June 21 (CT) What happened in Mulleriyawa on that fatal afternoon on 8 October 2011 is all but fading into the mist of history. The controversy that erupted after the shoot out between two factions of the ruling UPFA during the Municipal Council polls overshadowed the political gossip of the day. One strong man, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra lay dead, while the other, a sitting MP for the Colombo District representing the old Kolonnawa electorate was reported to have sustained more..

June 21 (CT) Politics certainly makes strange bedfellows, as exemplified recently by the allegation made by Shenali Waduge against Dayan Jayatilleka. I see Shenali Waduge as an aggressively writer, a description I am sure she would relish. Yet the charge she levels against Dayan is precisely that which was made a few weeks back by Tissa Jayatilaka, whose agenda now seems to be wholly that of the Americans whose Fulbright Commission he now heads. Shenali’s criticism of more..

June 21 (Island) Talangama police yesterday morning arrested a 32-year-old woman for allegedly killing her newborn baby and dumping the body into a garbage truck of the Kaduwela Municipal Council by hiding it inside a garbage bag. of a bungalow where she was employed. The postmortem conducted by the Judicial Medical Officer, Dr. Muditha Kudagamage of the National Hospital, returned an open verdict saying the baby had been born in good health. more..

June 21 (LBO) Stocks closed down 0.90% on Friday with index heavy stocks showing losses and companies with interests in gold also retreating due to a 10% import tax imposed by the govt. The All Share Index closed 56.17 points lower at 6,155.27 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 25.57 points lower at 3,466.57 down 0.73%. Turnover was 565 million rupees down from 3.4 billion a day earlier. Foreigners brought 221 million rupees worth shares while selling 53 million rupees more..

June 21 (CG) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa today named a 19 member Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to propose changes to the constitution. The PSC will be led by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, and includes Minister G.L Peiris, Maithipala Sirisena, W.D.J Seniviratne, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Douglas Devananda, Susil Premjayanth, A.L.M. Athaulla, D.E.W Gunasekera, Rishard Badurdeen, Champika Ranawaka, more..

June 21 (Island) Two members of a three-man gang, involved in extortion and robbery were arrested by the Yakkalamulla police on Wednesday afternoon. One of the suspects is an ex-sailor. They were arrested in connection with threatening a businessman at Boralugoda, in an attempt to extort money from him. They had even gone to the extent of firing gun shots, at his residence one evening, to cause panic. Investigations have revealed that the duo in custody were part of the more..

June 21 (Island) Major Ruwan Ranatunga, formerly of the Artillery Regiment is on a mission to raise much needed funds for two charities looking after cancer patients. Having launched his ‘Long Walk of Hope’, on May 30, from Dondra, Ranatunga reached Ibbagamuwa on Tuesday evening. Ranatunga intends to reach Point Pedro within one and half months where he is expected to be joined by his wife, Meneka and ten-year-old son, Randa. Ranatunga said that his aim was to raise more..

June 21 (CT) Deputy Solicitor General, Shavindra Fernando, yesterday submitted to the Supreme Court that the government is planning to issue electronic National Identity Cards (NICs) in all three languages. He made this statement in response to a Fundamental Rights case filed by Prasad Guruge of Maharagama. Commissioner General of Registration of Persons, Sarath Kumara, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, more..

June 21 (CG) The UNP today handed over its proposals for a new constitution to the SLFP. A UNP delegation including UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake handerd over the proposals to SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena. The UNP had last month made public its proposed constitution which includes a British style Westminster system for the Cabinet. The UNP constitution also proposes as a novel system the executive powers of the more..

June 21 (Island) Commemorative Postage Stamps of all political leaders of the country, beginning from First Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake, were unveiled at the Parliament Library yesterday by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. "Remembering these past leaders would instill in us a sense of pride, especially to the younger generation who visit Parliament in large numbers these days" the Speaker told a gathering. He directed the Acting Secretary General Neil Iddawela, to arrange more..

June 21 (DM) The British Govt said it would have the opportunity to further urge Sri Lanka to make concrete progress in areas of concern during the CHOGM to be held in Sri Lanka. “CHOGM will also be an opportunity for the British Govt to further urge Sri Lanka to make concrete progress in areas of human rights, reconciliation and political settlement,” British High Commissioner John Rankin said during his ‘ask the high commissioner’ more..

June 21 (LT) A series of agitations organized by the JVP against the unjustly increased electricity tariffs would be held in several towns covering all districts in the island today states the media unit of the JVP. Despite the govt stating masses will be given a concession by amending the electricity tariffs, the bills masses have received indicate the unjustifiable nature of the amendments states the JVP adding that the increased electricity tariffs should be withdrawn immediately. more..

June 21 (IANS) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has mourned the large number of deaths and destruction to property in severe floods in northern India. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rajapaksa expressed condolences on account of the unprecedented natural calamity, particularly in Uttarakhand. "The people of Sri Lanka and I are deeply saddened by the loss of life and property in Uttarakhand as well as parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," he said. more..

June 21 (AD) Charging that President Rajapaksa and members of his family act as if the common laws of the country don’t concern them, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera today stated that the rest of the govt politicians are following the example set by the President. Ministers, their children, Provincial Councilors and Pradehsiya Sabha members are involved in murders, rape, child molestation and even abusing teachers, more..

June 21 (CT) Abuse of drugs such as heroin, marijuana, cannabis, opium and hashish, as well as anti-social activities are said to be thriving in areas in and around the Unawatuna Tourist Area in Galle, affecting the lives of the general public, especially the youth, sources said. “Women are being trafficked daily from Colombo on order, akin to a commodity, within few hours, along the Southern Expressway. Unless remedial measures are taken, swiftly, our younger generation would more..

June 21 (Island) The High Commission of Canada, and the Embassies of Switzerland and France, in a joint statement announced that TV5 Monde, the French-language channel, would be accessible on SLT PEO TV platform to over 76,000 subscribers with effect from June 15. The following is the communiqué issued recently: "‘TV5MONDE Asie’ joins PEO TV’s basic offer on channel 90, giving access to premium French-language content to Sri Lankan viewers for the first time. more..

June 21 (CG) Sri Lankan actor Jagath Chamila won the best actor in a leading role award at the New York City International Film Festival last night. He won the award for his role in the film ‘Sam’s story’ by Sri Lankan-Canadian producer/director Priyankara Vittanachchi. In his debut feature, Priyankara Vittanachchi has created in Sam an unforgettable character. Through the eyes of Sam, the viewer becomes painfully more..

June 21 (Island) The CEB is currently purchasing more than 150 MW of electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) at an additional cost of Rs. 150 million per day due to breakdowns and maintenance work in some hydro power generation plants. The latest breakdowns and maintenance have resulted a loss of hydro-electricity worth more than 1,000 million rupees. "The saddest part is that we are losing that amount at a time when the CEB is saddled with massive debts due to the more..

June 21 (Island) The Health Ministry’s Technical Evaluation Committee, in a bizarre decision, has awarded the contract to construct the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital’s new ten-storey building complex, minus one floor. That floor, the seventh, has been given to another, who has since vanished. Now the building complex cannot be opened as the seventh floor has no walls, only concrete columns and there is fear that those columns might not be strong enough to bear the weight of more..

June 21 (TA) Remnants of the defeated Tamil terrorist organisation, the LTTE, are involved in the people-smuggling business bringing Sri Lankan boatpeople to Australia, according to FM G.L. Peiris wants Australia to proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organisation, making any support to it from Australia illegal. The LTTE is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Europe and North America but, perversely, not in Australia. more..

June 21 (DM) The consumer demand for chicken dampened in the first quarter this year due to a drop in purchasing power hindered by the inflation, which remained elevated towards high single digit levels, according to John Keells Stock Brokers. The situation has already impacted the financial performance of the industry and is clearly reflective from the subdued top as well as bottom line of the market leader, Bairaha Farms. Even though 4Q sales of the poultry and farming industry has more..

June 21 (CI) Tillakaratne Dilshan, who injured his right calf during the Champions Trophy semi-final against India in Cardiff on Thursday, has been ruled out of the tri-series in the West Indies starting June 28. Scans revealed Dilshan had suffered a second degree tear and has been advised four to six weeks of recovery time. It is understood a replacement will be announced later today. The replacement is likely to be picked from the Sri Lanka A team, currently touring the Caribbean. more..

June 21 (MoD) The second phase of the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct was declared open for the public by Minister Basil Rajapaksa on the invitation of the Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 20th June. The old dilapidated Dutch hospital building was renovated and developed by the UDA under the direction of Secretary Defence. Under the project the old colonial era buildings at Chatham Street more..

June 22 (NS) One could use such words as poet, short story writer, lyricist, critic and renowned writer to define him. Sri Chandraratne Manawasinghe was born on June 19, 1913 in the rural village of Puwakdandawa in Giruwapaththuwa, Ruhuna. When he died on Oct 4, 1964 at the age of 51 he was a man of many accomplishments. Chandraratne Manawasinghe contributed immensely to the Sinhala song. He produced radio musicals and had a knack for appreciating aesthetic beauty and more..

June 22 (NS) Chamika Perera is an 18-year-old chess player from Trinity College, Kandy who re-wrote Sri Lanka’s Chess history in 2011, when he became the youngest National Champion at the age of 16. Since then he has been one of the most consistent Chess players. Q: What made you choose this particular game? A: Well I started playing this game when I was a kid. I think I was in pre-school when my eldest brother first introduced this game to me and I’ve been hooked to it more..

June 22 (NS) It may seem easy, but apparently it is a talent. Only a few can actually play piano, which involves the use of both hands simultaneously. One such person is Sarath De Alwis, who’s known as the ‘best pianist in Sri Lanka’. He completes 45 years in the music industry next month and will be felicitated for his contribution to the music industry. Sarath De Alwis is ever willing to help amateurs. more..

June 22 (CT) Well-known columnist, D.B.S. Jeyaraj, had stated that India may send a special envoy to discuss matters connected with the 13th Amendment, which has now become a contentious issue, in light of the fact that the government is considering bringing in amendments to it. The special envoy, as has been revealed, is Indian Diplomat, Hardeep Puri, who, at the time of signing the Indo-Lanka Agreement in 1987, was the Political Secretary at the Indian High Commission more..

June 22 (CT) India's diplomatic silence in the face of a much-reduced opportunity to influence Sri Lankan politics, some observe, as a new and mature phase of Indian foreign policy. Compared to its onetime aggressive approach that certainly failed to endear India to many a Sri Lankan, the past few years give evidence to a novel approach by India. Though rapping the island for its human rights record during strategic occasions such as the UNHRC sessions in Geneva – largely to appease the volatile more..

June 22 (SO) Ajith Kumara Mannapperuma was sworn in as the UNP MP for the Gampaha district, filling the void created by the untimely demise of Dr. Jayalath Jayewardene who represented the Ja-Ela electorate since 1994. Mannapperuma was the first Mayor of the Gampaha Municipal Council in which position he continued for two successive terms prior to being elected as a Western Provincial Councillor at the more..

June 22 (CT) The Rajapaksas lost the Round I of the anti-devolution battle. For the Siblings losing has become an unaccustomed experience. They have won almost all the major political battles they unleashed since 2009. Perhaps the only significant exception was the attempt to introduce a fraudulent private sector pension plan. It took the united effort of the country’s private sector employees, and one young life, to beat back that Rajapaksa plan to buttress their tottering finances by more..

June 22 (CT) A few days ago, I saw the documentary entitled, “Story of Adele Balasingham” produced by Boston Lanka (BL). It is obvious that BL is trying to rescue Sri Lanka from well-substantiated allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the last days of the war – May 2009. BL has telecast many pro-govt programmes portraying Rajapaksa as the most democratic leader in the world. It is believed that in fact BL is a mouth piece of the SL govt! more..

June 22 (ST) The story of Thanthirimale dates back to an era when it was called “Thivanka Bamunugama”, owing to the Brahmin Thivanka making the peaceful grounds his abode. It was during this time that Sangamitta Theri was entrusted with bringing a sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya -under which the Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment- across the waters to Lanka. History tells us that the delegation made a stop more..

June 22 (Island) Those who seek government jobs will do well to check whether the institutions they intend to join have enough trees around them. Others already in the public service had better plant as many trees as possible around their work places. For, the govt might not have money to pay their terminal benefits or even salaries at this rate unless there are trees to be felled and sold. The State Resources and Enterprises Development Ministry has, according to a news item more..

June 22 (EAR) Have the Sri Lankan’s ever given a damn about the Commonwealth (organization)? The answer is, not much. As a former British colony and a newly independent nation, Sri Lanka joined the Commonwealth in 1948. Since it had to do international business through the British High Commissions, relations with the Commonwealth were intense in the early days of independence. Before long, interest in the organization waned substantially. more..

June 22 (Island) Just before the Second World War, Britain, in a humanitarian gesture, allowed a 1,000 young German children of Jewish parents, to enter Britain. Ranasinghe’s parents took advantage of this offer and, in 1939, sent 13 year old Anne to boarding school in England in one of the last ships to sail before the war broke out. While in Germany, she had witnessed at first hand the indignities the Jews had to go through. This poem was written with reference to Kristallnacht, more..

June 22 (Island) It is not in the tradition of Sri Lankan hospitality to eavesdrop on the conversations of guests who drop in or are invited to one’s home. We do not encourage members of the host household, whether family or employees, to keep their ears at the closed doors of guest rooms, peep through keyholes or use some other means to know what the guests are doing or talking, among themselves or to anyone outside. But such practices are not likely to last very long. more..

June 22 (Reuters) Angelo de Silva’s mobile phone hasn’t stopped ringing of late. In the month since the govt hiked electricity prices, the boss of Access Solar has been fielding one call after another, answering queries about the solar panels his company provides. “Yesterday I logged three-and-a-half hours of talk time on my mobile,” he said, adding that callers wanted to find out how solar panels can help them reduce their electricity more..

June 22 (CT) "Is Chairman of the CEB, W.B. Ganegala, in a deep political slumber?" seemed to be the question in the minds of many during the breakfast meeting President Rajapaksa had with the Editors and Publishers of the mainstream media at Temple Trees yesterday. At the meeting, a journalist began bitterly complaining against the CEB Chairman, claiming that Ganegala never makes him available to answer queries of the journalists. “He doesn’t even answer the phone and more..