Jan 25 (SP) The hacker Davy Jones continues to target high-profile websites from Sri Lanka. His latest victim is the official website of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (investsrilanka.com). The site’s entire database, including the details of over 2,000 investors and other “important” documents, has been published on the Internet. “Anyone want to invest in Sri Lanka please contact me because I will more..

Jan 25 (LBO) Sri Lanka will sign up export-import credits of 34 million Euros from Hungary to rehabilitate two water treatment plants supplying the capital Colombo, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. The Hungarian Export Import Bank will provide 16.714 million US dollars to rehabilitate a treatment plant in Labugama and 17.383 million to a plant in Kalatuwawa. There will be 50 percent Hungarian content. more..

Jan 25 (CG) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has met India’s Foreign Minister, Salman Khurshid in New Delhi, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said. The meeting had taken place on Wednesday, a day after the Indian Foreign Minister Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L Peiris. The Indian External Affairs Ministry said at the meeting between Mrs. Kumaratunga and the Indian Foreign Minister both sides discussed more..

Jan 25 (CT) Three earth tremors were experienced in Damana and Wadinagala in the Ampara District today, bringing the number of tremors in the last three months to a total of 36. According to ground reports, the three latest tremors had occurred between 8.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), Dr. N.P. Wijayananda said previously two teams of geologists have more..

Jan 25 (CT) Amidst widespread criticism from political groups, human rights activists and the legal community, Parliament on 22 Jan, debated and passed the ‘Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions)’ Bill with the expected majority votes, 77 to be precise. This legislation, among many other things, will enable the police to detain a person who has been arrested without a warrant, for 48-hour before producing him or her before a Magistrate. And it has ended there. more..

Jan 25 (CT) Mr Chandra Jayarane has urged professional economists to respond to an statement by S.B Dissanayake in the Sunday Observer that in 10 years the per capita income under President M.R would top US$ 10,000. Here is what he said “this story noted below appearing in the Front Page of the Sunday Observer today, meant to fool us and all along with all the citizens of Sri Lanka and make us Venerate with “Sadu Sadhu” and hands above our heads, the Development Strategy that more..

Jan 25 (CG) President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the peace that prevails in the country is enjoyed by the Muslims in all parts of the island. He said this in a statement today to mark Milad-Un- Nabi, the birth of Holy Prophet Mohammed. The President said that the celebrations would be most useful in helping to build unity among people to assist in the success of the development process in the country today. “The teachings of the more..

Jan 25 (CG) Romanian authorities have busted an operation involving the smuggling of Sri Lankans to Romania, the Romanian media reported today. According to the media report a French national of Sri Lankan origin, Nagalingam Santhirarajah, was involved in the racket. He had managed to assist a group of Sri Lankans to cross the Romanian border illegally for 2,500 Euros each. Investigators say 13 Sri Lankans were transported to Romania from where they were to be transferred to France. more..

Jan 25 (AD) The Power and Energy Ministry categorically denied rumours that electricity tariffs will be increased while declaring that tariffs will not be increased in the near future. The Ministry further stated that the recommendations for the tariff amendment will be sent to the Public Utilities Commission. The Public Utilities Commission functions under the President while electricity tariffs can only be increased with the approval of the cabinet, the Ministry stated. more..

Jan 25 (DM) While confirming that an internal inquiry was underway regarding the conduct of govt MPs who refrained from voting for the impeachment motion, Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said it was “entirely an internal party matter”. “The matter was directed by certain members to the Secretary General of the party and it has been dealt with internally. It’s entirely an internal matter of the party” more..

Jan 25 (CG) The police hailed the 119 emergency hotline service following the arrest of two suspects involved in the Mirihana gang rape incident. A statement by the police media unit said that the immediate response by the Mirihana police following the telephone call received on the 119 hotline in connection with the rape incident, helped the police arrest two suspects and also take into custody two three-wheelers. A 47 year old woman was gang raped in Mirihana on Wednesday while more..

Jan 25 (Island) Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday told Parliament that there was no shortage of rice in the country. There was a surplus of rice stocks in the country he said adding that the surplus stocks helped the government to replenish markets, even during the recent drought. There were occasions when surplus rice stocks had been exported but at the moment rice export has been suspended. He said that there were nearly 100,000 tones of paddy in the granaries and more..

Jan 25 (LT) A large number of ballot papers of the 2010 presidential election with the vote marked to ‘Swan’, the election symbol of Gen. Sarath Fonseka, have been found near Kalagedihena MV adjoining Colombo – Kandy road. The official ballot papers found yesterday were of Nuwaraeliya District. Finding ballot papers at various places that should be kept locked in Election Secretariat has given rise to serious more..

Jan 25 (Island) Under the new National Medicinal Drug Act being prepared by the Health Ministry, registered pharmacists, who sell or give on lease their licences to businessmen to run drugs stores, would be prosecuted. National Cosmetic Devices and Drug Regulatory Authority (NCDDRA) Director Dr. Hemantha Beneragama yesterday warned the qualified and duly registered pharmacists to be physically present at pharmacies, where their licences were displayed. more..

Jan 25 (LT) A 19 year old student undergoing training in residential training center of Inamaluwa youth brigade at Dambulla has died of electrocution. The student, P.K.G. Bandara, a resident of Bambaragaswewa in Galewela died while being admitted to Dambulla Base Hospital yesterday at 10.00 a.m. Instructions had been given by an Army officer in duty to cut down a bamboo bush. Six students including the student who was electrocuted had been assigned the work. more..

Jan 25 (PTI) In a case with parallels to the Delhi gangrape, a 47-year-old woman was allegedly raped by four auto drivers near a Colombo suburb evoking a similar sentiment of outrage. Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said they arrested two of the men yesterday after a witness raised an alarm and the authorities were looking for two more suspects. "The victim has been admitted to hospital," Jayakody said adding that the more..

Jan 25 (DN) Converting Sri Lanka into a trilingual country is very important to make reconciliation work better and to implement all important decisions in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’s (LLRC) report, Presidential Advisor and Coordinator to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on English and IT, Sunimal Fernando said yesterday. “All sectors in Sri Lanka have to play vital roles to implement these decisions and to convert Sri Lanka in to a trilingual country. more..

Jan 25 (DN) Chinese ambassodor Wu Jianghao said his country attached great importance to its time-tested relationship with Sri Lanka. He said the two countries have supported each other in times of need and will continue to do so in the future. He also acknowledged the growing mutual political trust and close support extended by both countries in international and regional affairs. Ambassodor Jianghao made the observations after donating US $ 50,000 to the Sri Lanka Red Cross more..

Jan 25 (DN) No LTTE cardre that surrendered to the Security Forces during the final stage of the humanitarian mission went missing, Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said. Commenting on allegations levelled by certain foreign elements that some of the LTTE fighters that surrendered to the Security Forces during the last phase of the humanitarian mission had gone missing, more..

Jan 25 (F2F) Despite some chances of receiving additional export orders due to a shift from China, Sri Lankan garment exports will remain flat this year, according to an expert. Mr. Yohan Lawrence, chairman of Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SAEA), told fibre2fashion, “Sri Lankan clothing exports for this year are likely to remain at last year’s level.” “According to official data, Sri Lanka’s garment exports were down by 7% till November 2012,” he informs. more..

Jan 25 (CT) The pavement along Nelum Pokuna Mawatha bordering the Viharamahadevi Park, opposite the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, John de Silva Art Gallery, the Town Hall, has become a virtual 'open air' art gallery for many aspiring artists, who decorate the fence encircling the park with their colourful and creative work. The artists, many of who are university graduates, can often be seen in the vicinity of their creations, some relaxing, some putting finishing touches to their work. more..

Jan 25 (CI) Two weeks ago, Angelo Mathews may have thought that Saturday's Twenty20 international at the Sydney Cricket Ground would effectively be his first match as Sri Lanka's captain in all formats. He might have dreamed of building his team in the coming years and made mental notes about how each young talent should be fostered. Perhaps he even looked forward to the Bangladesh tour in March as an opportunity more..

Jan 25 (CI) Former Sri Lanka captain Bandula Warnapura is understood to be in the running to be appointed as the next chief executive officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, replacing Ajit Jayasekara, whose term ends on March 31. Warnapura, Sri Lanka's first Test captain, has served the board before, as the director of operations for eight years, before being appointed to his current role as development manager of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2008. SLC sources stated that more..

Jan 25 (PTI) Resurgence of Bihar was widely appreciated in Sri Lanka and the pattern of growth in the state in the last five year is a learning experience, Sri Lanka High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam said on Friday. The work done in the field of art, culture and tourism in the state has impressed Lankan tourists, Kariyawasam said after meeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, according to an official statement here. He said a large number of people from his country visit Bodh Gaya more..

Jan 25 (PTI) In the light of India’s announcement that it could continue to train Sri Lankan military in the country, key UPA constituent DMK today said there was a ‘doubt’ if India was ‘compromising’ on some issues vis-a-vis Sri Lankan Tamils issue to show itself as a ‘neutral’ country. In a letter to partymen, the 88 year-old leader said that since 1956, his party had been consistently voicing support for Lankan more..

Jan 25 (CT) Introducing a pricing formula for electricity will benefit the people, but won’t affect the losses being incurred by the CEB each year, the Power and Energy Ministry said, today. “When considering long term goals, having a pricing formula would definitely be beneficial. As the price of fossil fuel fluctuates in the world market, the same happens in the local market, affecting the production of electricity. But people still pay the same amount per unit of electricity, more..

Jan 25 (CG) Former Sri Lankan cricketer Mahesh Goonatillake has rejected an offer from the cricket board to be a member of the national selection panel, cricket board sources told the Colombo Gazette. Goonatillake was among those nominated to be in the new selection panel and his name was to be forwarded to the Sports Minister. However cricket board sources said that Goonatillake had turned down the offer when he was contacted by the board. ESPN Cricinfo had earlier reported more..

Jan 25 (MoD) "Siyapathwila" a programme aiming at transforming the Police service into a more productive and courteous service was held for the 26th time at the Youth Services Council Auditorium in Maharagama today. Secretay Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The programme was organized by the Additional Secretary (Police and Civil Security) more..

Jan 26 (NS) There are two ways in reading the fall of quality in a maverick: as that person losing his art, or of her arriving at the pinnacle of her powers. A ‘surprise puller’ can afford the cushion of mediocrity once credentials are established and while one is assured of a place on the moon. A recent and more palatable example for this is the last two years of Cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan’s career, where, without pulling a few tricks, he could still afford a place in the team and play for the mega more..

Jan 26 (GV) The Tamil factor is best viewed in terms of its impact on language, culture and social institutions in the country. It is more interesting and rewarding when seen in this perspective than in its political dimension, and less controversial too. One of the Sinhalese terms that has interested me is ‘walauwa’ which refers both to a place as well as to a social institution. It comes from the Tamil word ‘valavu’ which denotes a compound or garden, and, by implication, a large house more..

Jan 26 (SO) Sitting under the scorching sun at mid-day at Keppapulavu village in Mullaitivu, twenty-seven-year-old Wasantha Kumar related horrific stories of a past that was filled with war, misery and blood. Wasantha had been an LTTE cadre who joined the terror group to save his younger cousin sister. “I joined not because I wanted to but I had no other choice,” he said. While living in Udayarkattu in Kilinochchi as a displaced more..

Jan 26 (CT) Good evening, it’s a pleasure to be speaking to you – though I am disappointed not to be able to be there with you in person. Unfortunately, London isn’t quite as good at handling snow as Toronto. I was looking forward very much to celebrating Thai Pongal with you all and to meeting many of you and to learning more about the Canadian Tamil community. I hope I will be able to join you at a future celebration. I would like to thank Danton Thurairajah and the CTC for more..

Jan 26 (CT) Dear all, First, I would like to introduce myself that I am Hiran Gunaratne, Colombo Sri Lanka. The aim of this mail is to express my views on mails I received from ‘lakgunegroup@googlegroups.com’ which is influencing to create racism among our Sri Lankan communities. I believe that my views would bring some result on the matter I am trying to express. The whole purpose of this mail is to make you’ll to understand on very important matter which more..

Jan 26 (DBS) Very recently I travelled to Panama – a remote village between Arugam Bay and Kumana – to meet my old village friends and to visit Kumana National Park. Kumana NP is not so overcrowded like Yala and I was fortunate to photograph a leopard in very close proximity. This may be the most sought after animal in the world. I have travelled in Kenya and no other animal (with all other big names) attracts tourist attention like the elusive leopard. It’s a brutal hunter with more..

Jan 26 (Island) Over Sunday and Monday of last week, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the President of US to serve his second and final term in office. On Sunday, he took his oaths before the Chief Justice to comply with constitutional provisions. The next day, he gave his inauguration address before hundreds of thousands of people who had gathered at Capitol Hill for the occasion. Jonathan Freedland, the UK Guardian’s columnist put it in elegant words: "America on more..

Jan 26 (FT) One week after its installation, the new order at Hulftsdorp is making sweeping changes to the administration of the country’s apex court house. The Supreme Court Registrar Duminda Mudunkotuwa and Secretary to impeached CJ Shirani Bandaranayake, Geethani Wijesinghe will be transferred to Balangoda and Ruwanwella respectively as District Judges effective today. Both officials, requested the transfers, more..

Jan 26 (Island) The govt has, at long last, realised the need to address the question of ethno-religious extremism which has raised its ugly head since the conclusion of the war. Unless this problem is nipped in the bud, the country’s future will be bleak. The J.R. Jayewardene govt had within its ranks a bunch of bigots who stoked the flames of racial hatred freely creating the conditions for an anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983 with the police and the armed forces ordered to let the killing spree run its course. more..

Jan 26 (NS) The Jaffna Music Festival returns to the Jaffna Municipal grounds in March this year. This time around the festival will host an eclectic array of music – including folk, contemporary and classical to name a few. This is a sister event of the Galle Music Festival, which attracted an audience of over 22,000 people over two days in 2012. The Jaffna festival promises to be as exhilarating as the Galle festival bringing together an exciting line-up of musicians, dancers, performers and ritualists. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Today is the Full Moon Poya Day of Duruthu. It is 2556 years and nine months since the passing away of the Buddha. We learn that the Buddha visited this country thrice: the first to Mahiyangana on the Full Moon Poya Day of Duruthu on the ninth month of His Enlightenment and the third and the last to Kelaniya in the eighth year of His Enlightenment. There are 16 significant places of worship of which more..