Mar 31 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's foreign inflows appear to be robust with remittances and tourist earnings leading the way during the first quarter of 2012, latest data from the Central Bank showed here on Thursday. Workers' remittances in March amounted to 550 million U.S. dollars, up 9.2 percent year-on-year whilst for the first quarter it grew by 17.2 percent to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, the bank said in its latest statement. more..

Mar 31 (GDI) The Sri Lankan High Commissioner for the U.K., Dr. Chris Nonis has been appointed to the Commonwealth Advisory Panel of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Trust. The establishment of the Trust was announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia in 2011, but was launched officially on 6th February 2012 – the 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession. Former British Prime Minister the Sir John Major is Chairman of its Board of Trustees, more..

May 31 (GDI) Ahmed Saleem, Secretary General of the SAARC during his visit to Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 28 at the Temple Trees. The Secretary General appreciated the role of President Rajapaksa's leadership in SAARC as a past Chairman of the SAARC, praised him for bringing peace to Sri Lanka and also appreciated the successful achievements of Sri Lanka in the post conflict phase under his leadership. more..

May 31 (CT) The office of the Matale Superintendent of Police has reported 28 cases of child abuse in May alone in the Matale District. Among those abused were eight school children and one girl who was found to be pregnant. Most of the reported cases are from Dambulla, Matale, Naula, Mahawela, Laggala and Rattota police divisions. Parental negligence has been noted as the main reason for child abuse in the Matale District. Police Women’s and Children’s Bureau have more..

May 31 (DM) The UNP yesterday charged that the country would face dire economic consequences if it went ahead with another IMF loan of US$500 million as a security arrangement which the govt had requested for recently. UNP MP Eran Wickremaratne said this in response to a statement by Minister Sarath Amunugama who said on Wednesday that the govt would begin negotiations for another IMF loan. more..

May 31 (CT) Samples of tin fish products and imported frozen fish are being tested by the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) for radiation caused by the Fukushima Nuclear Plant explosion last March. Parts of the ocean strip surrounding Sri Lanka may also have been affected following the explosion that resulted in radiation entering the sea surrounding Japan, according to the Ministry of Health. Taking this into consideration, the Ministry of Health and more..

May 31 (CT) The Inter-University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) yesterday vowed to continue its strike until a favourable solution was offered by the govt. IUTUF Chairman R.M. Chandrapala said despite the Ministry of Higher Education granting another discussion with the non-academic staff on 5 June, the academics will continue their agitations. On 22 may, the non-academic staff launched a 22 hour token strike to pressurize the govt to resolve their salary anomalies. more..

May 31 (BN) Sri Lankan inflation accelerated to a nine-month high in May, fanned by currency weakness that makes imports costlier. Consumer prices in Colombo, increased 7 percent from a year earlier after gaining 6.1 percent in April, the Department of Census and Statistics said. The median of seven estimates in a Bloomberg News survey was for a 6.5 percent advance. Sri Lanka kept interest rates unchanged this month after two increases in 2012 more..