Aug 20 (CI) Three wickets apiece for Sohail Tanvir and Saeed Ajmal tore the guts out of a Ruhuna Royals run chase and handed Kandurata Warriors a 42-run victory, their second in three nights in Pallekele. Chasing a modest 142, Ruhuna were winded by Tanvir's opening spell, before Ajmal suffocated the innings during the middle overs despite a short-lived surge from Shahid Afridi. They also suffered two unnecessary run-outs, and now face the possibility of finishing more..

Aug 20 (DM) ICC has rejected the possible involvement of corruption in the ICC making a half a million US dollar grant to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and SLC appointing ICC’s outgoing CEO Haroon Lorgat as an advisor for a huge salary. “All decisions regarding financial exchanges including grants, loans to our member countries are taken by our Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee. At the moment, the head of that committee is ICC president Alan Isaac himself. more..

Aug 20 (DM) Representative of the Govt of Japan for Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi will arrive in the island tomorrow. His visit concerns the recent developments in the country with regards to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report and the release of the National Action Plan on Human Rights, according to the Japanese Embassy in Colombo. He will remain in the country till the end of the week. more..

Aug 21 (DBS) “At what point of your dance training can you develop a style of your own,” a student asked Bharatanatyam exponent Alarmel Valli at an interaction here on Friday. The elaborate answer’s crux was that timing depended on the person, ability, confidence, and creative impulse. “You will know when you are ready,” the dancer said. These and many more questions were thrown at Alarmel Valli, and Carnatic vocalists T.M. Krishna and Unnikrishnan by students and more..

Aug 21 (DBS) The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has had a direct impact on literary production in Tamil, comparatively greater than in the case of Sinhala. This is largely due to the fact that it has been the Tamil-speaking communities who were most directly and severely affected by the ethnic conflict throughout the postcolonial period. The Tamil language is shared by three distinct ethnic communities in Sri Lanka , namely the Sri Lankan Tamils, the Muslims and the Malayaha more..

Aug 21 (SO) Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya spoke of the proposed Independent Elections Commission, the need to bring in electoral reforms and how he strives to ensure a free and fair election in the run-up to the Sept 8 Provincial Council polls in the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central Provinces. Q: What is your assessment of the level of violence in the NCP, more..

Aug 21 (CT) Despite some grumbling from comrades I kept up hope that the JVP breakaway faction, now the Front Line Socialist Party (FLSP), would overcome the two birth defects of the JVP – infantile adventurism and narrow Sinhala nationalism. Both have been widely written about and that relieves me of responsibility of producing a summary here. I intend to write today from within the FLSP’s own avowed standpoint, a Marxist more..

Aug 21 (DM) If there is one thing that the recently-held TESO conference at Chennai, capital of the south Indian State of Tamil Nadu, that stake-holders and other protagonists from all sides, in Sri Lanka and elsewhere, have to understand, it is this. There is truth in the considered view that the understanding of the ethnic issue and its political fallout on either side of the Palk Strait is inadequate, at best. Consequently, there is over-reaction to decisions and actions, more..

Aug 21 (CT) Ran Muthu Duwa (Island of Treasures), the first colour Sinhala feature film made in Sri Lanka, was released exactly 50 years ago this week, on 10 August 1962. Ran Muthu Duwa was a trail-blazer in the Lankan cinema industry in many respects. It not only introduced colour to our movies, but also showed for the first time the underwater wonders of the seas around the island. It was different from many formulaic more..

Aug 21 (DM) It is now over three years since the LTTE was decisively defeated by the Government of Sri Lanka. Since then the govt and the international community have been grappling with the issue of winning peace, addressing the causes which gave rise to the deadly conflict, issues of accountability, and reconciliation. These issues have dominated the Sri Lankan debate in the last few years. Peace in the conflict literature is not the absence of war. There are three kinds of more..

Aug 21 (CT) The highlight of last week’s visit to Sri Lanka by Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee of Liberia was the presentation of a Sri Lankan Women’s Agenda on Peace, Security and Development to the govt. The many co-sponsors of this Women’s Agenda would have wished to make this presentation directly to President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself. However, they had to be content with handing over the document to senior minister Tissa Vitarana more..

Aug 21 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Upali Dharmadasa has steered the country’s cricket board safely through stormy financial waters and has brought some sort of stability with major issues like players payments under control, but predicted more rough waters ahead while saying he still felt they would need a further five years or more to bring the SLC finances to resolve the entire crisis. Dharamdasa who began his elected term of more..

Aug 21 (SL) The often used quote: An ambassador is an honest man sent abroad to lie for his country, has been given cynical and ambiguous interpretations by cynics such as an ambassador is one who is expected to lie in speech for his country or lie in bed for pleasure. Ambassadors will obviously deny both insinuations. A good ambassador knows well that lies are soon found out and will do damage to his country’s credibility as well as himself. In present times with more..

Aug 21 (LB) The latest edition of Samabima – a paper published by the Rights Now Collective and focused largely on issues of public rights and justice has a memorable animation with regard to the Z-Score crisis – a graphic of Zorro and his trademark ‘Z’ cut across the air. The picture of one of Spanish Literature’s charismatic heroes, who has later been metamorphosed into a television and cinema legend, is more than relevant to the current chaos at hand; for justice and deliverance more..

Aug 21 (ST) Power cuts affecting everyday life? Not for Durand Appuhamy who having switched to solar power, says the CEB and their power cuts can go jump in the Kelani River. Mr. Appuhamy had a solar power system installed at his residence in Negombo, enabling him to move away from the main grid. The system has only been active for about a week so far, but when the lights go off in the morning, Mr. Appuhamy can still more..

Aug 21 (Island) Indian politicians have been making various allegations against the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), the latest being that it attacked a group of Tamil Nadu fishers in Indian waters recently. Interestingly, New Delhi itself has refuted this allegation. India's Additional Solicitor General (ASF) M. Ravindran told a bench of judges the other day, on behalf of the Central govt, that no such attack had taken place! (Had the SLN committed such an offence amounting to more..

Aug 21 (FT) A high-level 15-member delegation from the Seychelles arrived in Colombo yesterday on a three-day visit. Led by President of Seychelles James Alix Michel, the delegation will comprise, among others, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Paul Adam, Minister of Natural Resources and Industry Peter Sinon, Delhi-based High Commissioner of Seychelles to Sri Lanka Waven William, Chief Press Secretary Srdjana Janosevic and Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation CEO Antoine more..

Aug 21 (Island) The latest fiasco that has gripped the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brings to focus how the govt supports shady investors being investigated for market offences, brushing aside the rule of law and blatantly ignoring analysis about the stock market put forward by the SEC, Central Bank and the Treasury! The Treasury said the stock exchange was undergoing a correction, shredding to pieces a key argument put forward by influential investors and more..

Aug 21 (CI) A breathtaking 96 off 50 deliveries from Mahela Jayawardene and another impressive turn by Akila Dananjaya saw Wayamba United establish themselves as the form side in the SLPL. Wayamba United amassed 190 for 4 before dismissing Nagenahira Nagas, the only other unbeaten side in the competition till today, for 134, in 19.5 overs. One more victory from their two remaining fixtures will guarantee Wayamba United a semi-final spot, but even if they lose, more..

Aug 21 (Island) The Finance Company PLC (TFC) is in preliminary stages of discussions for a capital infusion and its chairman said the stock exchange would be notified no sooner a deal was finalised. On the heels of a controversial deal with the National Savings Bank, TFC is looking for fresh capital to support its future plans and currently the institution is undergoing a restructuring phase and has appointed two new directors to the board. TFC Chairman Preeti Jayawardena told more..

Aug 21 (DN) The Exposition of the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics of The Buddha that were brought from India for veneration is a measure taken to commemorate the 2,600th Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi, said Indian Culture, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja. She made this observation at the inaugural session of the Relic Worship: History, Archeology and Religion symposium at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic more..

Aug 21 (Island) The Executive Committee of the Govt Medical Officers’ Association yesterday took a decision to complain against the Kohuwela police to the relevant DIG and the IGP N. K. Illangakoon for failing to act on a complaint of one of its members. GMOA member Dr. Gehan Amarathilaka, attached to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, had made a complaint to the Kohuwela police against an employee of a private company who had allegedly scolded him and his wife in filth more..

Aug 21 (Island) US wants to explore new opportunities in resurgent Sri Lanka to boost bilateral trade levels to high levels through a new round of initiatives, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said. "Lot’s of good things are happening here. We want to get a fresh start and we should look for more ways to strengthen US-Sri Lanka bilateral trade," said William Weinstein, the new Deputy Chief of Mission of US Embassy more..

Aug 21 (Island) UNP reformists are of the opinion that UNP Gampaha District Parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana had no authority to defend his party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe against allegations made by Health Minister and SLFP General–Secretary Maithripala Sirisena. Sirisena had alleged that the UNP Leader attempted to sabotage Gamini Dissanayake’s Presidential election campaign in 1994 by leaking information to SLFP candidate Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Sri Lanka Under-19 beat Nepal Under-19 by eight wickets after restricting the latter to a paltry 79 runs in the ninth place play-off quarter-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Brisbane yesterday. Only opener Subash Khakurel and middle order batsman Pulami Magar managed to reach double figures as Sri Lanka’s bowlers skittle them out within 28 overs. While spinner Tharindu Kaushal was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, more..

Aug 21 (Island) The External Affairs Ministry said that govt’s focus on enhancing relations with countries in the African continent was bringing about tangible results. In a comprehensive review of foreign policy, the govt decided that current priorities need to be reflected in greater attention being paid to the country’s relations with regions which had been comparatively neglected over the decades, the ministry said more..

Aug 21 (Hindu) During the Maha Sivarathiri of 2010, Indian High Commission officials visited the Thiruketheeswaram temple at Manthottamam, seven miles north of Mannar. “We saw huge crowds. More than one lakh persons visited the temple…,” Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha said. Soon after, when the temple renovation committee approached him, he told it India would help in the process. After the completion of paper work, work on the renovation was launched on Monday. more..

Aug 21 (DN) The Sacred Kapilavastu Relics will be on exposition for public veneration 24 hours a day for devotees who will be coming from all corners of the country, Ven Getamanne Gunananda said. The Thera said the people of the country should thank Pressident Mahinda Rajapaksa for his intervention to bring the Sacred Relics from India. Further the Ven Thera requested devotees not to bring cameras and any other parcels or objects when coming to worship Sacred Kapilavastu Relics. more..

Aug 21 (DN) The govt plans to provide potable water purification units capable of purifying 200 litres of water within an hour to villages in the North Central, North and other areas which are facing a lack of safe drinking water. These units are also to be provided to areas where there has been an increase in water borne Kidney diseases. There has been an increase of such diseases especially in the North Central Province in recent times. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Four suspects allegedly excavated a dagoba, destroyed Buddha statues and robbed treasure at the Peellawela Temple, in Weeraketiya, have been arrested by the police. According to the police, a monk from a temple in Dompe among the suspects. They had committed the theft after tying up a caretaker of the temple on the night of July 1. A special police team on the instructions of the Tangalle SP, arrested the suspects at Domple and Gajanayakagama in Weeraketiya on August 14. more..

Aug 21 (WLW) Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga is expected to play Premier Cricket for Hawthorn-Monash University in 2012/13. Hawks coach Keith Jansz confirmed this morning that the club was in talks with the right-arm paceman and an announcement could come as early as this afternoon. It's believed Malinga will play at least three short-format matches early in the season. "It would have to fall into line with the points cap and things like that," Jansz said. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Ruhuna University Vice Chancellor Prof. Susirith Mendis said on Saturday, that professionals such as Doctors and Engineers were living in turbulent times today and it was exceedingly difficult for them to maintain the conduct expected of professionals in the current context. He was addressing the Induction and Graduation Ceremony of the Institution of Engineers at the Waters Edge on Saturday, where more..

Aug 21 (Island) Around 100 acres of forest reserve in the Kalugala and Yahangala areas, coming under the Eastern slope of the Knuckles Range Reserve, have been destroyed in a fire which erupted on Sunday night. The fire which erupted around 9.30 p.m. on Sunday had spread to the Meda Kolaya area in Yahangala by yesterday noon, the officials of the Hunnasgiriya Range Forest Office, who were fighting the fire, said. They prevented the fire spreading to a nearby village, where more..

Aug 21 (Island) Around 65 per cent of deaths that occurred daily in Sri Lanka were caused by Non-communicable diseases, Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Palitha Maheepala said. He was addressing the Regional Meeting on Prioritized Research Agenda for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Of the nearly 1,000 deaths reported per day, 650 of them were due to non-communicable diseases caused by more..

Aug 21 (ST) Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka called people to rally to establish a new political culture in the country to rescue people from corrupt politicians. Addressing a people’s rally held at Ambalangoda during the weekend Mr Fonseka said that he failed to extend his gratitude towards the people of his home town Ambalangoda for the simple reason of competing as a candidate for the last Presidentail election. more..

Aug 21 (DM) The Japanese govt said yesterday that the military presence in the North should not be judged at the moment since it was a moving process and noted that the presence of the security forces was decreasing. “The military presence was decreasing in the north; however it is too early to judge it because it’s a moving process,” Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Nabuhito Hobo said. He made this remark after the signing of more..

Aug 21 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance Minister held a meeting with private entrepreneurs to gather suggestions and proposals for Budget 2013, at Temple Trees yesterday. The entrepreneurs who provide goods and commodities for the local and international market ranging from agriculture, plantation, garments, gem and jewellery, spices, cosmetics, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry and leather industry attended at the discussion. more..

Aug 21 (CT) The Students’ Union of the University of Jaffna has sent a memorandum to President Rajapaksa, requesting him to intervene and break the stalemate between the university academics and the govt and pave the way for students from all universities in the island to continue with their studies without any hindrance. Students from all faculties of the Jaffna University held mass demonstration at the university more..