Jan 14 (ST) Sara Saga by Manicasothy Saravanamuttu, first published in 1970 was relaunched at the Tamil Union Boardroom of the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium on Jan 1. The author’s two surviving sons Manicam and Jeyam were present as well as his dear friend Harold Speldewinde, who proposed the toast. Present too were a group of friends from Penang where Mr. Saravanamuttu made his home and distinguished himself during the war and as Editor of the Straits Echo. more..

Jan 14 (Island) Being the first FTA for India and Sri Lanka, the 1998 Indo – Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) carries substantial sentimental value for Sri Lanka. Together, both countries can play a major role in elevating the Indo-Sri Lanka economic relations from the current level to a much higher level, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a statement issued yesterday. It also said that the private sector was upbeat on the outcome of more..

Jan 14 (ST) The response of the political establishment to the killing of a British tourist in Tangalle points to a story as tragic as the murder itself. In the immediate aftermath of the Christmas day incident representatives of both the govt and the opposition have been quoted lamenting its possible fallout on the tourism industry, and expressing regret that the country 'would not be able to reach its target of one million tourists.' It appears that the concern uppermost more..

Jan 14 (Island) The parents of school going children of ten villages comprising Polpitiya, Maddeniya, Parathalawa, Hitigegama, Minuwandeniya, Kehelwarawa, Pallewatte, Kabaragala, Dagampitiya and Pitakanda in the Hatton Education Zone, have appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking his intervention to include Maddeniya Maha Vidyalaya in the Super Secondary school development programme. In their letter to the President, they said that it was a more..

Jan 14 (Island) Trying to recover from their worst ever defeat in one day cricket, the national cricket team ran into fresh problems with Ajantha Mendis injured and Dilhara Fernando ruled out of the tour ahead of today’s second One Day International against South Africa here at East London. Mendis missed Sri Lanka’s the tour of UAE with a back injury and didn’t play any of the Tests against South Africa and finds himself sidelined again after just one ODI more..

Jan 14 (DN) Sri Lanka recorded 674 dengue patients and seven deaths from all parts of the country this year, upto last Thursday. Last year, 28,112 dengue patients and 185 deaths were reported, Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit consultant epidemiologist Dr. Hasitha Tissera said. Addressing the press on the National Mosquito Control Week at the Family Health Bureau yesterday, Dr. Tissera said that 34,000 dengue patients and 246 deaths were reported from the country in 2010. more..

Jan 14 (DM) A man who had allegedly stolen Rs.717 from a charity box placed at the Sambuddhaloka Viharaya in Colombo Fort was remanded till January 20 by a Colombo Court today. Producing the suspect before Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne, the Fort Police said that the suspect Muniyandi Mahalingam of Madulsima had taken part in the robbery with construction workers at the temple. Police further said that a Buddhist monk had seen the incident and made a more..

Jan 14 (DN) Hindi is the second most widely spoken language in the world and is becoming a global language, Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha said. The High Commissioner said that students learning Hindi would benefit from the increasing trade and economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and India increasing connectivity and people to people contacts. "More than 20 percent of all tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka are from India and the number increased by almost more..

Jan 14 (CI) There comes a point in a series when there is nothing but pride to play for. That is usually when a team has disintegrated as much as is possible, or when the games are dead rubbers. Neither of those situations actually exist in the ongoing contest between South Africa and Sri Lanka, but already it feels like pride is all Sri Lanka have to lean on as they enter the second match. Paarl is a place Sri Lanka would like to strike off the map. The number between 42 and 44 will more..

Jan 14 (Island) The Employees Provident Fund had paid its members an interest of less than four percent for the high risk investments it had made in the Stock Market, in 2009 and 2010, an opposition legislator charged yesterday. Eran Wickremeratne, MP and Financial Analyst told The Island that the low rate of four percent had been camouflaged within the overall average of 13 percent, which had been paid during the said two years. more..

Jan 14 (CI) Sri Lanka have had two days to digest, dissect and debate their largest ODI defeat and their lowest ODI score. This is what they have concluded. "We have to just address all areas: our batting, bowling, fielding and mental approach to the game," Geoff Marsh, the Sri Lanka coach, said, covering the entire spectrum of cricketing skills in his analysis. "The whole game [in Paarl], we didn't play well." Marsh's remarks summarised Sri Lanka's problems succinctly; somehow managed to make the huge improvement more..

Jan 14 (DN) The Department of Forests under the Ministry of Environment, with the support of FAO, UNDP and UNEP, took steps towards making forests a major part of Sri Lanka's strategy to combat climate change through the United Nations UN-REDD programme which assists developing countries to prepare and implement their national REDD+ strategies and mechanisms to improve forest governance. Deforestation and forest degradation are part of the main sources of more..

Jan 14 (Island) On average an employee of the CEB gets Rs. 67, 966 as basic salary apart from the allowances, which are more than the salary, informed sources said yesterday in a reaction to CEB Unions rejecting an 18 per cent salary increase offered by the government for the current year. They said it was unfair of the CEB, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, National Water Supply and Drainage Board employees to ask for a hike of 45 per cent. more..

Jan 14 (CT) The UNP stated that the suppressive action taken by the govt is not a solution to the conflicts in universities. The comment was made by UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam at a press briefing held today. He further stated that university students had not faced such issues other than what was faced during the time of the current Higher Education Minister. “The govt is accusing the LTTE of creating an armed struggle with a few university students in order to cover more..

Jan 14 (DM) First year students of the Jaffna University had started jeering at Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake recently when he remarked at a function that there were LTTE activists within the university, a students’ right activist said today. Former convener of the IUSF Udul Premaratne told journalists today that there is an attempt by the govt to brand political opponents as LTTE supporters. “Once someone is branded as an LTTE activist, it is easy for the govt to more..

Jan 14 (DM) Amid speculation in political circles that Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara is likely to be offered the post of Speaker, he said that under no circumstances would he accept that post. The minister said whatever the speculations maybe, he had not been offered any new post up to today. “The post of Speaker must go to a SLFP member. Under no circumstances will I accept the Speaker’s post. more..

Jan 14 (DN) Health Ministry officials will inspect all households and issue a special card to keep a record, with regard to cleaning of households during the National Mosquito Control Week which begins on January 16. According to Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr Palitha Mahipala, the ministry has planned to give more teeth to the Mosquito Breeding Control Act No 12 of 2007. According to Dr. Mahipala, the inspection teams will use the card to record the condition of more..

Jan 14 (BBC) A Tamil Tiger suspect in Sri Lanka has detailed in the court the alleged torture in police custody after being abducted by a white van. Thyagarajah Prabhakaran, 24, a resident of Puttalam, in a petition to the Supreme Court state that he was abducted by a group came in a white van in Colombo, on 04 February, 2009. Thereafter, the officers of police Crime Investigation Division (CID) detained him at an unknown location, which he believes could be in Wattala. more..

Jan 14 (CI) Sri Lanka, like their fellow World Cup finalists, find themselves tumbling down a seemingly endless abyss. And like with India, the big question is whether Sri Lanka are doing anything to arrest their descent. The Durban Test suggested a revival, but in reality that win was down to a magnificent exhibition of in-the-trenches grit from Thilan Samaraweera, and an equally large-hearted effort from Rangana Herath. more..

Jan 14 (Island) DIG Anura Senanayake, making submissions before the Gangodawila Magistrate yesterday, on the unlawful protest march by over 2,000 undergraduates of the Jayawardenepura University, from Wijerama in Nugegoda to Kollupitiya on January 5, said that 90 percent of the marchers were unwilling participants, who were used only as a cat’s paw by certain political elements. The protest march was organised by the IUSF against a bomb attack by an unidentified more..

Jan 14 (LT) The 10th Convention of the Lanka Electricity Board Employees’ Union was held at the auditorium of Public Library in Colombo yesterday (13th) at 10.00 a.m. A large number of members from different parts of the island including the North and the East participated in the event. The key note address of the convention was made by the Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP and President of the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kanthe. more..

Jan 14 (DM) The TNA said that during its recent interaction with African National Congress (ANC) leaders it had sought insights from the findings and recommendations of the Truth Commission of South Africa. The TNA participated in the centenary celebrations of the ANC, which was once led by South Africa’s iconic former President Nelson Mandela. When asked about the visit, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said he and three other TNA MPs, talked to ANC leaders on more..

Jan 14 (Island) Self made business tycoon and Chairman of several blue chip corporates Harry Jayawardena yesterday resigned as the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayanth had confirmed Jayawardena’s resignation but the Minister was not available for comment as he was at a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees. The case against Jayawardena was building up with the Minister calling for an audit on a controversial more..

Jan 14 (Island) President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured SLFP seniors that his elder brother, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, wouldn’t succeed D. M. Jayaratne as the Prime Minister. Political sources said that President Rajapaksa had moved swiftly to reassure ministers in the wake of speculation that Chamal Rajapaksa was about to be elevated to the post of Premier at the impending Cabinet reshuffle. Alleging that this was an attempt to undermine his administration, an irate President blamed a member of his Cabinet of causing the political chaos. more..

Jan 14 (Island) The expert committee, appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to probe the 2011 GCE (A/L) exam results mix-up, has said in its report that given the reliance of the UGC on the results of the A/L exam for University admission, the formula to be used in determining the common indicator (the use of the z score calculation) should be decided by the UGC after careful and wide consultations. more..

Jan 14 (Island) The house of the second suspect, now in remand custody, over his role in the killing of four persons of one family at Katiyawa in Eppawala, was set on fire at midnight on Thursday by an unidentified gang. A three-wheeler parked in the premises too was burnt. Neighbours had managed to save two hand tractors, the refrigerator, water pump and 30 bags of paddy from the fire, the police said. The house belonged to M. P. Weerasinghe of the Navy, the second suspect in more..

Jan 14 (Island) An 11-member Sri Lankan youth delegation will participate in the 24th Ship for World Youth (SWY) programme which will be held from Jan 18 to Mar 5. The SWY programme is operated by the Japanese govt and involves youth from Japan and countries around the world. The Sri Lanka National Youth Services Council, is coordinating with the Japanese Govt to organise this year’s Ship for World Youth Programme. Sri Lankan youth had engaged in the SWY Programme since more..

Jan 14 (WA) Legitimate refugees, including toddlers, are imprisoned indefinitely. Only ASIO knows why and it will tell no one, writes Kirsty Needham. 'I live like a dead man walking,' says Suvenran Kathirdamathambi, or 'Sutha', 32. 'This is supposed to be the golden period in anyone's life - your 20s and 30s. But I can't even say when the day starts.' Sutha is married, but his wife lives alone in Sri Lanka, unable to tell anyone she has a husband who more..

Jan 14 (DN) One of the main aspects of the global economy is the euro zone crisis. Several countries in the EU namely Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Italy were threatened with financial collapse. The main reason for this is that these countries carry a huge impact on social and welfare programmes, said Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama. He was interviewed by Daily News Business for the new feature starting today. more..

Jan 14 (Island) University teachers, who met officials of the Higher Education Ministry last evening, for about three hours, to discuss outstanding issues, expressed satisfaction at the outcome but said they would go ahead with the scheduled token strike on January 17. President of the FUTA Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said that the ministry officials accepted their demands, including a wide ranging discussion on ‘the private university bill’. more..

Jan 14 (Island) Mass Media and Information Secretary W. B. Ganegala yesterday said that no one would be allowed to operate more than one news website under any circumstances. He said that 27 operators had received their licenses from Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, at the ministry, following a thorough inquiry conducted by the ministry with the assistance from relevant govt agencies. more..

Jan 14 (DN) The govt always respects the right to disapprove, disagree and completely reject an opinion but nobody has the right to insult another, said Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. He was speaking at a ceremony held at the ministry premises yesterday to hand over registration licences to 27 websites under the govt’s new requirement to register all websites that report information and incidents related to Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 14 (GDI) Sri Lankan ministry of External Affairs is making preparations for oral presentations to UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) during this to establish county's outer limits of the Continental Shelf beyond the present 200 nautical miles. United Nations Convention on the law of the sea required state parties to submit geological and scientific data and Sri Lankan Cabinet of ministers more..

Jan 14 (DM) The Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera said political leaders in the country should discourage Buddhist monks from taking to politics. “I am not for or against monks doing politics and we can’t ask them to refrain from doing so. It is much better for political leaders to discourage the monks from entering the political arena,” the prelate said.He expressed these views when UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa met more..

Jan 14 (DM) The plastic crate law will come into force tomorrow after the lapse of one month's Presidential grace period since the massive protest campaigns that crippled the transportation of fruits and vegetables creating an overnight shortage and price hike. The Trade Ministry said it would implement the law from Sunday following the lapse of a months' grace period. Although the Ministry previously announced eight vegetables would more..

Jan 14 (DM) The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) urged the govt to release immediately the Dhara Wijetilaka committee report that probed the GCE A/L results fiasco as there was an attempt to convince the country that the results were correct. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said even Prof. R.O. Thatil, who devised the Z score had pointed out that calculating scores of answer papers of both old and new syllabuses of the GCE A/L exam under one format was more..

Jan 14 (Island) Is the ongoing simmering internal dispute in the JVP real or a clever ruse to attract those opposed to the Rajapaksa regime, but are disappointed with both the main Opposition party the UNP and the JVP? Is it possible for the JVP to utilize the perceived split to re-build the party, which has experienced a series of debilitating setbacks at Parliamentary, Provincial Council and the recently concluded LG elections? The JVP, which contested the LG polls on its own, failed to secure at least one council, more..

Jan 14 (DM) While Hindus celebrate the harvest festival of Thai Pongal tomorrow it might be an appropriate time for political leaders to honestly reflect on what has been done or what has not been done to build the foundation for a sustainable peace with justice. Many independent analysts believe that what we have now -- more than two-and-half years after the end of the war -- is a negative and fragile peace. The war or the armed conflict between govt troops and the LTTE ended in May 2009. more..

Jan 14 (CT) One person died and 21 others were injured when a private bus which veered off-lane collided with a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus head-on along the Colombo-Kandy road at Dummaladeniya, Police sources said. Police spokesperson SP Ajith Rohana said that the injured were admitted to Kegalle and Warakapola hospitals. Twelve of those injured were admitted to Kegalle hospital while the others were admitted to Warakapola hospital, he said, adding that more..