Apr 22 (SO) Anuradhapura is an ancient city with a history that spans over thousands of years. It was once the capital of Sri Lanka, and is full of artefacts and historic temples. Anuradhapura even today has withstood the test of time and many tourists throng the area to view its splendour. In this backdrop, a gruesome fratricide story unveils from Illukkulama in Anuradhapura. Forty-three-year- old Jayakody was a farmer who faced many hardships in his life. His youth was, however, a happy one, more..

Apr 22 (FT) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is up in arms over the steep rise in electricity tariffs, warning that it will result in a sharp fall in profitability in addition to impacting exports and services sectors. “The new tariffs will entail significant increase in electricity costs for all industry sectors. On average, the increase is estimated at around 20%-30%. It will be difficult for businesses to absorb such an increase and it will result in more..

Apr 22 (Island) The Sabaragamuwa Uni, which had remained closed for the last three weeks, would re-open for the new intake today, Vice Chancellor Prof. Mahinda Rupesinghe said. He said that the university would re-open for other students after completing the orientation course for freshers. "We have decided to re-open the university only for the new batch to prevent ragging," Prof. Rupesinghe said, adding that the university would most probably re-open for other students on May 06. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Jean Jacques Cattier arrives in Sri Lanka today to launch one of the world’s most luxurious multiple award winning champagnes in Colombo. Jean-Jacques Catt-ier, President of Champagne Cattier, enters the Sri Lankan market on its 250th anniversary to host an exclusive launch in partnership with Global Brands, introducing the luxury brand to Sri Lanka. The Cattier family have owned and cultivated the family vineyards since 1763 and today, the house has achieved more..

Apr 22 (DN) Romania appreciates the rapid progress being made in every sphere since the eradication of terrorism in Sri Lanka, and has no doubt that the prevailing climate of stability enables significant strengthening of Romania’s political and economic relationship with the country, Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean said in Bucharest on Friday. He made these comments during bilateral discussions with Minister G L Peiris at the more..

Apr 22 (SO) Labour and Labour Relations Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the proposed trade union protest tomorrow over the plantation Collective Agreement (CA) may be politically-oriented and not worker-welfare-oriented. From the inception, the biennial CA on the wage increase for plantation workers had been signed between Trade Unions having over 40% membership and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), representing the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), more..

Apr 22 (DN) The National Transport Commission (NTC) received over 300 complaints from passengers regarding the inter-provincial special private bus service operated during the festive season. An NTC spokesman said a majority of complaints related to overcharging bus fare. He said among other complaints were the failure to return the balance to passengers, being discourteous to commuters, failure to follow a timetable, overloading, operating not road worthy buses, delay in more..

Apr 22 (Island) Organisers of an agitation demanding an enhanced wage hike for estate workers, scheduled to be held at the Kotagala town yesterday, had to shift their campaign to Pathana Junction owing to a counter protest staged by the supporters of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, who had accepted the recently agreed collective agreement with the employers. The agitation march, demanding an enhanced pay hike, organized more..

Apr 22 (Island) The JVP said that its lawyers would include the relatives of those who disappeared, during the 1987 – 89 period in the Matale District, as witnesses in the mass grave case, which is being heard at the Matale Magistrate’s Court. Party propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath siad that since forensic and archeological experts had confirmed the skulls and skeletal remains, unearthed from the mass grave on the Matale hospital grounds, belonged to the ‘87 – ‘90 period, more..

Apr 22 (SO) A sizeable portion of Padaviya Forest reserve is being readied to be apportioned to the Mahaweli Authority for human settlements, the Environment Conservation Trust (ECT) alleged. According to the ECT the extent of the allotted forest is about 12,900 hectares (31,875 acres) and the Forest Department has already prepared the gazette notification in this regard. The environmentalists appeal to the Environment Minister and the Head of Forest Department to stop the forest area more..

Apr 22 (GDI) The tile industry which was on the decline has been revived under Divi Neguma national programme thus opening avenues of employment for over 10,000 people. This follows 156 tile factories resuming operations. Following this over 20 million tiles required for the houses of 30,000 low-income families have already been purchased by the Divi Neguma national programme according to Minister Basil Rajapaksa. more..

Apr 22 (SLBC) The Movement for the Protection of Motherland will launch a countrywide programme to assist poor families and the children in such families. The Chairman of the Movement Venerable Muruththetuwe Ananada Thero said that under this programme 25,000 rupees will be provided to poor families with more than 5 children. In addition to this these children will also be given scholarships up to the University level. The Venerable Thero said that this programme will start in the Wesak more..

Apr 22 (DN) The wealthy Western countries are trying to create a controversial situation among Asian countries, Palestinian Religious Affairs Minister Dr Mahamoud Al Habbash said. According to the Minister from the recent past, the Western nations launching a massive campaign to create a crisis situation on in peaceful Asian countries by employing various tricks. He said so when he met Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at PM's Official Residence at Visumpaya on April 9. more..

Apr 22 (CT) The Govt Medical officers Associations (GMOA) have threatened to go on an all island strike next week demanding the discrepancies in their promotions be rectified. GMOA Spokesman, Dr. Navin De Zoysa, said they will go on an all island strike on Friday as they are being unfairly treated by the govt. He said that contrary to the Public Administration Circular doctors in Grade 2 are expected to serve for more..

Apr 22 (Island) Four persons, including a child, who were travelling in a three wheeler and a van, were killed when the two vehicles collided head–on at Kalagedihena yesterday evening. According to the police the three wheeler carrying four people including its driver collided with a Colombo bound van at about 4.30pm on the Kandy – Colombo road. Two women and a child, residents of Malwana, who were in the three-wheeler were killed along with the driver of the van. more..

Apr 22 (Island) Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga demanded to know why Power and Energy Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi continues to keep silent on the electricity price hike, which had hit all consumers below the belt. "She, as the subject minister, must tell the nation why such a price hike – which is of unprecedented proportions - had been effected. It funny that Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is trying to give answers in a bid to mitigate the sufferings," more..

Apr 22 (CT) Thousands of illegal Sri Lankan migrant workers who gathered under the Sarbia Bridge in Jeddah have been granted amnesty to leave the country. This follows the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), having talks with the Saudi Arabian Govt to release Sri Lankan nationals assembled under the bridge following Saudi authorities' annual cracking down on illegal migrant workers. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Railway employees will launch a 48 hours islandwide token strike from midnight tomorrow demanding a salary increment. Convener of the Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) of Railway Employees, Janaka Fernando, said they had informed President's Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Minister of Transport, Kumara Welgama, and other relevant authorities about their trade union action. Fernando said they had many discussions with the officials of Salary and Cadres Commission, more..

Apr 22 (DN) Three new pest resistant rice varieties have been introduced by the Ambalantota Rice Research Institute. Two varieties of Basmathi rice, At 306, At 405 and a Nadu variety At 05-1382 have been developed. These rice varieties can be used for the manufacture of biscuits. At 306 is a three month white rice variety with a pleasant smell and 130 bushels could be reaped from one acre. This variety is very sticky since the Amailose content of this rice variety is below 20%. more..

Apr 22 (DN) Pitney Bowes Ltd the world's largest mailing solutions company, has decided to host their Annual Sales Leadership Conference 2013 in Sri Lanka. Amidst competition from the whales of the ocean such as Walkers Tours and Jetwing Travels, Browns Tours was able to secure the deal and Browns Tours is proud to host the Pitney Bowes Annual Sales Leadership Conference in Sri Lanka from April 24 to 27. more..

Apr 22 (Island) The JVP would launch its newest street protest, Pandam Virodaya, against the recent electricity tariff hike, from Maharagama tonight. JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath said that they would take to the streets of Maharagama at 7.00 p.m. with burning torches (pandam) and stage a demonstration. The recent electricity tariff hike was unbearable for ordinary people as they were already battered by the sky–rocketing cost of living, he said. The JVP would organise countrywide more..

Apr 22 (FT) Despite two-thirds of April being gone, Sri Lanka Tourism has failed to release data of tourist arrivals for the months of February and March, raising concerns in the industry. Only January tourism statistics have been published so far, listing arrivals of 97,411 tourists in the country, a 13.4% increase from January last year. Given the fact that questions over accuracy have been raised with regard to the arrival of one million tourists last year, the delay in February and March data more..

Apr 22 (CT) The unprecedented electricity tariff hike introduced by the CEB last week has met with stiff opposition from many quarters of the polity, with a group of senior members of the govt and a large number of backbenchers expressing serious concern about the crippling price revision to President Rajapaksa. Several opposition parties, including the UNP and the JVP, have also expressed strong opposition to the price hike, more..

Apr 22 (DM) Following a groundbreaking decision by an outbound tourist service provider to call for explanation from an employee, who is alleged to have used a Facebook account to post material of a nature that can generate religious hatred, several prominent entities in the corporate sector are reported to be considering tough action against employees, who similarly cross the lines of propriety in social media domains. While laws and other mechanism to deal with transgressions are more..

Apr 22 (DM) For decades, the woeful performance of Sri Lankan public service was subject to fiery debate. Even Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama commented a few months back that the quality of the public service has not increased in line with the increase in the number of public servants. Today, we have over 1.3 million employees, including the security services. Over 30% of public expenditures (about 7% of GDP) are on public sector emoluments. more..

Apr 22 (NIP) In an unusually direct attack on the system of governance in Sri Lanka, the US State Department’s report on human rights in the island nation for the year 2012 explicitly states that the Lankan govt is dominated by President Rajapaksa’s family. “The govt is dominated by the President’s family; two of the President’s brothers hold key executive branch posts as Defence Secretary and Minister of Economic more..

Apr 22 (SL) It all started with a Facebook group titled ‘Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena’. A tense situation developed last Friday (19) as members of this group gathered in front of the Buddhist Cultural Centre on Sambuddatva Jayanthi Mawatha. The people planned to hold a candlelight vigil in front of the building at 7 p.m. During the vigil, the gathering planned to chant stanzas from the Subashithaya, which more..

Apr 22 (Island) As a precautionary measure, in the even of a leak at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, in Tamil Nadu, the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) has begun a radioactive material study of existing Sri Lankan soil and the sea around the country. AEA Chairman Dr. Ranjith Wijewardena said that the AEA had chosen 100 locations countrywide for the radioactive material study and also different locations in Sri Lanka’s more..

Apr 22 (DM) JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka spoke to the Daily Mirror on a range of topics including the reports of a leadership change in the JVP, the Northern Provincial Council Elections and means of managing ties with India. Q: There have been reports that there is going to be a change in the leadership of the JVP, is there any truth to this? A: Media people like to create stories about a change in the leadership of the party more..

Apr 22 (Island) The sabotaging of a contract to purchase of four air quality testing machines from the Czech Republic for Rs. 120 million in June last year, in favour of buying the same equipment at an enhanced price, under a govt to govt deal has left the Central Environmental Authority red faced as it is yet without proper air testing equipment and the allocated funds have been taken back by the Treasury. more..

Apr 22 (AN) A Saudi sponsor, who spent SR 20,000 to recruit a servant from Sri Lanka, was shocked to find that his new maid was three months pregnant on arrival in the Kingdom. Saroja Pushpavalli (not her real name) from Maskeliya in Sri Lanka, came to Riyadh two weeks ago and her sponsor found that she was pregnant when she underwent medical tests in the capital. The Saudi sponsor handed her to the SL Embassy more..

Apr 22 (CT) Following the electricity tariff hike, another cost of living increase is in the offing with the Minister of Private Transport Services forwarding a Cabinet Paper seeking approval for an 8% increase for bus fares. Minister C.B. Ratnayake, said bus fares would be increased following Cabinet approval. The Cabinet proposal has been made in response to the demands made by the Lanka Private Bus Owners' more..

Apr 22 (GDI) Sri Lanka joins over one billion people in 192 countries in celebrating the 2013 Earth Day that falls today, April 22. The main event in Sri Lanka was held this morning at the Battaramulla Jana kala Kendraya (Folk Art Center), under the patronage of the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. A walk too was organized starting from Kimbulawala Junction to the Folk Art Center. This year's Earth Day, coordinated globally by more..

Apr 22 (ST) The discovery of more than 300 weapon parts at a scrap metal dealership in Madampe has raised suspicions of a growing trade in firearms smuggled out from former war zones. The haul includes reusable parts of T56, T81 and 84S assault rifles, light machine guns and revolvers. Also detected were parts of largely obsolete self-loading rifles (SLRs) and G3s. A Colombo-based ballistics expert who viewed photographs more..

Apr 22 (LBO) A hike in power tariffs has had a minimal impact on low users, and a fuel surcharge will be phased out from early next year as two more coal plants come on stream. Power minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said 1.1 million households that used up to 30 units of electricity a day would only have to pay about 75 rupees extra even with the fuel surcharge. About 1.3 million households that used between 31 to 60 units more..

Apr 22 (CT) Sri Lanka govt calls them Rata Viruwo in Sinhala language meaning Expatriate Heroes or more meaningfully Foreign Employee Heroes. True, the govt must worship them in the morning and in the evening because they are the primary donors for the politicians’ extravagances. They are the major foreign exchange source of the island economy. Minister Dilan Perera says in the Ministry website, having received about US $ 4.1 billion in 2010, “remittance income is by far more..

Apr 22 (CT) The postal service, which is one of the worst affected sectors in the Northern Province due to the three decades of war, will be revived effectively, according to the Minister Douglas Devananda. He was the Chief Guest at the opening of a new post office in Palai, Jaffna, last week. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Devananda said: “Various State sector institutions including the postal service saw a complete breakdown in the North due to the conflict. more..

Apr 22 (GDI) President Rajapaksa distributed land deeds to 3,000 farmer families in the Mahaweli L Zone under the theme of "Farmland Rights for you who give Golden Harvest to the Nation", at a ceremony held at Sampath Nuwara Mahaweli grounds in Weli Oya on Saturday. Addressing a large gathering, the President said that the govt is planning to hold elections to the Northern Provincial Council shortly, more..

Apr 22 (CT) If last week's news reports are anything to go by, all tourists who enter Sri Lanka are to be 'registered,' ostensibly for their own safety. Following the line of thinking, who's to say that one stream of this short-sighted policy of 'tracking' will not be followed by a process of fingerprinting as well? These are signs of a closed-society mentality, a country on a fast track to becoming a 'Police State,' reminding one of those 'Soviet Bloc' societies whose citizens were prisoners in their own land. more..

Apr 22 (DN) The Anuradhapura district farmer organizations have appealed through a combined request to draw attention to start a fruit processing factory in Anuradhapura district. Nachchaduwa Farmer Organization Chairman D T M Punchibanda said this issue was taken up at several occasions at the District Agriculture committee sessions. Anuradhapura Govt Agent Mahinda Seneviratne said the proposal to establish a fruit processing factory in the district was a fruitful investment more..