June 18 (CI) "Power" is batting's buzzword of the modern age. In limited-overs cricket, players are no longer measured by how well they hit a ball, but how hard and how far. That quest has spawned a subset of relatively modern phenomena - setting a stable base, not losing one's shape, swinging through the arc. As Twenty20 salaries expand, and cricket strides close to the glamour that has eluded it in the past, only a handful of batsmen still swear by the old laws. At the Oval, Mahela Jayawardene more..

June 18 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday suspended till July 1, 2013, the letter of suspension issued by the vice-chancellor of the Sabragamuwa University, suspending the studentship of five third-year students. The suspension of the letter is effective till July 1, 2013. The first respondent, vice chancellor and the respondent members of the University Council, were directed to allow those students to sit the examinations to be held in June/July 2013, The results will more..

June 18 (Island) The UNP Working Committee yesterday decided to form the broadest possible alliance, with other political parties, in the run up to 2014, with strong speculation that President Rajapaksa would call an early Presidential Election. The meeting held under the Chairmanship of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, discussed strategies that needed to be adopted to face several polls expected this year and the next, with the more..

June 18 (AN) Hundreds of Sri Lankan expatriates who were asked to appear at the deportation center in Jeddah for biometric recording yesterday, had to return without their fingerprints recorded apparently due to backlog piled up since last week. Monday was the day scheduled for expatriates from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Sudan to record their biometrics, and consequently, hundreds including women descended in the morning on the deportation center. However, after a wait of about more..

June 18 (Island) The Puttalam Zonal Education Director yesterday ordered the closure of Navagaththegama Navodya school at 10.30 a.m. due to protests launched by teachers and parents against North Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara, who forced a teacher to kneel down. Several teacher trade unions, including the Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union and Ceylon Teachers’ Union, launched the protest along with parents opposite the school. more..

June 18 (CI) A victorious Sri Lanka will play in Cardiff on Thursday. A humbled Australia will start pondering the Ashes, and the state of disrepair their cricket has fallen into. Led by Mahela Jayawardene's silken unbeaten 84, Sri Lanka stuttered into a Champions Trophy semi-final against India by defeating a collective whose captain Michael Clarke watched disconsolately from The Oval balcony. Their slim chances of qualifying long since more..

June 18 (Island) Colombo University undergraduate Randimali Gunawardene, who allegedly jumped off from the fifth floor of the Science faculty building, underwent surgery, at noon yesterday, at the National Hospital, Colombo. University authorities had told the police that the student had jumped off the building, a senior Police officer said. She had suffered severe head injuries, hospital authorities said. The police were trying to ascertain whether the victim actually jumped from the building or more..

June 18 (CT) The JHU, yesterday claimed the Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987 was made redundant when India failed to hold up its end of the bargain to disarm the LTTE forces as promised, while the TNA 'had no business' in appealing to the Indian Govt to counter the decisions of the local govt with regards to diluting Provincial Council powers. JHU Spokesman Nishantha Warnasinghe said, Sri Lanka had 'done right' by the Indo-Lanka Agreement, with the formation of Provincial Councils, more..

June 18 (DM) The SLFP Central Committee yesterday decided to sack the UPFA North-Western Provincial Councillor Ananda Sarath Kumara for allegedly humiliating a lady teacher by ordering her to kneel in the presence of students and teachers because she had asked his daughter not wear a short uniform to school. The Central Committee chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa met last morning at temple Trees more..

June 18 (DM) Speaking at the ceremonial sitting held to welcome the newly-appointed Court of Appeal Judge, Malini Gunaratna last Friday, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Upul Jayasuirya urged an end to the practice of offering privileged positions to judges after retirement. At a time when the independence of the Sri Lankan Judiciary has become a subject for discussion, the suggestion of the head of the unofficial bar seems to be timely and vital. more..

June 18 (DM) At the outset, I want to make what I consider is an important distinction in terms of the situation we are in. The distinction is between a post–war situation and a post-conflict one. Whilst we are in a post-war situation- the guns having fallen silent following the military defeat of the LTTE – I do not think we are in a post-conflict one, defined in terms of one in which the roots of conflict are not being sustained and certainly not being reproduced. My concern is that the trajectory of more..

June 18 (DM) It is the dream of every judge to be able to ascend to the apex court in the Country having discharged his or her duties as a fair, balanced, strong and impartial judge with the acceptance of the bar. In general, though with a few exceptions, judges and lawyers do not compromise and are not willing to trade their conscience and dignity, as it is precious and priceless. Let me quote Martin Luther King, “Human progress is more..

June 18 (SL) While the Fisheries Department and the Meteorology Department keep palming off the blame of failing to inform the fishing folk of the impending dangerous weather condition that prevailed over Sri Lanka over the last weekend, the death toll of the fishermen that ventured off to sea that fateful day keeps rising. At present according to the DMC they have recovered the bodies of around 54 fishermen so far more..

June 18 (Island) Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said that the UPFA would be very strict when nominating candidates for the Central and Wayamba Provincial Council elections. The two councils would be dissolved very soon, he said. Some of those elected at the previous Provincial Council elections on the UPFA ticket had been charged with murder, rape, assault robbery, arson and misconduct and more..

June 18 (LBO) A hotel supplies show in Sri Lanka has grown to be the largest in the South Asia amid a slew of new properties being developed in the country after the end of a 30-year is attracting increasing international attention. The bi-annual show started in 1998, by alumni association of Ceylon Hotels School Graduates Association was made into an annual event from this year, following strong demand from exhibitors. more..

June 18 (SLA) General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army who was promoted to the rank of General, received honours from the troops at the Army Headquarters during a special parade at MoD grounds on Monday (17) morning. He is the youngest General in the Army to have received this rank while serving as the Commander of the Army. General Jagath Jayasuriya on arrival at the parade ground reviewed the more..

June 18 (ST) Grand are the plans for Hambantota, including Mattala as a ‘showpiece’ where development and conservation work together well, but ground-level reality is a far cry from what it should be. The Managed Elephant Range (MER) was very much part of the plans for Hambantota development. However, unplanned development and non-implementation of the MER may spell disaster for the “green airport” concept that the more..

June 18 (E24|7) For the sake of continental balance, it would have been better for India and Sri Lanka to be pitted against one of the other two semifinalists – South Africa and England. In that sense, cricket is losing its greatest cliché - glorious uncertainties. All of the above were the bookies picks at the start of the tournament – though may not be the Indian bookies who are reported to have given this one a skip after their IPL 6 power more..

June 18 (Island) The Professions Supplementary to Medicine (PSM) warned that it would resort to an indefinite work-to-rule campaign from, today, if the govt failed to meet its demands, which included much delayed grade one promotions. PSM General Secretary Saman Jayasekara said that PSM members had not been given promotions since 2006. There were over 400 PSM personnel from all five categories, some who have completed more..

June 18 (MoD) Steps will be taken to convert 'Crow Island' in Mattakkulya into a public recreational facility under the Metro Colombo Development Project. Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the architect behind the beautification and modernization of the city of Colombo visited the proposed site for an inspection visit today. The Crow Island is a neglected strip of land of about five acres situated close to the more..

June 18 (DN) The 13th Amendment to the Constitution has opened up a dialogue in the media and the public space. It is a characteristic of democracy. Some say the 13th Amendment is needed; some say it is not required. However, Police powers and Land powers referenced in the Amendment are not required at this juncture, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said. He made these comments at a meeting at the PM’s Office yesterday. more..

June 18 (CT) The area around the Borella Kanatte turned into a battlefield one late afternoon in late April, 1993. Crowds attending the funeral of the assassinated Lalith Athulathmudali turned violent. The Police responded with tear gas. There was a pitched battle with enterprising individuals tossing half empty teargas canisters back at the Police. At one point an Army truck arrived. The crowds cheered the Army. There has been for a long time a negative view of the Police. more..

June 18 (CT) Not long ago, DIG Vass Gunawardena was touted as a knight in shining armour, trying to save the hapless Sri Lankan citizenry from vicious underworld gangsters. That was how the government and those kept police reporters of media projected Gunawardena to a clueless public. Now, with sordid details about his alleged complicity in the murder of millionaire businessman, Mohammed Shiyam of Wellawatta, Vass Gunawardena has come, a full circle. more..

June 18 (CG) Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, the new High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka arrived in Colombo today. Y.K. Sinha is a seasoned diplomat and during his career of 32 years, has handled several important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and in Indian diplomatic missions in the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Permanent Mission of India at the UN headquarters in New York. more..

June 18 (LBO) Stocks closed down at 0.42% on Tuesday, continuing its downward trend with investors taking profits and index heavy stocks continuing to drop. TAll Share Index closed 26.11 points lower at 6,193.00 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 0.33 points higher at 3,497.12 up 0.01%. Turnover was 291 million rupees down from 310 million a day earlier. Foreigners brought 92 million rupees worth shares while selling 59 million rupees of shares, in a day that 48stocks advanced more..

June 18 (Island) A mother of three knocked down by a three wheeler while she was crossing the road at a zebra crossing, opposite Vidyawardane Vidyalaya, Wellampitiya, succumbed to her injuries in hospital.Eyewitnesses said that the speeding three wheeler had crashed into a vehicle which had stopped at the crossing to allow the mother and her daughter to cross the road and toppled on the victim. According to police, the driver of the three wheeler was drunk. more..

June 18 (CT) UNP decided to expel from the Party 21 members of local bodies including Southern Provincial Councillor, Maithri Gunaratne, and Western Provincial Councillor, Shiral Lakthilaka. This decision was taken at the Working Committee meeting yesterday. Former UNP Deputy Leader, Sajith Premadasa, was the only member who had raised objections against the removal of the party members. more..

June 18 (Island) Since the beginning of June, over 1,000 patients seeking treatment at the OPDs of the Dehiattahakandiya and the Mahaoya Base hospitals have had to pay for their medical tests and the hospital labs have run out of chemicals. Even the X-ray departments of these two hospitals do not function properly and patients are referred to the Polonnaruwa hospital, according to the GMOA. GMOA media spokesman Dr. Navin de Soysa alleged that out patients and in-patients, more..

June 18 (LBO) A tendency to look to the govt for solutions as well as practical constraints like high interest rates and lack of business skills like marketing, academics who are helping improving management skills in the country said. "Countries are built by people not govts," S A Amaratunga, Dean of the faculty of Management Studies and Commerce of Uni of Sri J'pura told reporters. "The Govt is there to facilitate businesses and industries, not to give subsidies (sahanadara). more..

June 18 (CG) The media code of ethics draft, made public by the Media Ministry, has an advertising code which notes that advertisements carried out in the electronic and print media including websites shall be so designed as to confirm to the laws of the country and not offend morality, decency and religious susceptibilities of the subscribers. The advertising code also discourages exploiting the National emblem, National flag and National Anthem or any part of the more..

June 18 (Island) With the govt expected to present an Urgent Bill to strip the Provincial Councils of the power to merge, as provided under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution today, the UNP has decided that it would take a decision only after being officially informed. The UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had told the party Working Committee Meeting yesterday that there had been no official communication by the govt on its Bill to amend the 13th Amendment. more..

June 18 (GDI) The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that locally produced rice does not contain abnormal level of cadmium and this has been affirmed through analysis conducted at home and abroad. Rice samples obtained from various parts of the island were tested at the Institute of Fundamental Studies and the Paddy Research Institute in Bathalegoda said the Minister and added that come rice samples were obtained from areas where kidney disease has more..

June 18 (GDI) Sri Lanka is to introduce a mega Metro Monorail Project to address the ever increasing traffic congestion in the Pettah and Colombo Fort area. Plans are being drawn up to introduce this mega project that will give a new face lift to the Colombo city. The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Dhammika Perera said that there are six main bus routes and four main railway lines that facilitate incoming and more..

June 18 (GDI) People’s Bank has been awarded with the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) in recognition of the quality of its Trade Service products which enables its customers with a secured and efficient import and export services. The Trade Service department provides a centralised processing mechanism unit for Sri Lanka’s largest commercial banking network with 730 branches and service centres; catering to the needs of a more..

June 18 (Hindu) Some 600 activists belonging to pro-Tamil Eelam outfits were on Tuesday arrested for allegedly attempting to march to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, 15 km from here, where two Sri Lankan defence personnel are undergoing training. Protesting against the training, the activists demanded resignation of Defence Minister A.K. Antony for giving “false” assurance that no Sri Lankan military personnel would be given training on Tamil Nadu soil. more..

June 18 (Island) Newly introduced Technology subject combination for the GCE (A/L) will be launched on June 20 at Temple Trees with the participation of President Rajapaksa as the chief guest, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. He said that as the first step, the new stream would be taught at 200 schools countrywide. At present only 21% and 27% students follow the Science and Commerce streams respectively. more..

June 18 (AD) The female student of Colombo University who jumped off the fifth floor of a university building died while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. The student had passed away at around 2.30am this morning. She was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after jumping off the fifth floor of a university building last morning and was receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The student was a resident of Lunugamwehera more..

June 18 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday directed that all state and private sector buildings, when renovated or subjected to additions of new sections, should comply with the accessibility regulations gazetted by the secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and the Supreme Court order of April 2011. The Court said that people with restricted mobility, regardless of the degree of disability, should be able to make the maximum use of the buildings concerned. more..

June 18 (DM) Currently there is no probe conducted into the alleged reports that said a number of individuals and companies linked to Sri Lanka own secret offshore entities, Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Speaking about the database that stripped the secrecy of 10 offshore jurisdictions, he said, “We have no knowledge about this database. In fact, I got to know about it when I read the more..

June 18 (Island) Public funds hould not be wasted on the Disaster Management Ministry if it could not save the people from natural disasters, UNP MP Sajith Premadasa says. Addressing a gathering in Beruwala after offering his condolences and making cash donations to the bereaved families of fishermen killed by a recent storm, Premadasa said that nearly 70 fishermen had perished due to inclement weather as they had not been informed of the stormy weather before setting sail. more..