June 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India would convey its views on alleged attempts by political parties in Sri Lanka to repeal the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, after considering its implications. "While this is a matter on which a decision will be taken by various political parties within Sri Lanka, we will certainly consider its implications and make known to the Sri Lankan authorities our views in the matter," more..

June 17 (CG) The police is investigating an attempt by some individuals who extort money from people claiming they are from the CID or TID. Police said that complaints have been received by individuals who have been threatened over the telephone for money. The caller claims he is part of the CID or TID and is investigating an allegations raised against the telephone call receiver. The caller then says in order to forego the investigations the person should pay a huge sum of money. more..

June 17 (Island) Two nurses training schools had gone to rack and ruin, making life miserable for the trainees and the tutorial staff, the Public Service United Nurses Union (GSUNU) said. The union’s General Secretary S. Boralessa accused the Health Ministry of not taking action to develop the nurses training schools in Hambantota and Matara. The conditions at the two schools left much to be desired as some of the basic facilities were not available, he said, noting that the prevailing conditions at more..

June 17 (LT) “Our country has natural resources as well as human resources that could be used to develop the country. However, the govt has cast aside all this. Natural resources are destroyed. Some are sold to foreign countries without any consideration for their value. The youths in the country are unemployed. As such, they strive to go to Korea or Australia by bribing govt politicians. Many succeed in getting jobs this way. more..

June 17 (CT) The undergraduates of the Sri Jayewardenepura University (SJU), Medical Faculty, have decided to boycott lectures until such time the final decision with regard to the disciplinary inquiry conducted against the 25 undergraduates subjected to temporary suspension is announced. The undergraduates had held a demonstration on 5 June raising objections over the readmission of a group of sacked Peradeniya medical students sans any transparency. Following this demonstration, more..

June 17 (Island) A youth who approached a woman yesterday and sought her permission to marry her underage daughter, flew into a rage and stabbed her to death, on being told that the girl was too young and still schooling. The killing took place at Kotuwala, Wellampitiya. Police had arrested the 20-year-old suspect with the knife used to commit the crime. The victim, Anusha Maduwanthie (31), had died on the spot and the 14-year old schoolgirl is said to be in a state of shock. more..

June 17 (GDI) The website www.chogm2013.lk which would provide information relating to the Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting to be held in Sri Lanka in the month of November was launched at the Ministry of External Affairs under the chairmanship of the Minister G.L. Peiris this morning. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Deputy Minister Neomal Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information more..

June 17 (DN) Three suspects wanted in connection with a murder in Kapuwella, Botalagama in the Meegahathanna police division were apprehended due to the detection talents of a mastiff named Grero of the Horana Police Kennel. The victim W.D.Piyathilaka, 40, was a resident of Kapuwella, Botalagama. Grero who was brought to the scene by constable H.M.D.Duminda of the Horana Police Kennel, had followed a trail picked up from an item apparently left behind by the suspect, more..

June 17 (EAR) The govt successfully deflected attempts to move the CHOGM scheduled for November out of Colombo, and secured promises of participation from UK’s Cameron and India’s Singh. This was a diplomatic success in the aftermath of the setback at the UN Human Rights meeting in Geneva in March. CHOGM also earn President Rajapakse a two year stint as head of the Commonwealth which will show on his CV. But it has all turned into a curate’s egg, creating more..

June 17 (CG) Korea says it is impressed by Sri Lanka’s rapid economic development and said that the Sri Lankan economic development shares similarities with Korea’s past. Paek Il-Hyun, Director General of the International Development Assistance Division of the Prime Minister’s Office of the Republic of Korea said that Sri Lanka has made significant economic development in the past few years despite more..

June 17 (W24|7) Nilanga Senanayake of Sri Lanka was crowned “Mrs Asia International 2013” in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia last week. She won the title in which beautiful women from 30 Asian countries contested, reports Gossiplanka. Nilanga was also adjudged the ‘Best Model Look’ at the event. This is the second time a Sri Lankan woman has won this crown. Earlier, Mrs Shreemali Fonseka had won the title. Nilanga, aged 23, is a professional beautician. She hails from Kalutara and was more..

June 17 (LBO) International and regional educators will come together in Colombo to debate international higher education issues at a first in a series of global forum, the British council said. “Global education dialogues are organized around the world to bring together key policy-makers and influences so that they can reflect on and debate the challenges and opportunities facing international higher education,” British Council, an international organization for cultural and educational more..

june 18 (NS) LSSP Leader and UPFA MP Tissa Vitharana states that the 13th Amendment is already ‘weak’ and as such there’s no reason to panic. He doesn’t point out that the 13th A is a travesty of justice and amounts to the most monumental affront to democratic process in its enactment, never mind the fact that the one time ‘sole representatives of the Tamils’, the LTTE, and its rabble-rousing rump abroad don’t see it as ‘solution’. What is funny though is that Tissa is actually making a case more..

June 18 (SL) Sri Lankan politics is stage managed well so much so that we go on from crisis to crisis forgetting what happened to the others before and being blind to the stark reality of the rising cost of living burdening the people. Right now most political parties are devoting their attention to devolution – the 13th Amendment – forgetting the vehement opposition of the media shown to the proposed Code of Ethics for Journalists in the last two weeks. This Code of Ethics remains on the more..

June 18 (NS) The families of failed revolutionaries (or terrorists, extremists and insurgents if you prefer that nomenclature) tend to be a far cry from beds of roses, especially if the particular individual has perished in battle. The near and dear of those who are successful in capturing power are talked about. Others fade away and become less and less newsworthy. In the aftermath of the LTTE military leadership being more..

june 18 (NS) Nandawathi, affectionately known as Nanda, is a candle seller at the St Anthony’s Shrine in Dalupotha. Nanda, who greets her customers with a warm smile, also makes it a point to say Jesu Pihitai (May Jesus bless you) to them, at the end of each transaction. With new players entering the market however, Nanda said that her job is becoming more challenging by the day. Also, standing from dawn to dusk, and running behind vehicles to somehow keep up with daily more..

June 18 (Island) Over 25% of Sri Lanka’s Small and Medium Enterprises have collapsed over the past two to three years amidst grueling financial hardships, including Bank Interest rates on loans which have soared to 20%. This is most unfortunate considering that the SME sector is the "backbone" of the country’s economy accounting for 75% of the Gross National Product. The appeals of the SME sector for relief from their financial pressures have fallen on deaf ears. more..

June 18 (Island) The TNA has repeatedly pointed out the consistent and continuing failure of the Sri Lankan govt to fulfil its promises to the peoples of Sri Lanka. The proposed amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution––currently the only concession to any form of devolution in Sri Lanka––is yet another example of this. Perhaps, the most significant of the govt’s broken promises are those relating to a political settlement. more..

June 18 (CT) Shortly after I returned to Sri Lanka, in an effort to protect vulnerable crops from all kinds of vermin, I sought, with the assistance of a schoolmate of mine, a permit to purchase a single barrel shotgun (SBBL). This was one of two requests I had of this old friend, a senior cabinet minister then (and now). The other was a request that “something” be done about the now-notorious and completely illegal garbage dump in our vicinity. Better than ten years have passed more..

June 18 (CT) Initial post war reconciliation expectations are now totally failed In Sri Lanka as the attempts are taking to dilute the powers of the provincial councils in the eve of the northern provincial council election. Thus national question that was manifested in the Sri Lankan political landscape since early 1920’s will be remained in continuity. Historically, the issue was further aggravated with the introduction of electoral methods in the early legislative councils more..

June 18 (CT) On an otherwise usual morning on 24 May, a caller alerted the Dompe Police about a naked bullet ridden body of a man, dumped in a thicket in Meepawita. The locals failed to identify the victim, who was shot in the head and the mouth. The body was transferred to the Gampaha Hospital and the initial police investigations led nowhere. That murder could have been tucked away in a long list of unresolved more..

June 18 (Island) A string of debilitating battlefield setbacks that the Syrian rebels have suffered during the last few weeks has prompted the US to declare that it will arm them. One is intrigued. The US and the EU insist that they have not yet supplied arms to the Syrian Opposition. If so, how on earth have the rebels secured stocks of sophisticated weapons with the help of which they almost marched on the City of Jasmine? In spite of public opinion against US military interventions overseas, more..

June 18 (CT) Disparities within and between nations remain one of the greatest outrages in the contemporary globalized world, and simultaneously its most common reality. Despite the fact that standards of living have increased, as have income and mobility, inequalities remain high in many countries. Despite the fact that Asian and Pacific countries have made remarkable progress in reducing poverty, roughly 25% of that region's population still lives in poverty. more..

June 18 (ST) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s claim during a recent address at the KDU that Sri Lanka is presently enjoying the ‘full benefits of peace’ sits strikingly at odds with the headline of the country’s newspapers on any given day. And to be clear, I am not talking in this instance of high profile ‘terrorism’ cases or even the military’s excruciatingly intrusive role in the North and East under the guise of so-called ‘civic-military’ activities. On the contrary, this reference is more..

June 18 (SL) Frustration is a catalyst for many an act some of which manifests itself in evil. We in Sri Lanka know a thing or two about that: the frustration that was felt amongst those that inhabit the northern climes in Sri Lanka – traditionally speaking of course – festered and fermented over a period of time specifically that gave birth in 1956, manifested itself in the form of violence. It took over thirty years to take care of the violence – albeit with even more violence – but it will take many more years more..

June 18 (Hindu) A political battle of major proportions, perhaps the most portentous in years, is looming in Sri Lanka this year and is being preceded by a debate amounting to a battle of ideas. The matter at hand is the much delayed and deferred election to the Northern Provincial Council. Political forces are arrayed in four positions on the battlefield. On the Tamil side there are those who hold that the existing 13th amendment more..

June 18 (Island) Dialog announced the Launch of South Asia’s First Mobile 4G-LTE Roaming service. The launch of roaming services follows on the company announcing it’s commencement of Commercial Mobile 4G – LTE services in Sri Lanka in April this year, another regional first for Sri Lanka. Dialog launched the service with MobileOne (M1) Singapore on 13th June, heralding a new era in speed for data roaming for travellers. With this innovation, Dialog customers will be able to more..

June 18 (CI) When a bowler delivers a beauty, the whole team often lets the batsman know, but when James Faulkner seamed one off leg stump, to beat Angelo Mathews outside edge in the 37th over, no one was wise to the fact that the ball had clipped off stump. Faulkner turned around to appeal, perhaps for an lbw, and Matthew Wade dove to collect the ball on the bounce, and it was only when Mathews began his trek to the dressing room did the fielding side spot the dislodged bails and more..

June 18 (Island) Economic growth slowed down to 6% during the first quarter of this year with growth in the agriculture sector falling sharply, the services sector recording a dip and industries stagnant, data released yesterday showed. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 6% year-on-year to Rs. 795.4 (at constant prices 2002) during the first quarter of 2013, down from an 8% growth rate a year earlier. more..

June 18 (ST) Australian gaming baron James Packer and leaders from Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago and Burundi are among top dignitaries who will address the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) in November, the media was informed on Friday. While heads of state from many commonwealth countries are expected to address the November 12-17 forum in Colombo, no confirmation has been received from leaders from countries like Britain, Canada and Australia. more..

June 18 (Island) In a proactive bid to overcome the dearth of competent technicians in the field of Construction and heavy machinery United Tractor and Equipment (UTE) inaugurated a state-of-the-art training facility recently. UTE has also upgraded its Caterpillar service workshop into a star level facility with an investment of over hundred million Sri Lankan Rupees. The training facility affiliated to internationally renowned Caterpillar ABC training programme is a giant leap in Sri Lankan more..

June 18 (DBS) The Sri Lankan Govt has been “advised” by the Govt of India led by Prime minister Manmohan Singh to refrain from undertaking any rushed moves to make hasty changes to laws relating to the 13th Amendment in the Sri Lankan Constitution. The 13th Constitutional amendment enacted in September 1987 was introduced in consultation with India as a result of the India-Sri Lanka agreement signed by more..

June 18 (Island) One of the Chinese national, who along with another, partook of a meal of niyangala yam (Gloriosa Superba), in a jungle patch in Moragahakanda, Naula on Sunday, died at the Dambulla hospital yesterday. The other was in a critical condition. The two men were employed in a Mahaweli project. The deceased was L. Shaping (46) and the other was W. Wonso (45). The two Chinese nationals had cooked the yam and consumed it due to ignorance and more..

June 18 (KSA) B.M.S. Perera, 39, works for a company that makes garment labels, and travels often between Colombo and Dhaka on business. Until recently, he had to fly via Thailand or Malaysia, because there was no direct connection between the two capitals. Times have changed this year, though. Increased flights between the two cities have made travel easier, allowing for improved business ties and people-to-people contacts. "I have been working with Bangladeshi business establishments for more..

June 18 (DN) A special procedure is needed to protect the country's gem industry to win the international gem market, Minister WDJ Seneviratne said. He was addressing a meeting held with the participation of gem industrialists in the Ratnapura district organized by the All Island Gem Miners and Dealers Association. He discussed the problems faced by gem miners and explained the importance of taking immediate measures to develop more..

June 18 (CT) Following an open challenge issued by the Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, the Legal Adviser of the JHU and Western Provincial Councillor, Udaya Gammanpila, declared, "I will gladly accept the challenge and hope Dr. Senaratne will participate, openly, without dodging, to a debate on the 13th Amendment." Dr. Senaratne had recently challenged Gammanpila to an open debate on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, to which Gammanpila, while addressing the media more..

June 18 (DN) The Indigenous Medicine Ministry had done much to uplift the standard of indigenous medical practice in the North to provide a better healthcare service to the people, Minister Salinda Dissanayake said. He was speaking as the Chief Guest at a ceremony to mark the opening of the Ayurveda Dispensary and Nutrition Centre in Nagadeepa. The Ayurveda Dispensary and the Nutrition Centre was constructed by the Navy at a cost of Rs. 3.5 million provided by the more..

June 18 (CT) UPFA MP, Duminda Silva, said yesterday it was a privilege to be able to address the public again as a parliamentarian, following an absence of one-and-a-half-years. Speaking at the R. Duminda Silva Foundation, Nugegoda, while participating in celebrations organized to mark his return to Parliament tomorrow, Silva alleged that the... ...'present situation' at Kolonnawa was due to 'hypocritical political practices.' more..