Apr 23 (CT) The man who was exposed through several TV channels in an amateur video footage, of abusing Sri Lankan maids in a room at a safe house in Saudi Arabia, has been nabbed, and was produced before court last week. Officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), said the man who was found beating and kicking some maids, has been caught by the SLBFE when he arrived in Sri Lanka. Deputy General Manager of the SLFBE, Mangala Randeniya, said the man, more..

Apr 23 (CT) UNP MP Sajith Premadasa, said Sri Lankan industries are moving their factories to other countries as the govt does not have good industrial policies to boost business, locally. Addressing the media, Premadasa pointed out that one of the main industrial companies in Sri Lanka, Brandix, had recently opened a factory in India as the govt is not giving enough incentives to industrialists. "There were 16,000 employment opportunities when this factory was set up. more..

Apr 23 (CT) Leader of the DLF, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, alleged that Minister Arumugam Thondaman's thugs had attacked Mano Ganeshan during a protest. Nanayakkara said he will inform the President and request that necessary action be taken against the police officers who disrupted the protest organized by the Plantation Trade Union Federation (PTUF), yesterday, at Kotagala. His Party's trade union also took more..

Apr 23 (FT) Brand Finance Lanka, a part of the Brand Finance network, which is a brand valuation and strategy company with its headquarters in the UK, has published its Brands Annual publication recently and Bank of Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s No. 1 bank, set a record for the first time in Sri Lanka by becoming the No. 1 brand in the country for the fifth consecutive year. Brand value of Bank of Ceylon has increased from Rs. 15.19 billion to Rs. 24.15 billion in the year 2013. more..

Apr 23 (CT) Proposed legislation designed to prevent the spread of cults in Sri Lanka could impact the ministries of evangelical churches in the island nation. The Sri Lankan Religious Affairs Ministry "intends to introduce a legislation that enables authorities concerned to take action against anyone distorting the original teachings of the four main religions- Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity." "Evangelical churches are not recognized by the Religious Affairs Ministry more..

Apr 23 (FT) A Colombo Court yesterday directed the former CEO of the Deyata Kirula National Exhibition 2013 to appear before CID today and make a statement regarding the alleged cheating and misappropriation amounting to Rs.39 million. On 4 April, the CEO Kanthi Gunawardana filed an anticipatory bail application in Court to pre-empt the possibility of her arrest over charges levelled by the CID. more..

Apr 23 (Hindu) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to MDMK general secretary Vaiko informing him that the Centre would be in touch with the UAE and the UNHCR in order to facilitate the resettlement of a group of Sri Lankan Tamils in UAE. Mr. Vaiko had written to Dr. Singh, saying that if the 19 Tamils were deported to Sri Lanka, they would be tortured there. The Prime Minister said in his letter that the UNHCR had already arranged resettlement in third countries for some of the Tamils more..

Apr 23 (DM) A driver and a security officer who were working at the residence of a Nawaloka Hospital director were yesterday remanded till May 2 by a Colombo Court on charges of having stolen gold jewellery worth Rs.3.5 million and Rs.15,000 in cash. Hospital Director Harshith Dharmadasa in his complaint to the Kollupitiya police alleged that gold jewellery worth Rs.3.5 million and Rs.15,000 in cash were stolen by two of his employees from his residence located at Ananda Coomaraswamy more..

Apr 23 (CT) The inordinate delay in extracting reports of the tests conducted to ascertain whether a particular brand of full cream milk powder, which Sri Lankans consume, has been contaminated with a hazardous chemical, places the health of the consumers in peril. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), which initially took up the media report on the possibility of the toxic chemical, dicyandiamide, being present in imported more..

Apr 23 (DM) NUF General Secretary and former deputy Mayor of Colombo Azath Sally had been interrogated by the CID on yesterday, Mr. Sally said in a communiqué. It is reported that the inquiry was conducted with regard to alleged spreading of racial and religious discord through cell phone short messages. During the inquiry, Mr. Sally had been questioned regarding a journalist from English media, who was supposed to have sent 27 short messages to create tension among Muslims, more..

Apr 23 (Hindu) Around 300 fishermen with their family members staged a demonstration at Thangachimadam near here on Monday, demanding the early release of 30 Rameswaram fishermen who were arrested on April 6. Led by leaders of various fishermen associations, women and children took part in the agitation, holding banners and placards, urging the Centre and State governments to secure the release of the 30 fishermen, and five fishermen, who have been incarcerated for more than more..

Apr 23 (Island) With a cold war raging between a top CEB official, who is a senior engineer and others at senior management level consisting mostly engineers, the most powerful man in the CEB, General Manager, Nihal Wickramasuriya, has called a meeting in a bid to reconcile those at daggers drawn. Wickremasuriya, who is the senior most engineer in the CEB, said that he was not aware of the latest breakdown which more..

Apr 23 (Island) The CID has launched a probe into the alleged involvement of security forces elements with a criminal gang which organises smuggling of people by boats to Australia. Information had revealed that the gang, in collusion with security forces elements, after taking money from would be illegal migrants for the long and dangerous trip, then tip off the authorities to have them arrested even before they leave Lankan shores. The information about the gang had been obtained by more..

Apr 23 (CT) Two armed persons posing as customers had entered an electricity bills collecting centre managed by Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), located at Nugegoda yesterday, and had reportedly robbed Rs 1,200,000 at gun point, and had fled on a motorcycle, according to Kohuwala Police sources. Police officers investigating the incident said that two persons wearing helmets had pointed a pistol at the cashier and had robbed cash lying inside the drawers. more..

Apr 23 (LBO) The CEB will re-negotiate the heat rate of a controversial 270 MegaWatt power plant, which was brought in to the grid without competitive bidding. Power ministry secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando, responding to questions at a meeting of media heads with President Rajapaksa, Monday said action will be taken to re-negotiate the heat rate of the plant as permitted in its power purchase agreement. more..

Apr 23 (Island) One person was seriously injured and admitted to the Matara hospital following an explosion at a wholesale dealer’s shop in the Akuressa town public market early yesterday morning. The explosion, which occurred between 6.00 and 6.30 a.m. caused severe damage to the shop. The adjoining shops suffered minor damages. The victim was M. A. Chathuranga (28) a soldier. According to eyewitnesses, as the keeper opened his shop they heard a loud explosion more..

Apr 23 (DM) MP Duminda Silva and the third suspect Chaminda Ravi Jayanath were further remanded till May 8 in connection with the killing of former presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Mr. Silva is warded at the Nawaloka Hospital under remand custody. The case was taken up for inquiry by Additional Colombo Magistrate Sandun Vithanana because the bail applications filed before the Colombo High Court has not been considered for bail. more..

Apr 23 (DM) Sri Lanka has dodged a diplomatic bullet by not being included in the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London, to be held on the 26th of this month. External Affairs Ministry secretary K. Amunugama said that Sri Lanka was not on the agenda for the CMAG. In February this year Minister G.L Peiris met Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma to try to dissuade him more..

Apr 23 (DM) An airport has been built right in the heart of a bird and wildlife sanctuary. One fails to understand how permission was given to facilitate such a project. To build an international airport, approval has to be obtained from the International Civil Aviation Organisation based in Geneva. We are told that since the inauguration of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, there have been two reported mid-air collisions between an aircraft and a large flock of birds. more..

Apr 23 (DM) As we know, there are two established methods of reading – on the lines and between the lines. The latter method is often useful when it comes to reading official reports and statements, as well as the bulk of contemporary Sri Lankan journalism. Generally speaking, reports by archaeologists do not need to be read between the lines. Archaeology has been described as a guessing game. It’s better described as an educated guessing game, because an educated more..

Apr 23 (CNN) For Thailand's Queen Sikrisit, the 2007 attack on a minibus in southern Thailand's Yala province - in which suspected Muslim militants shot eight Buddhists through the head in broad daylight - was simply further proof of what she'd been saying for more than three years. "We have to help people there to survive. If they need to be trained, train them. If they need to be armed, arm them," she was quoted as saying by one of more..

Apr 23 (ST) Styling themselves as the young heroes of vigilante justice-type Tamil blockbusters such as “Kuruvi” and “Ayon”, two teenage lovers ruthlessly planned the wickedest of crimes – the murder of parents. Their tempers had reached boiling-point after 47-year-old Sivaguru Raghu had caught them in a bedroom at night. Raghu’s 16-year-old daughter had been known for her promiscuous behaviour, and he had warned her more..

Apr 23 (DN) Cough syrups containing Codeine, Dextromethorphan, Pholcodeine and Dihydrocodeine can only be sold through state Osu Sala outlets. No private pharmacies will be allowed to sell cough syrups containing these chemicals. Cough syrups containing those chemicals can be sold only on prescriptions issued by qualified and experienced MBBS doctors from April 19. more..

Apr 23 (SL) The already cash strapped Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is facing further financial losses due to the transportation of aviation fuel to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport from the Kolonnawa refinery, claim trade unionists. Non-availability of aviation fuel tanks at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport and Hambantota Port has resulted in the CPSTL a subsidiary of CPC, more..

Apr 23 (DN) Renovation of the collapsed staircase at the National Museum, Colombo has to be carried out under the purview of the Archaeological Department as suggested by the committee report. The Committee Report about the collapse of the staircase in the National Museum was presented to Minister Jagath Balasuriya by the Committee Chairman and National Heritage Ministry Additional Secretary D J Samarasinghe more..

Apr 23 (AD) Even though increasing the electricity tariff to cover the losses suffered by the CEB is an easy answer from the govt’s side, it is difficult for the masses, says Minister Wimal Weerawansa. This problem should have been identified early and solved, the Minister told reporters. He stated that power tariff crisis has been dragged on this far due to relevant authorities using temporary solutions for day-to-day survival, more..

Apr 23 (Island) Health Ministry has kept Cuba in the dark over its decision to refrain from importing the dengue mosquito fighting BTI bacteria for aerial spraying. The Cuban Embassy yesterday said that the Sri Lankan Health Ministry had not officially informed it of a decision against importing the Cuban Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) bacteria and it had only got to know of the Ministry’s decision through media more..

Apr 23 (Island) University teachers have planned to resume their agitation and bring all their members to Colombo on May 01 for a fresh protest. President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told The Island that they would launch FUTA’s ‘manifesto’ on the present crisis in the education sector on the International Labour Day, May 1. He said that the FUTA had more..

Apr 23 (CG) Britain has called on the Sri Lankan govt to protect journalists and ensure freedom of expression. British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said that Britain continues to have serious concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka, including in regards to freedom of opinion and expression, and in light of recent attacks on a number of journalists. He said the British Govt is concerned at reports of interference with the programming more..

Apr 23 (CG) Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, has called for “a balanced approach” in addressing the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Noting that “SL remains fully committed to the nuclear non-proliferation commitments of the NPT and have steadfastly and consistently supported the global initiatives on non-proliferation” more..

Apr 23 (CT) Two human rights reports, which have recently been issued by the US State Department and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, have only confirmed the grim reality of our human rights situation. The two reports shed light into a catalogue of egregious human rights abuses and 'widespread impunity' that have come to define the existence of contemporary life in Sri Lanka. The reports highlight the unlawful killings by security forces and paramilitary groups, more..

Apr 23 (CT) Considering that the appointment of the Colombo University Vice Chancellor is still in the melting pot it may not be inappropriate to add a further comment to the discussion originally set in motion by Professor Savitri Goonesekere about the ‘collapse of institutions’ (CT Mar 17) . The interjection of Professor SRH Hoole (CT Mar 20, 26) tended to blur a serious and timely discussion about the politicisation of higher education in some irrelevant detail, trivia and diatribe that more..

Apr 23 (CT) “The Buddhist extremist JHU party looks set to stir up religious tension during this holiday season. Its members have made several ultimatums to the govt and say they will begin a ‘fast-unto-death’ if these demands are not met by Dec 12. The party is also actively planning commemorations for the one-year death anniversary of Soma Thero, an outspoken monk who was a lightning rod for Buddhist extremism. more..

Apr 23 (Island) The mastermind of a gang of robbers who bound and gagged a man in Hulangamuwa and robbed Rs. 4.2 million from his safe was arrested by the Matale police with seven of his accomplices. The police have recovered Rs 4,000,627. The suspects are residents of Padiyapelella, Matale and Menikhinna. Police have taken into custody a vehicle worth four million rupees used for the robbery. The main suspect had destroyed the toy pistol used for the robbery and the pair more..

Apr 23 (DM) A 300-year old wall clock worth Rs. 5.2 million used by Former Finance Minister Ronnie De Mel at his Geekyana Watte bungalow and a 6 ½ foot tall chimney lamp that had been stolen were recovered from two scrap metal dealers in Thebuwana. The robbers who had broken in to the Geekiyana Watte Bungalow had stolen the clock which is partially made of gold and sold it to a scrap metal dealer for Rs.8,000. lamp was also discovered from another scrap metal dealer. more..

Apr 23 (Island) UNP MP Chandrani Bandara recently said that the politicians in Raja Rata were enjoying boat rides on the Malwathu Oya while the residents of the area were dying of kidney ailments. Addressing a protest rally against the spread of the deadly Kidney disease in Medawachchiya she said, "Govt politicians are getting mentally imbalanced and they don’t realize the gravity of the problem. Every family in the North Central province has been affected by it." more..

Apr 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka's gold prices have risen slightly from a week earlier along with a recovery in the international prices, industry players said. On Tuesday a gold sovereign (about 8.1 grams) the most popular benchmark price was quoted around 46,000 rupees for 22 carats, after falling from highs of 54,000 in March, a dealer said. The 8 gram gold biscuit was quoted around 47,500 rupees. The 24 carat mint sovereign was quoted at 48,600 rupees, up about 1000 rupees from a day earlier, more..

Apr 23 (LBO) CEB's recent release of water from its Upper Kotmale reservoir was due to a maintenance requirement and was not intended to benefit a private thermal plants. Nihal Wickramasuriya, general manager of CEB said water in the tunnel of the reservoir was released for inspection under the terms of the contractor who built it. "If we did not do it, the contractor will not take responsibility for defects," more..

Apr 23 (Island) The long-awaited National Medicinal Drug Policy has been submitted to the Attorney-General by the Legal Draftsman with some fresh additions and omissions for his observations. Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka had to appoint a high level committee to prepare the policy which had undergone drastic changes to suit the present-day needs of the Health Sector. Dr. Jayathilaka said that under his close supervision the draft bill had been prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s more..