May 2 (DM) The UNP reformists said that the R. Premadasa policies should be reintroduced to the country to overcome the problems that the ordinary citizens were increasingly burdened with each passing day. UNP MP’s and supporters addressing a gathering of thousands of people expressed this view yesterday at the commemoration of the 19th death anniversary of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa at Hulftsdorp where a statue of more..

May 2 (DN) The Department of Archaeology has begun archaeological activities in the Eastern Province to preserve and rehabilitate cultural and sacred sites of historic importance. Archaeology Department Director Nimal Perera said archaeologists have started rehabilitation and excavation projects at Neelagiri Maha Seya and Deegawapiya archaeological sites in the Lahugala forest reserve. “The development of these sites for the restoration of historic stupas and more..

May 2 (ST) Environmentalists warn the vast coral complex in Kalpitiya -the largest in the island- is in danger of being destroyed due to extensive fishing in and around the area. As many as 160 varieties of coral are found in this region which extends from Kalpitiya to Mannar. A close inspection of the complex indicates the once vast coral fields are fast dwindling and while fishing is a major contributory factor; tourists who visit the area add to the destruction by taking pieces as souvenirs. more..

May 2 (DM) Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera yesterday accused Minister Mervyn Silva and his supporters of misusing council letterheads to write to people asking them to attend a May Day rally. At the monthly PS sessions Mr. Ranaweera said this act only showed the bankruptcy of Kelaniya SLFP organizer Mervyn Silva. “He compares us to insects. But I like to remind him that these insects were capable of getting more than 100,000 more..

May 2 (Island) Member of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Hishantha Athukorala, who earlier rejected Minister of Public Relations and Public Activities Dr. Mervyn Silva as Kelaniya Chief Organizer, after joining the breakaway faction opposed to him a few months ago, yesterday joined Silva’s group at the SLFP May Day rally. Hishantha said that he again pledged his allegiance to Mervyn Silva as he wanted to help the efforts of President Mahinda Rajapkasa in development work. more..

May 2 (SG) There’s a crisis brewing in the island and it does not bode well for the people of Sri Lanka. It seems that lessons that should have been learned following a civil war that lasted for more than 30 years and ended some three years ago, are being quickly forgotten. It all started on April 20 when the chief prelate of the Buddhist temple headed a crowd of Sinhala-Buddhists to the mosque in Dambulla, chanting slogans and demanding its destruction. The reason? Its presence in the area violated the sanctity of the Buddhists. more..

May 2 (Island) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the majority of complaints, received from Tamil speaking parents, during a post-war inquiry, related to children forcibly recruited by the LTTE during eelam war IV. The UNICEF analysis had been carried out in collaboration with the Northern Provincial Department of Probation and Child Care and the Govt Agent of Vavuniya, more..

May 2 (ST) A lorry containing 3,000 kilos of the ayurvedic herb Katuwel-batu -a herb which was being transported from Puttalam to Colombo was taken into custody by the Wariyapola police on April 21. The herbs valued at Rs. 100,000 were seized while being transported to a firm in Colombo. Police allege the transportation of the herb violates the Flora and Fauna Act. But the Department of Ayurveda has said no permit was required to transport the herb. more..

May 2 (Island) A large number of dairy farmers were facing immense difficulties following a decision by the Wildlife Department to ban grazing by domesticated cattle in the Uda Walawe National Park, JHU National Organizer Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said. He said that more than 30,000 water buffaloes and cattle graze in the said area and in turn they contribute immensely to the country’s dairy industry. This move would benefit multinational companies with huge resources, he said. more..

May 2 (Island) Newly formed FSP, Political Wing Convener Chamira Koswatte said that it was high time that the working class selected a new leadership from the Leftist Parties, without further falling into the hands of conspirators and capitalist parties. Addressing the May Day celebrations of the left parties, against imperialism, said that the biggest problem with the people was that they were not aware which class they belonged to. more..

May 2 (Island) The body of a foreigner was found hanging in a night club at Bambalapitiya on Monday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Purna Bhahadur (32), from Kathmandu, Nepal. He was employed as a Disc Jockey at the club. SP Ajith Rohana said that the Bambalapitiya police were awaiting the post mortem report, to proceed with the investigations. He said that the Nepali was believed to have hanged himself in the night club around 2.20 p.m. more..

May 2 (Island) Ahamed Lebbe Nazim, brother of the SLMC Chairman of the Addalachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha, was shot and injured on Monday night at Beach Road in Addalachchenai when he was driving to the town with another man. Nazim, who had been admitted to Addalachchenai hospital with gun shot injuries to the chest area was not seriously injured and had given a statement to the police yesterday. His passenger had escaped unscathed in the attack that took place around 7.00 p.m. more..

May 2 (Island) The JVP, which survived two conspiracies, does not think that the latest one, backed by Australia, too would be successful, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said yesterday. Addressing the JVP May Day rally at the BRC ground, he said not only the party but also the country should not forget the fact that Australia backed anti-Sri Lankan forces via the LTTE’s theoretician Anton Balasingham and his Australian wife Adele. more..

May 2 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to adjudicate itself the pleas of Rajiv Gandhi killers against their death penalty due to the delay of over 11 years in deciding their mercy petitions by the President. A bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi directed that their petitions, pending with the Madras High Court, be sent to it and listed the case for hearing on July 10. The court passed the order on a petition by one LK Venkat seeking transfer of their pleas out of more..

May 2 (DM) The former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka’s wife Anoma said yesterday her husband’s lung condition had improved and he might be released from hospital in the next few days based on doctors’ advice. However Ms. Fonseka said in the event her husband’s condition worsened there were no adequate facilities at the Magazine Prison where he was serving the sentence imposed on him. She said the nebulizer machine in the jail would be of little help to him in case of an emergency. more..

May 2 (Island) Amidst intense criticism from various quarters, the UNP conducted its first ever May Day rally in Jaffna yesterday in conjunction with several political parties, including the TNA. The main meeting, which was held at St. Roche’s ground, commenced with the UNP and TNA leaders Ranil Wickremesinghe and R. Sambandan respectively, raising the Sri Lanka flag to the cheers of a massive crowd. more..

May 2 (Island) Following launch of the Grand Made in Pakistan - Single country exhibition in Colombo, Pakistan’s Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) signed a MOU with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) of Sri Lanka under the patronage of the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo. The MOU aims to encourage mutual understanding and promote business and friendly relations between the industrial, trade and business communities of of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the Pakistan High Commission said more..

May 2 (DN) A 14-day grace period has been given for motor vehicle clearance at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa harbour, before the full clearing charges will be levied, Ports Authority chairman Dr Priyath Bandu Wickrama said. Port charges will not be imposed for the first seven days from unloading and a 50 percent of the port charges will be levied for the next seven days. Vehicle importers will be entitled to a grace period of 14 days before the full clearing charges are levied. more..

May 2 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed that he will not permit international conspirators to create disputes and destabilize the country, under any circumstances. He said Sri Lanka is one of the oldest democracies in the Asian region and honours all kinds of democratic norms and practices. “We will never deny the people’s right to change govts through Universal Adult Franchise,” he said. more..

May 2 (Island) The Doctors against Private Medical Colleges threatens to convene all trade unions in the medical profession on May 12 to form a massive front to request the government to nationalise the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) immediately. Although Health Minister had appointed five members Committee to investigate the affairs of the SAITM, the Committee had not taken legal action against the college. more..

May 2 (Island) Specialist 400 metre runner Chandrika Subashini’s performance at the weekend’s first leg of the athletics league championship at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium at Diyagama was the best performance in the female category, according to an analysis by ‘The Island.’ Although she was a couple of seconds behind the ‘B’ Grade Olympic qualifying standards, she is still the best bet the country has in achieving standards to take part in the forthcoming more..

May 2 (DN) SriLankan and Mihin Lanka airlines would acquire nine additional aircraft to increase its capacity to 30 in the next three years said Chairman SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe. He said that currently both airlines have 21 aircraft and this would be made 30 by 2015. He said that they would also add Seoul to the airline radar by the end of this year and would also increase frequencies to India by the more..

May 2 (SL) The Story of Haresh, the Sri Lankan student who will be a torchbearer during the London Olympics. The opening ceremony of the Olympics is always a glittering tableau which hundreds of thousands of people tune in to watch. The idea is to showcase the culture of the host country; but the real highlight is the symbolic lighting of the Olympic torch. A single, burning flame travels a great distance across the country until it finally reaches the Olympic stadium. more..

May 2 (ST) It was a day with a clear sky and the lagoon offered friendly waves, as the multi-day fishing trawler-Nimesha Duwa chugged out of the fisheries harbour at Negombo, and headed towards the Indian Ocean on the afternoon of September 27 last year. Onboard the vessel were the skipper S.K. Weerasekera and a five-member crew, all experienced fishermen, along with an adequate stock of items ranging from food and water, to medicines, tobacco, alcohol and fuel to last for a period of 30 days. more..

May 2 (IANS) Cinema as a popular cultural mouthpiece is trying to revive itself in Sri Lanka after 30 years of civil war, courtesy a bunch of progressive filmmakers, new stories - and post-production labs in India. The filmmakers are also exploring themes from the life of the Buddha in their search for new subjects. "Normally, we make 20-22 movies a year, including comedies, political and artistic films. Before the civil war, movies were the lifeline of entertainment more..

May 2 (ABC) Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen will head to Sri Lanka today for a three-day visit, to strengthen cooperation among the two nations on the issue of people smuggling. But Human Rights Watch is calling on the Minister to question the Sri Lankan government over its treatment of rejected asylum seekers during his trip as well. Phil Lynch, the executive director of the Human Rights Law Centre, says asylum seekers who return to more..

May 2 (NP) Deportation orders have been issued against two more of the 492 Sri Lankan refugee claimants who arrived off the B.C. coast in 2010 aboard the smuggling ship MV Sun Sea. In separate decisions, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada ordered the expulsion of both men, ruling one had engaged in people smuggling and the other had been a member of a Tamil rebel group. The cases bring to 19 the number of Sun Sea migrants who more..

May 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party has raised concerns over the purchase of stock of a loss making finance company by a state bank at a steep premium over market price. "We note with serious concern the purchase of close to 8 million shares of The Finance Company by the National Savings Bank at 65 percent above its current market price," opposition legislator Harsha de Silva said more..

May 2 (DM) While denying the latest allegations against him, Minister Mervyn Silva said today there was a big conspiracy against him by certain elements. Quoting the Minister, his media secretary Rehan Wijeyratne said the minister urged the media to act impartially and to give a balanced view on the allegations against the minister. "The media has to look at those conspiring against him and the allegations and present a balanced view to the people,” more..

May 2 (FT) Minister Basil Rajapaksa said yesterday that the Govt has taken steps to give plantation workers and their families all the facilities they need and thereby undo the great injustice Western imperialists did to them. It is these very same imperialists who were now shedding crocodile tears over alleged human rights violations, he observed. He was addressing a May Day rally and meeting organised by the CWC more..

May 2 (LBO) The Treasury has repaid most of the money borrowed from the banking system including printed money from the Central Bank to meet seasonal salary needs of state workers. Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said out of a 40 billion rupee one month Treasury bill sold in to the banking system, including the Central Bank, on April 10, 38 billion rupees had been paid back by last Friday. "The nature of this country's economic behavior is the govt pays the salaries of more..

May 2 (CI) West Indies Women made a winning start to the five-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka Women, winning by 23 runs in Barbados. Shanel Daley, who was adjudged player of the series during the ODIs, continued her fine form, top scoring, picking up a wicket and effecting a run out in the game. Useful partnerships from the West Indies top order - 30, 21 and 39 - ensured they set a competitive target for the visitors. Daley narrowly missed her half-century; more..

May 2 (DM) Some importantand largely unknown facts and figures relating to healthcare financing in Sri Lanka and how they tend to retain health as a welfare subsidy or promote it as a market commodity were highlighted by Dr. Joel Fernando of the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine when he gave the memorial oration to mark the first anniversary of the death of one of Sri Lanka's leading patients' rights activists Dr. K. Balasubramaniam. The govt and health more..

May 2 (CT) Ven.Phalagama Somartana, 65, of Dulverton Road, Croydon was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court on today (1), of four counts of indecent assault on a female under 16 between January 1, 1977 and December 31,1978 at an address in Chiswick. He will be sentenced at the same court on 1 June. He was found not guilty of the rape of a female under 16 between January 1,1977 and December 31, 1978 at an address in Chiswick and not guilty of more..

May 2 (DM) Three Chinese nationals including two women who were arrested on charges of staying in the country illegally without valid visas and passports were ordered to be deported by a Colombo Court today. These three Chinese nationals had been arrested by Kollupitiya police when they were found loitering in Kollupitiya. When the three Chinese nationals were produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne, defence counsel Sudarshani Gunaratne submitted that more..

May 2 (Hindu) An all-women delegation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) will arrive here on Thursday, on a 6-day visit to strengthen cooperation in various spheres. The delegation of 15 women entrepreneurs from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkatta is led by Harbeen Arora, President, Creative Living Foundation. The visit is being coordinated by the SAARC Women's Initiative for Peace and Prosperity (SWIPP). The objective of SWIPP more..

May 2 (JS) The value of apparel exports from Sri Lanka soared by more than 20% to break through the US$4bn barrier in 2011, according to the Export Development Board. Exports to number one destination the US were up by 15.8% to $1.59bn, continuing their recovery from the low points of 2009 and 2010, and nearing pre-recession levels. Out of Sri Lanka’s top 10 markets, only the Netherlands fell, with exports down by more than 20%, but more..

May 2 (Xinhua) The Sri Lankan police have arrested a Philippine national with cocaine stashed in his belly, a police spokesman said on Wednesday. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said that the police narcotics bureau arrested the Filipino after he arrived in Sri Lanka from Qatar and later found 30 cocaine capsules in his belly. Based on information received by the police that the foreigner was suspected to be transporting some banned items, officers at the country's more..

May 2 (AN) Fixed-term contracts, dismissals, exploitation and poor wages: in this context, Sri Lanka celebrated May Day, Labor Day, which Anglican bishop Kumara Illangasinghe, retired bishop of the diocese of Kurunegala (North Western Province) described as "senseless" and a "political showcase" in comments to AsiaNews about the situation in which millions of workers in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world live. Yesterday, the govt of President more..

May 2 (CG) The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) detained two journalists this morning for taking visuals and images outside the CCD office in Dematagoda. Swarnavahini cameraman/journalist Indika Sri Aravinda and Randiva newspaper photographer Sajeewa Chinthaka were on duty covering the CCD attempting to quiz the Randiva newspaper Editor and a journalist from the newspaper over a death threat to Hirunika Premachandra, more..