Apr 9 (CG) India’s ruling Congress party says it worked hard for the Tamils in Sri Lanka and also stood by the decision to abstain from voting for the resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. On India abstaining on the vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, party spokesman Abishek Singhvi said it was “neither an agreement or disagreement,” adding no regime had done as much for the welfare of Lankan Tamils like the ruling UPA alliance Govt. His comments came after India’s DMK more..

Apr 9 (Island) Kandasamy Kamalendran of Kayts, a member of the EPDP, who had contested, and got elected to the NPC, on the UPFA ticket, had requested the Court of Appeal, to prohibit the Elections Commissioner from taking steps to remove him from the NPC. The writ application had said that, the Secretary of the UPFA Susil Premajanth had written to the General Secretary of the EPDP, requesting the latter to expel the petitioner from the EPDP, which had allied with the UPFA. more..

Apr 9 (CI) There was first a false alarm for the tens of thousands who thronged the Galle Face roundabout in Colombo for the second time in three days. Someone let off a vine of firecrackers, sparking an enormous wave of cheers and the flailing of a sea of Sri Lankan flags. Soon, the crowd realised they had awarded their heroes' welcome to the 430 from Mathugama. As the public bus pushed its way through crush of bodies, more..

Apr 9 (DM) Four people were severely injured when two families clashed over the results of the Korean Language exam held recently. Police said investigations had revealed that a son of one family had passed the exam and qualified for a foreign job while the son of the other family had failed. They said the two friends had studied together and sat the Korean Language exam but only one had passed the exam and qualified for the foreign job. Two brothers injured in the clash were admitted to more..

Apr 9 (CT) Jaffna District UNP Organizer, T. Thuwarakeswaran, alleged that three persons who head the Jaffna Traders' Association (JTA) and share a close relationship with the TNA are causing hindrance by stopping traders from other provinces from doing business in Jaffna. "What right do they have?" he asked. "Tamils have shops in the South. If we go on disapproving little things, there will be no harmony among the communities," he said. Thuwarakeswaran, brother of former UNP more..

Apr 9 (FT) Emphasising that the govt has delivered by both policy and enabling environment, President Rajapaksa yesterday called for a bigger private sector role to usher in greater socio-economic prosperity in the long term. Speaking at the launch of the Central Bank’s 2013 Annual Report, the President said it was the duty of all, including the private sector, to “protect” the rapid socio-economic progress of past 8 years, more..

Apr 9 (LT) The attempt to assassinate the Principal of Ananda Vidyalaya at Puttalam has been carried out with the sanction of the government says the General Secretary of Lanka Teacher Services Union Mahinda Jayasinghe. He said there wouldn’t have been any possibility of armed thugs wandering as there was high security in the area due to Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s scheduled arrival at Puttalam and added it is possible that the govt was behind the attempt. more..

Apr 9 (LBT) Textured Jersey, Sri Lanka’s largest and most innovative manufacturer of knitted fabric, has entered into a MoU with the University of Moratuwa to create the framework for a long-term collaborative relationship. The milestone agreement paves the way for a close interaction between the two organisations for the development of opportunities for employment generation and collaboration on strengthening research, design and technical capabilities and product development on more..

Apr 9 (Island) UNP warned the govt not to shun UN human rights probe. Govt would have to face dire consequences unless it faced the proposed investigation, UNP MP Lakshman Kirielle told Parliament. He said that the govt should cooperate with the proposed international investigation and should prove that the charges against it were baseless. MP said that the govt’s decision not to cooperate with the investigation more..

Apr 9 (DM) The skeletons unearthed at Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar were reportedly of bodies buried since the 1930’s, further it is not a mass grave site as earlier believed, but an ordinary cemetery, the Archeological Department Director General said. The remains were first discovered on Dec 20 by some workers digging a trench to lay a pipeline, 2013. Mannar Magistrate had instructed the Archeological Department to investigate and report on the findings. more..

Apr 9 (DM) Parliament will felicitate the Sri Lanka Cricket Team today, according to a decision taken by party leaders today. The cricket team that won the T-20 World Cup arrived in the country yesterday. The party leaders who met in the parliamentary complex decided to cancel today’s programme, and instead decided to devote that time to felicitate the team for bringing glory to the country. Accordingly, the team will arrive in the parliamentary complex today. Earlier, govt had scheduled a debate more..

Apr 9 (Island) Now that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has received a mandate to inquire into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, it would be imperative that a confidential war time dossier prepared by the UN mission in Colombo was made public, an authoritative security official said. Official emphasized that there couldn’t be a better ‘source’ than the UN report that dealt with fighting on more..

Apr 9 (CT) Professor Abhaya Induruwa, who is known as the 'Father of Internet' in Sri Lanka was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame yesterday in Hong Kong for his pioneering academic and research networking to establish Internet in Sri Lanka. Professor Induruwa has been named as a 'Global Connector', a category which recognizes and celebrates individuals from around the world, who have made major contributions to the growth, connectivity, and use of the Internet, more..

Apr 9 (CT) It is reported that plans are afoot to appoint a group of UPFA candidates who lost in the recent PC elections to posts of chairpersons, directors and advisors in ministries, govt corporations and other establishments. A member of the SLFP said that a group of defeated candidates had requested President to consider the possibility of making these appointments. Source went on to say that these candidates have pointed out to the President that they have worked for the SLFP more..

Apr 9 (Island) The Presidential Secretariat has sought the approval of parliament for a Rs. 206,464,210 supplementary allocation to purchase bullet proof vehicles for security purposes of VVIPs. The supplementary estimate was presented to Parliament by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Approval was also sought for a further supplementary estimate of Rs. 524,000,000 to meet the shortfall of provisions for paying interest more..

Apr 9 (DM) The talks between the representatives of the fishing communities in Sri Lanka and India are being continuously put off due to the intransigence of Jayalalithaa Jeyaram, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She wants the Sri Lankan authorities to release all Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the navy for poaching in Sri Lankan waters before talks are held, while fishermen from her state continue to be arrested for the same offence. What she conveniently forgets or conceals is more..

Apr 9 (DM) It is a fact that the sun and the moon periodically illuminate the world. Nobody can permanently prevent or restrict light emanating from the sun and the moon. Although the suppressed truth can someday be unfolded, ripple effects created by such suppression cannot be reversed. There was a time when western countries obtained the services of WikiLeaks and internet hackers to ridicule African leaders who they thought were dictators. more..

Apr 9 (DM) In his speech on April 4 for the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed on the importance of involving women in the global drive to ‘clear landmines and protect against their indiscriminate effects’. He highlighted on the importance of overcoming gender barriers not only with concern to clearing landmines but also on educating people on more..

Apr 9 (ST) Police stations throughout the country have been instructed to gather information on robberies of banks and financial institutions and other crimes by bandits wearing full-face helmets weeks after a police attempt to ban helmets was defeated by merchants and motorcyclists. Acting DIG (Crimes), Gamini Dissanayaka said the directive, which includes crimes such as chain-snatching, went out following more..

Apr 9 (SL) Future stability and security of Sri Lanka depends on dismantling the LTTE infrastructure that legitimized separatism and supported violence. Although the LTTE was dismantled in Sri Lanka, the LTTE international network has reorganized and wants to revive the fight. As such, it is paramount for the Govt of Sri Lanka to bring to justice those who supported the violence and those who legitimized the LTTE. more..

Apr 9 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's private sector should ready themselves to tap into new markets including China said President Rajapaksa assuring a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is nearing finalization with the fastest growing economy in the world. Speaking to top rung private and public sector officials President Rajapaksa in an upbeat mood called for the private sector to equip themselves for challenges posed by new markets, more..

Apr 9 (Island) The European Union sees no reason to call for an immediate review of UN confidentiality clause pertaining to sources/eyewitnesses to facilitate a war crimes investigation undertaken by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. A senior EU spokesperson said: "The EU encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate with and to consider technical support from the Office of more..

Apr 9 (Island) UNP appealed to the govt to get its act together and stop playing China against India, which if pursued would only complicate the precarious situation the country was in. Senior UNP’er Gamini Jayawickrema Perera MP, said that the Rajapaksa regime was in deep trouble on all fronts, though it continued to make heroic statements to impress the local electorate. A developing country such as SL needed both more..

Apr 9 (IL) President Rajapaksa felicitated the ICC WorldT20 Cricket Cup winning Sri Lankan national team at the Temple Trees on Tuesday night. Congratulating the members of the team the President thanked them for bringing honour, glory and fame to the motherland. President also told the team that he was proud of all of them and that he and all cricket lovers in the country were happy with the great performance more..

Apr 9 (AP) A Sri Lankan women's rights group says the govt is arresting innocent female relatives of males it suspects are trying to revive the Tamil Tiger rebel group. Women's Action Network described the cases of six women it says were arrested because authorities suspect their male associates or family members have rebel links. The group's statement said the CID has detained some women who are elderly or more..

Apr 9 (CG) The Australian Govt says there were many “disturbing events” that took place during the war in Sri Lanka, including during the final stages of the conflict. In an opinion article written for the Newcastle Herald, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that in meetings with Sri Lanka’s political leadership, she had urged them to progress reconciliation as quickly as possible. “This has included the need for the SL govt to more..

Apr 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka's central bank lost 24.2 billion rupees in 2013, down from profits of 66.2 billion rupees, but the bank had transferred 25 billion rupees in profits to the state budget, its annual accounts showed. Other than interest income from its forex assets, a central bank primarily makes profits from inflation, either through currency depreciation or interest from 'domestic assets'. Domestic assets are govt securities, which more..

Apr 9 (CT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is reportedly on a study tour at the MIT to learn the art of toppling govts. After his stint at the MIT, the Opposition Leader will head to Harvard University, one of the finest places of academic and research excellence, on a lecturing tour. That is at least what his acolytes at the UNP say. If that is all true, both Harvard and MIT have much to learn from Wickremesinghe, particularly from his consistent failure as a politician. more..

Apr 9 (CT) Geneva stakes center around the 3rd US resolution presented to the UNHRC against Rajapaksa Regime that was adopted by 23 countries voting in favor, 12 abstaining and 12 voting against. Resolution established an international mechanism for investigating violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including war crimes, to be supervised by Commissioner of the UNHRC. For the US, the so-called Western bloc, and including Japan and more..

Apr 9 (HCP) A high powered delegation of Pakistan’s Gilgit – Baltistan Legislative Assembly members and officials led by Speaker Mr Wazir Baig, recently visited Sri Lanka on an exposure visit to study the Gems and Jewellery sector policy framework. The visit was aimed to help Gilgit – Baltistan to devise policies to support efforts to improve the livelihoods of small-scale gemstone miners in the area. more..

Apr 9 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee closed flat as dollar buying by two state banks helped offset the appreciation pressure resulting from greenback inflows from worker remittances and exporter dollar sales ahead of the festive season. Spot rupee ended at 130.59/61 per dollar, little changed from Tuesday's close of 130.57/63. The currency would have gained sharply in the absence of dollar buying by the two state banks, through which the central bank usually directs the market. more..

Apr 9 (Island) Bringing accolades to the police department, Officer-in-Charge of Pettah Manning Market police post, sub inspector, Amal Keerthi, in a rare feat, tracked down a suspect, on Monday after seeing him steal clothes and pairs of shoes from a shop at Weliweriya, which was recorded on the store CCTV system three days earlier. SI Keerthi, when contacted, said that he arrested the suspect on a tip-off that a 31-year-old married man from Panchikawatte was more..

Apr 9 (DM) Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) hinted that the time had come for another bus fare revision and said it would discuss the matter with Transport Authorities once the National New Year was over. “It has been a while since the last bus fare revision. We will discuss with Transport Authorities a bus fare revision after the New Year. As for the usual process, next bus fare revision should be implemented in July,” more..

Apr 9 (LBO) Shares close up 0.19% higher with index heavy stocks gaining amid strong foreign buying. All Share Price Index closed 11.39 points higher at 6,083.55 up 0.19%. The S&P SL20 closed 19.26 points higher at 3,345.96, up 0.58%. Turnover was 1.32 billion rupees, up from 645.14 million rupees a day earlier with 107 stocks close positive against 62 negative. Seylan Bank closed flat at 63.50 rupees with four off market transactions of 554.50 million rupees more..

Apr 9 (Island) Customs at BIA, Katunayake on Monday, thwarted an attempt by a 49-year-old Sri Lankan, who tried to smuggle out gold nuggets weighing 257 grammes worth Rs. 1,285,000 to India. Customs Media Spokesman Leslie Gamini said that the smuggler from Colombo, who was not a frequent traveller, was waiting to board AI 274 Air India flight, which was to take off at 4.30 to Chennai, when the customs officers arrested him at the Departure lounge around 2.30 p.m. more..

Apr 9 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today expressed its regret over claims made against the Secretary and CEO of the SLC by Mahela Jayawardena and stated that ‘such statements as damaging to both the image of the institution and the officials concerned.’ “SLC would like to categorically state that neither the Hony. Secretary nor the CEO of SLC had volunteered any statement to the Press regarding Mahela’s decision to address more..

Apr 9 (Island) Advances in technology, hugely beneficial though they were rendered human vulnerable in new ways and posed a huge threat to them, Technology and Research Minister Champika Ranawaka said. Addressing the Sir Arthur C Clarke commemoration ceremony held at the BMICH Minister said that the communication, gene and high technological advances as well as new innovations had become a great threat to human beings as they had gone beyond control of ordinary citizens. more..

Apr 9 (DN) Health Ministry took over the administration of the Trincomalee General Hospital on a request made by the Eastern Provincial Council. Health Ministry has already taken over the running of several other provincial hospitals, such as, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Chilaw, Gampola, Hambantota and Kantale. “The main purpose of taking over the administration of provincial hospitals is to modernize them by adding modern facilities and human resources,” ministry spokesman said. more..

Apr 9 (DM) Days after the Sri Lankan govt announcement's that it would not cooperate with the UN probe on Sri Lanka, Britain said that the Sri Lankan govt should listen to international community. “…the international community has spoken through the UNHRC, it is important that the Govt in Colombo listen to what has been said and what is asked of them, and that we can conduct an investigation through the Office of the more..

Apr 9 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka and Vietnam have discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation during a meeting between Vietnamese Minister of Public Security and SL President with a prisoner exchange agreement to be signed. Vietnamese Minister Gen Tran Dai Quang met with President Rajapaksa as part of his official visit to SL. Rajapaksa has also thanked the Govt of Vietnam for its consistent support to Sri Lanka at international fora, especially during the recent session of the UNHRC. more..