Mar 25 (Hindu) The ‘Students Federation for Free Eelam’ will petition to the Commissioner of Police urging him not to grant permission for conducting the IPL cricket match in Chennai if Sri Lankan players participate in it. The first match is to be played between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the Chidambaram stadium here on April 6. The application of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association seeking more..

Mar 25 (DM) With Sri Lanka facing conflict after conflict and conflicts within conflicts, our leaders and others need to turn around to the hallowed middle path of conflict resolution before another calamity like the 1983 racial holocaust engulfs us. This middle path of dialogue needs a paradigm shift or a change of perception. Whether it be a racial, religious or socio-economic conflict, all parties concerned need to be aware that their perception of the issue or issues is always relative and more..

Mar 25 (DM) The ebullient Sakwithi Ranasinghe, though finally behind bars, was back in the news, having stripped in court as a protest against being jailed, and also against his treatment while serving time for fraud on a very large scale. Removing his clothes may be seen as a symbolic act, akin to the sudden stripping away of his powers which happened when the once-mighty Sakwithi fled the country after his ‘business empire’ collapsed. The stripping can be interpreted too, more..

Mar 25 (CG) An investigation is underway into a journalist from a television channel who had covered the final stages of the war in 2009 and has later supplied the video material to groups overseas carrying out a campaign against the govt. The army media unit quoted President Rajapaksa as saying that the media had unrestricted access to cover the military operations in the north. “One such media man has now been bought more..

Mar 25 (LBO) Sri Lanka has been classed as 'less indebted' in five out of six debt indicators which asset the external debt vulnerability of a country. Sri Lanka falls within to the less indebted category in when external debt is measured against exports of goods and non-factor services (122.6% compared to a threshold of 165%). Sri Lanka's external debt service payments was 10.7% of exports of goods and non-factor service more..

Mar 25 (DM) The Elections Department stated that elections in the Northern Province could not be held as the Northern Provincial Council was yet to be constituted by the President. The Department said despite the govt finalising plans to hold the Northern Provincial Council Elections they were unable to begin the election process as the Northern Provincial Council did not exist. more..

Mar 25 (CT) Canadian Senator, Hugh D. Segal, who is also the Commonwealth Special Envoy of Canada, emphasized the need to take and make real initiatives on accountability on both sides. He said publishing a list of detainees, and on demilitarizing wherever possible, would help work towards reconciliation that would not only be a concrete superstructure but superstructures of civility and generosity, that would ultimately more..

Mar 25 (Island) The govt has decided to have all varieties of imported milk food tested for dicyandiamide (DCD), a hazardous agrochemical. Sri Lanka, one of the largest importers of milk powder from New Zealand, will send samples of all varieties of milk powder to a lab in Singapore for the tests. Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Rumy Marzook said that this step was necessary as DCD was found in more..

Mar 25 (CT) SLFP is planning to launch a campaign to recruit three million members to the party. Minister Dulles Alahapperuma, said the campaign will be conducted under the programme of Rata Nagana Nil Rella, which was launched on 21 March under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said the SLFP is a strong political party having branches all over the Island including the North and the East. more..

Mar 25 (ST) Sri Lankans forced to vacate college hostels due to student protests in TN, are looking for alternate accommodation in private homes—and not always finding it easy. One Sri Lankan student from an Arts college in Chennai, approached an Indian family for paid lodging. She was turned way as she was Sri Lankan. She was also informed that another Sri Lankan student who lived there had been asked to vacate more..

Mar 25 (AN) Sri Lankan traders and business organizations will stage a peaceful protest today urging the govt to take immediate actions to stop anti-Muslim campaigns, maintain law and order and promote communal harmony. The nationwide protest is organized by Muslim Rights Organization (MRO) to mobilize public support against hate campaigns carried out by Bodu Bala Sena, an extremist Buddhist group, more..

Mar 25 (ENS) The Sri Lankan govt has denied a report that it is “exploring the possibility” of shifting the Deputy High Commissioner’s office from Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, following the recent incidents of violence against Lankans and their establishments in Tamil Nadu. “There is no move to shift the mission, as of now. But it may be considered if the situation in Tamil Nadu worsens,” Foreign Secretary more..

Mar 25 (SL) Startling revelations have now come to the fore as to how the Preventive Division of Sri Lanka Customs had released the two controversial containers that carried ethanol spirit allegedly imported by powerful govt politicians after taking a bribe of Rs.10 million. Six Customs officers attached to the Preventive Division including a Director of Customs, Superintendent of Customs and Assistant Superintendent of Customs more..

Mar 25 (CT) Sri Lanka’s minority Muslim community is coming under intense pressure from a hard-line Buddhist monk organization allegedly linked to certain powerful individuals in the President Mahinda Rajapaksa-led administration. The Buddhist Power Force, more commonly known as the “Bodu Bala Sena” (BBS) in the native Sinhala language has lashed out at the country’s second-largest minority, which makes up 9.2% of the population, demanding an outright ban on several more..

Mar 25 (LBO) Mob violence in Sri Lanka against Muslims and Christians and emerging attacks and humiliation of Muslim girls for their dress by Buddhist nationalists, was spreading fear among minorities, Friday Forum, a citizens group said. "The failure of the police to act swiftly and effectively in enforcing the law has encouraged individuals and groups of people to take the law into their own hands," the Friday Forum said. "The environment of impunity has provided opportunities more..

Mar 25 (NYT) As a rule, living in Sri Lanka means encountering some of the friendliest people on earth. But since the civil war ended in 2009, it must be said, there is a startlingly consistent loathing for India, and a doubled such loathing for Tamils from India. This manifests all in the abstract, for the most part, but it is there nonetheless. Among other reasons, the Sinhalese are angry with India for funding and training the Tamil Tigers in more..

Mar 25 (CT) The US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka was adopted at the UNHRC Sessions in Geneva last Thursday amidst strong opposition from Sri Lanka on the grounds that it was based on the flawed report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. The resolution calls on Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the LLRC to fulfil its public commitments including the devolution of political authority, which is integral to reconciliation, accountability and more..

Mar 25 (Island) The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) will go ahead with its decision to have pictorial warnings displayed on each pack of cigarettes covering 80% of its front and back, The Island learns. The Supreme Court on Feb. 28, asked the NATA and the Ceylon Tobacco Company to reach a settlement on the size of the graphic warnings and inform the Court of their decision on March 28. NATA head Prof. Carlo Fonseka yesterday said the pictorial warnings should more..

Mar 25 (Hindu) Joining her arch rival DMK on the Lankan Tamils issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said that India should stay away from the CHOGM to be held in Colombo in November to mount pressure on Sri Lanka to ensure accountability under an international framework for its alleged war crimes. Earlier in the day, the DMK, which quitted the UPA coalition on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, had demanded more..

Mar 25 (E24|7) A three-day old infant born in Wahugapitiya hospital in Pussellawa in Central province, was allegedly sold for Rs 35,000 to a woman from Nainamadama area in Negombo. The child’s parents sold the kid on March 18. Pussellawa police has taken the parents into custody along with four others including a 53-year-old woman who had made the purchase. A resident of Labukelle in Nuwara Eliya, the woman gave birth to the baby on March 15 at the Wahugapitiya Hospital. more..

Mar 25 (Island) The country’s MBBS graduates officers have won their battle against the Sri Lanka Medical Council’s arbitrary decision not to allow medical officers to practise surgery incorporated in the MBBS graduate certificate. Two senior consultant physicians allegedly responsible for the unilateral action were voted out of the council last week. The Medical Officers’ Forum said that the two doctors had tarnished the image of the SLMC as they were attempting to delete surgery from more..

Mar 25 (ST) A deadly new species of scorpion which has led to a number of deaths in the Jaffna district has been identified as Hottentotta Tumulus in the family of Buthidae. A species commonly known in India as the Indian Red Scorpion. Researchers believe the deadly species was brought into the country during the period of the IPKF at the time they were in the country and the transport of goods from India into Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 25 (OU) The total amount of parliamentary seats for Vanni district from six has been reduced to five. The reason for this downfall is according to the registered voters recorded in the year 2012. Vavunia and Mullaitheevu district Deputy Election Commissioner A.S.Karunanidhi said, this is according to the 2012 amendment made in the electoral register. Vanni electorate consist three districts, and according to the year 2012 electoral amendment register, 70,085 voters from more..

Mar 25 (DM) The pressure exerted by the US sponsored resolution adopted at the UNHRC in Geneva would not be of assistance for a political solution to the Tamil issue, EPDP Secretary General Douglas Devananda said. In a statement issued on the US resolution on Sri Lanka he said that instead of a UNHRC resolution the assistance by the outside world in resolving the ethnic problem in the country could only serve as that of a midwife. He added that it is only through dialogue more..

Mar 25 (DM) A Sri Lankan Airlines flight was held up at the newly opened Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport yesterday for more than one and half hours due to the bowser that supplies fuel arriving late. The Riyadh-bound flight UL 273 took off from the Bandaranaike International Airport at noon, and landed at Mattala for refueling. Though the captain announced that the flight would be held up for only half an hour, the plane more..

Mar 25 (CI) Another rapid start for Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kusal Janith Perera was halted, then aborted, by persistent rain in Hambantota, which arrived at 2:52pm and did not cease until officials were forced to call off the match at 6:44pm. Sri Lanka were 33 without loss after five overs when the covers were called on, with Perera on 18 from 21 balls and Dilshan on 10 from 9 deliveries. Sri Lanka's openers did not quite match the breakneck pace of Saturday evening's opening stand, more..

Mar 25 (DM) The special identity card issued to fishermen by the Navy will not be essential in the future, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. “The fishermen used to have two identity cards in their possession, issued by the Ministry and the Navy. Only the card issued by the ministry will be necessary from now on. But still the Navy can examine fishing boats and gears at anytime,” the minister said. As a result of the continuous requests received by the fishermen the decision more..

Mar 25 (DM) Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he had rejected Thilanga Sumathipala’s nomination for the presidency of Sri Lanka Cricket Council as it violated the Sports Law. Minister further said the cricket council has received three complaints on violations so far. According to that the committee headed by the secretary of SLC stated that Thilanga had violated the sports regulation under more..

Mar 25 (Reuters) Stocks slipped from a one-month high on Monday despite foreign inflows, snapping a seven-session gaining streak, as investors looked for direction. The main index fell 0.4%, or 23.33 points, to 5,745.55, from its highest close since Feb. 18. Turnover was 353.4 million rupees, the lowest since March 18 and well below this year's daily average of 1 billion rupees. Foreign investors were net buyers of 101.6 million rupees worth of shares, extending the the year-to-date net foreign more..

Mar 25 (FP) If there was a guidebook on ‘How to sour relations with neighbours and lose whatever little influence you have’, India is playing it out to perfection in Sri Lanka, yielding ground progressively to China. On land, sea, and air—so to speak—India has steadily lost the plot, and the logical beneficiary of India’s maladroit moves is China, which has been quick to fill the vacuum created by India’s diplomatic self-goals, according to this report in Business Standard. more..

Mar 25 (AD) The JHU today claimed that the report submitted to the Cabinet by the Health Secretary ignores the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), following the completion of its final report on the investigation and evaluation of the Chronic Kidney Disease in Sri Lanka. Although the report of the WHO identifies pesticides and fertilizers containing Arsenic as prime causes for diseases, more..

Mar 25 (AN) For some lay and religious Catholics involved in Sri Lankan society, Pope Francis represents a challenge for both lay people as well as the consecrated. Speaking to AsiaNews, they said that he is bound to open people's eyes and be an active tool for the redemption of the oppressed. Every day, they address their prayers to him. According to Basil Fonseka, a Catholic journalist and writer, the pope's every word "flows from the life he lived, in brotherhood with the poor." more..

Mar 25 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Ashley de Silva to the position of acting CEO, with a view to giving him the official position in six months, SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga has confirmed. De Silva has been SLC's director of cricket operations since 2008, and replaces Ajit Jayasekara, who retires at the end of the month. "Like in any organisation we will give him a probation period, which will be around six months, and at the end of that we hope he will more..

Mar 25 (BS) India's diplomatic stand on Sri Lanka on human rights violations in the island nation has costed domestic vehicle manufacturers dearly. Companies including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS Motors, Hero Motocorp, Bajaj Auto and Maruti Suzuki for whom Sri Lanka formed one of the key export destinations are experiencing a significant slowdown in demand following series of hikes slapped on more..

Mar 26 (Hindu) The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday accused the State government of using the police to repress students’ protests across Tamil Nadu on the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue. The party executive, in a resolution, hailed the peaceful and spirited protests organised by college students demanding justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka. However, the protests were sought to be suppressed by the AIADMK regime, which ordered the closure of colleges in a bid to prevent more..

Mar 26 (DM) “Taking serious note of the harassment caused to Sri Lankans by Indian extremists continuously, it is time that a decision is taken to ban travel between Colombo and Chennai at least for one year”, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said. The Ven. Thera said in the recent past, Christian pilgrim groups, Sportsmen, Sri Lankan High Commission office had been at the receiving end of brutal attacks in South India. There were protest rallies when President Rajapaksa visited India. more..

Mar 26 (DM) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today said that certain powerful countries and their allies are blatantly employing double standards when dealing with Sri Lanka. “Even in international forums such as the UNHRC, we can see that certain powerful countries and their allies are blatantly employing double standards when dealing with Sri Lanka. They have completely ignored our achievements. more..

Mar 26 (NS) At around 10.30 in the morning last Sunday (17), the people on the Hikkaduwa beach opposite the Citrus Hotel were stunned to see a foreigner dragging a foreign woman into the sea and trying to strangle her. It was obvious that both of them were tourists and very quickly several beach boys in the area scrambled into the rocky corralled sea to save the woman. Within a few minutes, they managed to save the woman who ran down the beach screaming. more..

Mar 26 (NS) It is no secret that India is not Sri Lanka’s friend. That’s OK. India needs to be friends only with itself. But India is a generous neighbor. In 1987, India dropped dhal on ‘Starving Sri Lanka’, never mind the hungry millions in Bihar and the slums of Bombay and indeed the impoverished Tamils in Tamil Nadu! Last year India dropped dhal on Sri Lanka, and strangely in this globalized world the drop-location was Geneva. A few days ago India did a repeat. more..

Mar 26 (SO) Major development projects launched in the Mullaitivu District include irrigation-related projects such as tank renovations, improvement of channel systems, construction of bridges and causeways, establishment of dairy villages, dairy farms and animal production, Rs.31.30 Mn has been allocated for the projects and many have already been completed while others are nearing completion. more..