Apr 3 (Island) Global banking giant HSBC is bullish on Sri Lanka with investors in China, India and Singapore increasingly approaching the bank for information on long term investment opportunities in the country. "China, India and Singapore are increasingly interested in investing in a broad range of sectors and these investments are likely to materialise over the next 12 to 18 months," HSBC Asia Pacific Regional Head of Corporate David Morton told The Island more..

Apr 3 (DN) Though LTTE terrorism has ended white collar crime is on the rise in the country, said Minister Wimal Weerawansa. Participating as the Chief Guest at the Annual General Meeting of Sri Lanka Quantity Surveyors held recently, he said that when we try to change traditional procedures in some fields, the white collar mafia scuttles our efforts,” said the minister. “The role of quantity surveyors is very much essential for the development of the construction sector. more..

Apr 3 (ME) RESOLVE Marine Group has announced that wreck removal operations at Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour have been completed. Retained by the Govt of India/Shipping Corporation of India, and working on site in cooperation with the Govt of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan Navy since June 2011, RESOLVE crews undertook the mapping, removal and disposition of ten vessels which were sunk during the LTTE conflict between 1994 and 2000. more..

Apr 3 (Island) Abortions should not be legalized in Sri Lanka, but it should be allowed for girls under the age of 18, who had become pregnant due to rape or incest and for mothers carrying babies with severe abnormalities, UPFA MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said. The Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry and Justice Ministry have formed a committee to take steps to change abortion law. At a news conference held at the SEDEC last Thursday (29), more..

Apr 3 (Island) Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday expressed the belief that the country should not be vindictive towards any other nation, despite the outcome in Geneva, especially those who voted against Sri Lanka. He said that Sri Lanka should have strong bonds with all countries and develop healthy relationship that leads to long lasting friendship. He said that a majority of the visitors, trade delegations from different sectors, who visited the EXPO 2012 more..

Apr 3 (BBC) The govt of Sri Lanka says it proposed India to sign a MoU on nuclear disaster management. The proposal was made considering dangers posed by India’s nuclear plants close to Mannar and northern Sri Lanka, Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka told BBC Sandeshaya. “If there is a nuclear accident that causes radiation to escape in Koodankulum nuclear power plant or any other nuclear plant, that may affect Mannar and north,” he said. more..

Apr 3 (DN) Korean job seekers who passed the recently held Korean Language Proficiency Test can check their details and employment agreements on website www.eps.go.kr from today onwards. The job seeker should open an email account given in the website and receive information on job agreements provided by the Korean Human Resources Centre. The applicant will get a PIN number with which he will be able to access the website. This programme was a concept of Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera to ensure all Korean job seekers more..

Apr 3 (DN) "The media plays a vital role in forming world opinion. It has the ability to create revolutionary changes in the world. "A good bond exists between the media and the public and their relationship is inseparable, Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. He said mass media is a powerful instrument which can lead the world on the correct path as well to its destruction. He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 'Digital capacity and more..

Apr 3 (Island) Russia, which voted against the US Resolution on ‘Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka’ at the UNHRC recently, said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime should now focus its attention on implementing its very own LLRC recommendations. The Russian Ambassador in Colombo, Vladimir P Mikhaylov, said in an interview, that implementing the recommendations "will bring you to the best position." more..

Apr 3 (Island) With the capture of six young men who were preparing to be smuggled into Australia last Saturday at Kotahena, the masterminds who planned the dangerous and illegal voyage through sea came to light, an officer of the Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau said. Police spokesman Ajith Raohana said that the officers of the Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau were able to arrest six Tamils who were preparing to leave for Australia illegally on Saturday by a boat. more..

Apr 3 (Island) General Secretary of the Democratic People’s Front (DPF) Dr. Kumar Guruparan said that the Govt had to be sincere towards the reconciliation process and the political solution and there had to be a complete change in its communal psyche. He said that there had be a paradigm shift in the thinking of the Govt, including its allies, to accept a lasting political solution and to implement the LLRC recommendations if it was to achieve a harmonious coexistence with more..

Apr 3 (DN) While the govt is fully capable of dealing with any pressures that come from Geneva, New York or Washington, it is the public servants and heads of corporations who should ensure good governance to improve the image of the country internationally, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Addressing a gathering of public servants, Heads of state corporations, provincial and local govt political leaders on the challenges more..

Apr 3 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Monday ordered notice to the Centre and the BCCI on a PIL seeking direction to cancel all future matches between India and Sri Lanka, until disputes between Tamils and Sinhalese are settled and peace prevails in the Bay of Bengal. A division bench comprising justices R Banumathi and B Rajandran also asked them to file their reply to the PIL on April 16. In his PIL, advocate S Calvin Christopher also sought a direction to BCCI not to sign more..

Apr 3 (Island) As an indication of the changing times, the Police Department, instead of ordering more guns, has just imported 9,000 batons from China. According to police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana, the Department is currently made up of 82,000 men and women in uniform. Police headquarters sources said stations short of batons could now apply for their requirements through their respective SSPs and SPs. Sources said the ‘most lethal’ thing a cop on beat would hereafter more..

Apr 3 (Island) The govt has directed the police to ascertain the whereabouts of 30 persons following a request made by the US Embassy in Colombo on behalf of some NGOs. Authoritative sources told The Island yesterday that the request had been made in the wake of the adoption of a US-led resolution at the recently concluded UNHRC in Geneva. A senior US diplomat had made available a confidential list containing 30 names seeking an urgent inquiry amidst more..

Apr 3 (CT) A Sri Lankan delegation will visit Somalia in two weeks to negotiate the release of the six fishermen held hostage by the Somali pirates. The delegation will also include some of the family members of those fishermen who are being held hostage. These Somalis had assisted them on a previous occasion too in a similar scenario, Fisheries Ministry Spokesperson, Narendra Rajapaksa said. He also said, those fishermen in captivity are not facing any problems more..

Apr 3 (DN) The Korean govt will hand over a satellite reception and analysis ground system for COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite) to the Meteorological Department. The satellite ground system, which is a project under East Asia Climate Partnership, costing two million US dollars was carried out as a grant aid project by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) with technical assistance from the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA). more..

Apr 3 (CT) Talks in the political arena about banning American products took another twist yesterday with Minister Basil Rajapaksa calling for a ‘complete prohibition’ of imported goods through creating awareness among public. “Not only American products, but all foreign goods should be prohibited. This should not be done through a legal framework, but by creating awareness among the people,” Rajapaksa said. more..

Apr 3 (TOI) Sri Lanka must be conscious of human rights issues in the country and the reconstruction of Sri Lanka will not be easy if they do not accept the conditions, said Armugum Parsuramen, a former education minister of Mauritius who was also a representative of UNESCO in India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. He was talking to the press after attending a function at the Camford International School in the city on Monday. "The reconstruction of the country will not be more..

Apr 3 (CT) Majority of Jaffna people have allegedly expressed their displeasure to TNA over the decision to join hands with the UNP to hold May Day celebrations in Jaffna. Sources in Jaffna said those who are close to the TNA have met several TNA MPs and expressed their distress over recent developments. “They were of the opinion that TNA should not ally with the UNP which was responsible for setting fire to the Jaffna Library. They have also pointed out that UNP distanced themselves more..

Apr 3 (FT) Sri Lanka is to get a $ 400 million lifeline following what is anticipated as a favourable decision on the part of the IMF. The IMF Board was scheduled to meet Monday evening Washington Time, and its Resident Representative Koshy Mathai is scheduled to hold a briefing today. Speculation was rife within official circles and financial markets that Sri Lanka will receive approximately $ 400 million from the remaining $ 800 million under more..

Apr 3 (Island) The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (PHD CMC) warned eateries and hotels against using imported contaminated spices. Chief of the PHD, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said yesterday that laboratory tests carried out on spices purchased by hotels and eateries had revealed fecal coliforms which caused prepared food items to get rancid within a short time. He told The Island, that the PHD carried out tests on food prepared in hotels and more..

Apr 3 (AD) Minister Bandula Gunawardena and UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake will go head to head tonight to debate the Minister’s claims that Rs.2500 a month is enough for a person to survive. Watch the debate live tonight at 9.45pm on the Wada Pitiya programme on TV Derana or watch a live stream here. FM Derana will also broadcast the debate simultaneously. Minister Gunawardena stated a few days ago that Rs.7500 a month is enough for a family of three to survive with more..

Apr 4 (LB) Poddala Jayantha, media activist and journalist went into exile to escape his abductors at home, but in his land of exile, he has now been haunted by a new tormentor: the brutal winter in New York. Metal braids implanted to support Poddala Jayantha’s broken legs due to the torture inflicted by his abductors during his June 30, 2009 abduction cannot withstand frozen weather conditions. more..

Apr 3 (SL) The Sinhala, Tamil New Year is round the corner. Usually people get ready from two weeks prior to the new year to celebrate the event. However, this year there are no signs of that. In short the cost of living is so high that for the common man celebrating the new year is all but a dream. Many say that the coming new year will be a drain on their meager earnings and look forward with trepidation. “Avurudda Kanna wenuwata, Avurudda apiwa Kannawa”. more..

Apr 3 (DN) The reproductive health education programme launched by the Health Ministry at provincial level to educate schoolchildren has been rejected by eight provinces. Only the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council had accepted the programme. The reason given by Provincial Councils for rejecting the programme is unsuitability of sex education for schoolchildren, Health Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake said. more..

Apr 3 (ST) As the Govt Medical Officers’ Association strongly urged the closure of the private medical college in the light of the findings of a high-level committee, its Malabe authorities assured that they would work with the UGC and the Sri Lanka Medical Council to sort out issues. “The Health Ministry committee’s observations are perfect and have proven beyond any doubt that Malabe has violated all the rules,” more..

Apr 3 (Island) The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, one of the fastest growing industries in Sri Lanka, is now in peril due to certain laws and legislations, particularly the Shop and Office Employees (Regualtion of Employments and Remuneration) Act that prevents women to be employed during the night. "The BPO sector creates huge opportunities for both men and women to obtain gainful employment but most of these more..

Apr 3 (SM) A minimum salary of 75 Kuwait Dinar has been introduced by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait for maids coming from Sri Lanka. New arrivals must be paid KD 75, while those maids who have worked in Kuwait for more than two years must be paid KD 85 starting from April 1. But it seems the decision, a result of recent salary increases and price hikes, will not be applied. Abdulqayoom, an employee at the Fawziya Al-Mutotih Domestic Office, reiterated that more..

Apr 3 (Island) Young Minoli Dharmasena who left the country in search of greener pastures 11 months ago would never have thought that she would return home in a coffin. Minoli (24) a resident of Kosgama sought her husband’s permission to go and work in Saudi Arabia as a domestic since she had a lot of hopes for the future. Her grieving husband Senarath Wijeratne (27) said that she thought of their little child’s future more..

Apr 3 (CT) The Lanka IOC has made a request to the Ministry of Petroleum for an increase in the price of petrol and diesel, Managing Director of the company, Suresh Kumar said. “We have requested for an increase in the price of both petrol and diesel by Rs. 15. We have highlighted our problems saying that the current state of imports and the depreciation of the rupee have resulted in heavy losses to our company,” Kumar said. more..

Apr 3 (DM) Vehicle buyers were in a severe state of shock yesterday on hearing that prices of vehicles below the 1300cc category, for which they had already paid an initial instalment had skyrocketed by more than Rs.700,000 as a result of the massive taxes being imposed on such imports. Heated arguments took place between customers and vehicle agent representatives in Colombo yesterday. The customers accused them of not having released the vehicles on time more..

Apr 3 (DM) The Socialist Alliance sounded a warning yesterday saying that it was possible that the US and the EU countries would impose restrictions or embargoes for the worse if Sri Lanka did not take genuine effort to implement LLRC report. The LSSP chief and Senior Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said though the UNHRC resolution did not provide for trade or economic embargo on Sri Lanka it is highly likely that the US and European countries could more..

Apr 3 (DM) As we move into April and prepare for the National New Year – the only major cultural festival that the Buddhists and the Hindus celebrate together - it would be the ideal time for the government to initiate courageous and practical steps to bring about national reconciliation. We need to learn the right lessons from the past, but living in the past often brings us to a dead-end. Some extremist Sinhala historians in TV talks and other speeches often more..

Apr 3 (CT) The JVP today lashed out at Minister Bandula Gunewardena over his statement suggesting that a family of three could survive on a sum of Rs. 7,500 adding that it was ‘mischievous’. Responding to a query by a reporter at a media briefing held today, JVP MP Sunil Handunetti stated that the country is currently going through an economical, political and financial crisis. He charged that the govt was now trying to distract the people from the actual situation in the country by more..

Apr 3 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene, an understated batsman in a world that long ago surrendered to overstatement, treated England to another gentle batting masterclass with a second successive Test century to ensure Sri Lanka maintained a position close to equilibrium at the close of the first day of the second Test. Jayawardene exuded calm, recapturing the mood that brought him 180 in the first Test in Galle, with 105 stealthily assembled in more than five hours more..

Apr 3 (DM) Nawa Sihala Urumaya Leader Sarath Manamedra is being investigated over charges that he had sold his pistol to a businessman in Nugegoda. The pistol had been issued to him by the govt at the time when he was a presidential candidate in 2010. Police said the weapon had been allegedly sold for Rs.52, 000. They had asked Mr. Manamedra to report to the Mirihana police station after the businessman was arrested but he had failed to do so and had also switched off more..

Apr 3 (CG) The U.S Embassy in Colombo says U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has no plans to meet with the TNA next month. According to the Embassy the only scheduled meeting she has is with External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris on May 18 as was previously announced. “Recent media reports incorrectly state that Secretary Clinton has invited the TNA to visit Washington. The Secretary invited Minister GL Peiris to Washington on May 18 and welcomes that visit. more..

Apr 3 (DM) All vessels carrying motor vehicles will be diverted to Hambantota Port for unloading from May 31, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority said.The SLPA added that they have taken this initiative in consultation with shipping lines and motor vehicle importers. “Vehicle parking yards in the Port have become congested due to the large influx of imports in spite of the SLPA releasing many underutilized areas for vehicle parking” more..

Apr 3 (PTI) Centre on Tuesday termed as "completely baseless" a Sri Lankan newspaper report about existence of LTTE camps in Tamil Nadu, saying there was no such facility anywhere in the country. "It is completely baseless. There is no LTTE camp anywhere in India, including Tamil Nadu," Home Minister P Chidambaram said. He was responding to a question on a Sri Lankan media report that three LTTE camps exist in Tamil Nadu which reportedly trained 150 cadres of the banned outfit. more..