,000 tonnes of gasoil and gasoline for delivery in May, after skipping April imports, traders said on Monday. The company is seeking a combination cargo of 19,000 tonnes of 0.25 percent sulphur gasoil and 11,000 tonnes of 90-octane gasoline for delivery into Trincomalee over May 2-4. Lanka IOC is also seeking a combination cargo of 18,000 more..

Apr 2 (Xinhua) The Sri Lankan police on Monday denied claims that Tamil Tiger rebels had infiltrated the island through southern India. Local media reports quoting police intelligence said that 150 Tamil Tigers had infiltrated the north and east of the country after receiving training in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The rebels were said to have reached Sri Lanka in the guise of fishermen and were looking at destabilizing more..

Apr 2 (NST) More than 20 villagers, nabbed 24 foreigners, including 5 Sri Lankans, whom they believe entered the country illegally. The foreigners were handed over to the police, recently. The operation was initiated by the villagers and Rela members in Kampung Punggai, Pengerang, last week. They spotted the foreigners at 10pm on Tuesday and gave a chase. The drama unfolded when a villager spotted passengers getting out of a van and two cars at a village mosque which more..

Apr 2 (NS) A fully air conditioned sales out let of the Laksala is to be established within the premises of Colombo National Museum especially to serve hundreds of foreign tourists. The building for Laksala has been designed to be constructed in a manner that will preserve the culture and the national heritage depicted through the National Museum. Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa on 31 visited the Museum premises where this out let is to be constructed. more..

Apr 2 (DBS) In an unprecedented and controversial move Ministry of External Affairs has threatened to charge the country’s Ambassador to France Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka under the Penal code! It is learnt that the External ministry’s overseas administration division Acting Director General Mr. W.G.S. Prasanna has sent a lengthy five page letter to Dr. Jayatilleka outlining certain charges relating to alleged “wrongdoing ” by Dr. Jayatilleka more..

Apr 2 (PTI) Sri Lankan army chief Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya is on a six-day visit to Pakistan to enhance military ties between the two countries. Jayasuriya is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Besides meeting top Pakistani military basses, Jayasuriya will visit several other places of military and tourist interest. Kayani, who visited Sri Lanka in January last year, had invited Jayasuriya to visit Pakistan more..

Apr 2 (AD) The govt is following a philosophy of over feeding the rich and Rs. 2500 for the poor, the UNP accused today. At a time when the third Sinhala and Tamil New Year after the end of the war is being celebrated, the govt is burdening the public by increasing taxes, UNP Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka charged. Through the increase in taxes on family vehicles such as motorbikes and three-wheelers, the public which made immense sacrifices during the war, more..

Apr 2 (PTI) The Indian High Commission in Colombo on Monday dismissed reports in a section of the Sri Lankan media that suggested the existence of LTTE-training camps in Tamil Nadu. “The suggestion contained in the news item regarding the training of terrorists at three secret camps in Tamil Nadu, India is entirely erroneous and baseless. Relevant agencies of the two countries have ongoing cooperation and no such information has more..

Apr 2 (CT) The IUSF yesterday alleged that undergraduates of the Peradeniya University have been remanded until 4 May ‘for no concrete reason. IUSF Convener Sanjeewa Bandara alleged three undergraduates had been arrested on false charges of intensely ragging first year students, but the charges were yet to be proved. “They have not been even granted bail, but were continuously remanded. The accused undergraduates were arrested on 26 January, and have been remanded until 4 May, more..

Apr 2 (CT) The Army together with the police is currently conducting operations to apprehend former LTTE cadres in the Eastern province to send them for rehabilitation, Army spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said. “There are several LTTE cadres who have not surrendered so we are now conducting operations to apprehend them and send them to proper rehabilitation centers,” he said. “Of the 12, 000 former LTTE cadres who were sent in for rehabilitation, we have released 11500. more..

Apr 2 (EAR) According to a news item in the Colombo daily “The Island,” Sri Lanka intelligence services have received information that around 150 terrorists who returned to Sri Lanka from India were now hiding in the North and the East. They are reported to have undergone “a special arms training at three secret camps in Tamil Nadu” to carry out a de-stablisation campaign. Three alleged LTTE cadres arrested after a member of the EPDP was hacked to death gave out more..

Apr 2 (CI) Having had time to reflect on our victory in the first Test it feels even more special. We knew how important the opening match of a short series would be, and it was a huge challenge to take on the No. 1 team having not had much preparation because we were coming straight from the Asia Cup. There is a sense of relief that it didn't cost us, but we had to dig very deep and it's credit to all the players for the work they put in in the days before the match. more..

Apr 2 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene has insisted that Sri Lanka will shelve all notion of playing for a draw in the second Test against England at the P Sara Oval even though that is all they need to secure their first series victory since 2009. "We'll try and win the series 2-0 as that's when we play our best cricket," he said. "When you are playing a team like England you have to be aggressive, play to win from ball one and look to get in front of them. more..

Apr 2 (DM) The Defence counsel in a case filed against a disabled Army Captain (Rtd.), who was a supporter of former Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka presented his objections to the charge sheets instituted by prosecutors on the ground that charge sheets could not be filed without seeking the Attorney General’s (AG) advice. The Colombo Crimes Division had alleged that disabled Army Captain (Rtd.) Gayan Prasad Kumara Vithanage had prevented prison officials from carrying out more..

Apr 2 (SL) Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Paris Dayan Jayatilleka has confirmed that there is a threat to charge him under the penal code over some allegations leveled against him. Ambassador Jayatilleka said the move seemed to take place in the context of a debate on post-Geneva policy perspectives in Sri Lanka. It was reported that the External ministry’s overseas administration division Acting Director General Mr. W.G.S.Prasanna has sent a lengthy five page letter to Dr.Jayatilleka more..

Apr 2 (BBC) The sports minister has vowed to continue bidding for more international sporting events despite the failure to secure 2018 Commonwealth Games in Hambantota. Sri Lanka lost to Australia’s Gold Coast in Saint Kitts last year, after a lengthy bidding process spending Rs. 880 million. But Sports Minister Aluthgamage told BBC that it was a “successful bid” but failed to secure enough votes due to “internal politics in the Commonwealth.” more..

Apr 3 (NS) What do we know? Before his recent threats, we know him best through his brazen, daylight attack against the News Director at Rupavahini in 2009. We know that, quite tellingly, instead of investigating his gratuitous violence, the Police instead called in over twenty journalists for questioning on the incident. Through Wikileaks, we know that according to a former Sri Lankan security services official, drug kingpins in Sri Lanka have political patrons in the govt, more..

Apr 3 (GV) The Sri Lankan govt’s denial of things extends well beyond allegations of war crimes. Earlier this year, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya “Rapes, this and that not taking any place in Sri Lanka”. Writing about this daft and peculiar statement, Roel Raymond noted, I don’t understand this. I don’t understand why our diplomats and politicians continue to bristle defensively, refusing to accept fault, scrambling to cover the massive chip on more..

Apr 3 (DBS) Kolonnawa, a suburb of Colombo, is bizarre. It came to the limelight a few months ago when one of its prominent citizens, former Member of Parliament, was killed. Though the news headlines flashed the slaying of the former MP and Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, there were other facets of the incident that showed involvement of criminal gangs. Now what sort of place is Kolonnawa? In the past it was an electorate more..

Apr 3 (GV) March 3, 2012 marked a very dark ebb in our society as it saw the horrific rape and murder of little Jesudasan Lakshini (13), allegedly at the hands of former EPDP cadre, Kanthasami Jegatheswaran (alias Kiruba) (31), from the Delft Island, Jaffna. Currently being held in remand at the Jaffna Remand Prison, the accused was produced before the Kayts Magistrate this week (30). However, the hearing was further postponed to April 9, 2012, as the Delft Police had failed to more..

Apr 3 (NS) The Police have also served different Communities spread throughout the country. So, what is the need for them to be under the Provincial Councils to enforce their laws? Our real fear is whether a localised police under the thumb of the Chief Minister will be able to enforce the law with out fear or favour in the present extreme politicised climate. As it is, it is bad enough that the central police is highly politicised and corrupt. It is at least distant form the periphery. more..

Apr 3 (NS) The local govt elections for the Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Mullaitivu district were set to be held on March 24. However, the elections were indefinitely postponed following a petition filed by two IDPs from the Manik Farm welfare camp. The petition is scheduled to be reconsidered on April 23. The local govt elections for the Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Mullaitivu more..

Apr 3 (LB) You don’t have to be a leftist or agree with Dr. N.M. Perera’s (NM) philosophy to appreciate that the man was a giant in comparison with Sri Lankan alternatives, then and now. I offer an analogy to those who want another perspective on this remark: Personally, I don’t like Winston Churchill, but I do recognize in him a world historical figure of colossal proportions. The point of this short essay is not to compare midget minds (Cabraal) or cleverer ones more..

Apr 3 (LB) Speaking to the local media the other day the European Union’s envoy to Colombo, Bernard Savage struck a note of magisterial portentousness. Dismissing charges that the EU adopted double standards when chastising Sri Lanka on human rights abuses, he said: “Human rights, democracy and the rule of law are core values of the European Union. Embedded in its founding treaty, they were reinforced when the EU adopted the Charter of Fundamental Rights in 2000 and more..

Apr 3 (TC) 24 hours before adopting the resolution on Sri Lanka, the UNHRC approved, with a mammoth majority, another country specific resolution on Israel. That resolution mandated the appointment of a fact finding mission to ‘investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem’. more..

Apr 3 (SL) Increasingly, I am compelled to review material that I have written for publication over the past three or four years. This includes my very first columns which were published in one of the weirdest of English weeklies which, in a particularly peculiar manner, seeks to exercise what might be most kindly referred to as a kind of “catholicism in journalism” by publishing everything from a column by one who is acknowledged as a sincere member of the “Left” to more..

Apr 3 (ST) Distractions and diversions from economic development have been important reasons for Sri Lanka's below potential economic development. Since the end of the war and return to peaceful conditions the country's undivided attention should have been on ethnic reconciliation, national unity and economic development. A realistic assessment of the economy and pragmatic economic policies that are not motivated by political gains should have been put in place. more..

Apr 3 (CI) In England terms, this Test is about one man: Andrew Strauss. England's captain has said that he has not considered resigning despite England's losing run on the sub continent of four successive Tests and his own mediocre form which, Tests against Australia apart, has gone on for more than two years. An England victory or an innings to restate his worth is sorely overdue. It is doubtless the case that he has not thought of more..

Apr 3 (Island) A front organisation of the LTTE banned in the UK has initiated action to sue the British Foreign Secretary William Hague over what it calls the Foreign Office's failure to declare Sri Lankan military attache in London, Maj. Gen. Prasanna Silva, and his family personae non grata. Informing Hague of its client's decision, a law firm representing the interests of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has said, in a letter, according to The Guardian newspaper: "You have more..

Apr 3 (Island) The Expo 2012 international export exhibition that took place last week was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is a foremost proponent of the govt’s dream of Sri Lanka as the Wonder of Asia. The venue was the country’s most prestigious conference centre, the BMICH gifted by China on the occasion of the Conference of Non-Aligned Nations in Colombo in 1975. The high quality of the Sri Lankan export items on display ranged from industrial more..