Apr 19 (ST) When Visakha Vidyalaya presents ‘Applause’ on from April 25-27 they’ll be cementing their status as one of the pioneer synchronized swimming school teams in the country. The school, with its considerably long history in the sport will host the event in aid of additional improvements to the Visakha pool. Rovini Illukkumubura was only six when the school’s synchronized swimming team staged their first concert in 1995. She was 10 when she took part in her first show. more..

Apr 19 (MoD) Sri Lanka Navy held the 'Navy Cup Water Sports Festival - 2014, at the Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya on 16th April 2014. The mega event was organized in association with the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. The stunning event saw a large gathering of sports enthusiasts across the island. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Viewers were enthralled to the stunning Arrow Boats manoeuvres performed by more..

Apr 19 (DN) President Rajapaksa opened SL's first automated motor vehicle production line of Micro Cars at the Polgahawela Industrial Zone yesterday. He inspected the production including the hi-tech welding plant after ceremonially unveiling the commemorative plaque. At the ceremony, a Micro van which is the latest model of Micro vehicles was presented to the President by Micro Cars Chairman Dr. Lawrence Perera. more..

Apr 19 (CT) Laugfs Eco Sri, which has consistently worked towards reducing air pollution in Sri Lanka, carried out emission testing on nearly 15,000 vehicles belonging to Sri Lanka Army last week. The programme took place at a LAUGFS Eco Sri centre in Bellantota and was attended by Lieutenant General DayaRatnayake, LAUGFS Holdings Limited Chairman, W.K.H. Wegapitiya and LAUGFS Eco Sri CEO Damayantha Wijesiriwardena and other distinguished invitees. more..

Apr 19 (Island) Standard Chartered was awarded the "Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka" at a ceremony in Sydney recently at The International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2014 by The Asian Banker and the International Panel of Advisors. Standard Chartered successfully underwent all the stringent valuation for the International Excellence in Retail Financial Services programme to be adjudged the winner of the accolade, a release said. Sanjay Wijemanne, Head, Retail Clients, more..

Apr 19 (FT) Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday said that the Wilpattu squatters at Marichchikattu arrived there due to their great necessity to survive and allegations made against him were totally untrue. “A total of 73 families who were left in the lurch have put up temporary huts on the borders of the Wilpattu National Park out of great necessity to survive. I stress that the allegations made against me are totally untrue,” said Bathiudeen, more..

Apr 19 (DN) April 13 was a day much looked forward to by Sri Lankans in Nagoya. Though small in number, they gathered at Inaei Higashi Park in the centre of Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya for a special reason. Celebrating the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in a far away country, brought much enthusiasm to all, clearly evident from their smiling faces. The Avurudu feeling was all over this beautiful park, which is famous for Japanese landscape skills. Though the world famous Sakura flower more..

Apr 19 (FT) There are approximately 350,000 of them, employed in various capacities in 285 factories scattered all over the country. Their contribution to the economy could be unhesitatingly described as vital. Females who constitute nearly 85% of the workforce, mostly machine operators form the backbone of this industry’s production line. These girls join the “garment” job at very tender age (18+). That’s the easiest. With very little demand for educational records and more..

Apr 19 (Island) The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that nine people had been killed after being struck by lightning so far this year and the Meteorology Department warned of strong winds during thunder showers spreading across the country. "Lightning is a natural disaster, and we always try to educate people living in the countryside to be careful, especially during rainy season," DMC, Deputy Director Media more..

Apr 19 (FT) Rotary Club of Colombo West, in association with the Department of Probation and Childcare Services Southern Province and donors, constructed and handed over four separate Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim prayer rooms located adjacent to each other on the same compound to the children of Govt Detention Home, Halpathota, Baddegama recently. Speaking at the handover over ceremony, Rotary Club of Colombo West President Jerome Rajendram more..

Apr 19 (Xinhua) The 27th General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) will be held in northwest China's Shaanxi Province in October, WFB secretary-general said. The event, set for October 16-18, will be held in the city of Baoji, Phallop Thaiarry said at a press conference. This is the first time that the WFB, an international Buddhist organization headquartered in Bangkok, has decided to hold its general conference in China. Shaanxi province has been selected more..

Apr 19 (Island) UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa said that he was not in any way involved in Thursday’s incidents at the Mattala airport as well as Hambantota port, where a group of UNP MPs was targeted by some ruling party supporters. MP Rajapaksa said that he was in Trincomalee with the Navy rugby team for a special training session, therefore he didn’t hear of the UNP MPs’ inspection tour. MP was responding to a claim by more..

Apr 19 (Island) Sri Lankan the Consulate General in Sydney nominated Master Ravin Bandara Galapathy to represent Sri Lankan Australians and meet with Prince William and his wife Katherine at the Sydney Opera House, Australia. Dressed in Sri Lanka’s national dress, and the Kurahan Satakaya as an honour to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ravin was invited to meet the British Royal Couple, have his photo with them and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Trophy. more..

Apr 19 (CT) A 73-year-old man, who had been begging on the streets after distributing his property among his five children, was handed over to the police by his son and daughter-in-law when he had visited their house. The daughter-in-law had called the Police Emergency Services hotline 119 and lodged a complaint that her father-in-law had arrived at their home drunk and was causing problems. Thelikada Police had thereafter arrested the man. When police questioned the man, more..

Apr 19 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid obeisance to the historic Jaya Sri Mahabodhi and obtained blessings for the New Year this morning (18). President thereafter called on the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, the Ven. Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera and received his blessings. Subsequently, he joined the religious observances held beneath the Ruwanweli Maha Seya. more..

Apr 19 (DN) Sri Lanka's first ever International Water Polo championship successfully concluded on Saturday. India claimed the Gold in the inaugural championship while SLWP Lions had to be satisfied with Silver. SLWP Sharks won bronze medal. SL Aquatic Sports Union along with SL Water Polo had Invited Maharashtra India team for a Triangular tournament from April 2-5. SLWP Lions met Indian National Brownze medalist Maharastra team in the big final on held at Police Pool. more..

Apr 19 (DN) Three leading Sri Lankan swimmers left the island last night to participate in the Arena Grand Prix at the Skyline Aquatic Centre in Mesa, Arizona, USA. The trio of Killer Whale Aquatics' swimmers Matthew Abeysinghe, Machiko Raheem and Kimiko Raheem, who have been dominating the Lankan swimming arena, setting national records, will be trying to improve the standards, which they have achieved for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in China from Aug 16 to 28 this year. more..

Apr 19 (CT) Muralitharan recently invited five British MPs, whose tour however was cancelled at the last minute, due to misconstrued information that the govt was funding this tour arranged by an NGO. Muralidharan wanted to showcase Foundation of Goodness, a project he is involved in, to those MPs. But the trip was cancelled allegedly due to pressure from UK based activists and media, it has been reported. more..

Apr 19 (CT) Hambantota Mayor, Eraj Fernando, who allegedly led the attack against a group of UNP MPs at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MMRP) said he is ready to resign from his post, if the govt is facing inconveniences due to his action. Fernando said that he went to MMRP to solve an alleged tense situation that erupted at the port with the visit of the UNP MPs. He alleged that it was he who rescued the UNP MPs from the angry mobs. "If the President asks me to resign, I will resign. more..

Apr 19 (Island) Two naval ratings were killed and four others injured when a Jeep they were travelling in toppled at Kodawakattu in Madurankuliya on the Trincomalee-Pulmuddai road yesterday. The accident took place around 11 am yesterday, Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya told ‘The Island’. He said that the naval ratings had gone to Pulmuddai camp for an official matter and were returning to their base at Trincomalee when the accident occurred. more..

Apr 19 (Hindu) In the hot plains of the Vanni, a larger-than-life stone soldier emerges out of a block of concrete, an AK-47 in one hand and the Sri Lankan flag in the other. Hardly visible from the ground, a dove sits on the machine gun. This is a “victory memorial” created by the Army after the end of the hostilities between the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan Army in May 2009. Beneath it, two plaques commemorate its creation. more..

Apr 19 (Hindu) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pet macaws have been recaptured, four days after they escaped his tightly-guarded official residence here, officials said on Friday. Zoo keepers and residents helped capture Mr. Rajapaksa’s colourful long-tailed birds, a species of parrot. Presidential security sought help from zoo keepers to capture two birds perched on a tree—top at Rock House area, about four km from President’s House, officials said. more..

Apr 19 (Island) The Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) renewed their threat to go ahead with an indefinite strike from April 22 unless the doctors’ service minute was implemented prior to that date. GMOA Committee member Dr. Navin de Soysa said that the Health Ministry had informed the GMOA that the Public Service Commission (PSC) had only approved the service minute of the doctors without the consultants’ transfer scheme. Therefore the work of the PSC was not completed. more..

Apr 19 (Island) Five UNP MPs who were attacked by UPFA mobs when they visited the Mattala Airport and Hambantota Port, on the ‘invitation’ of the govt are to raise privilege issues against the police for failing to provide them with security. R. Yogarajan, one of the legislators who came under attack, said that when parliament resumes sittings on April 24, he along with MP’s Ajith P. Perera, Eran Wickremaratne, more..

Apr 19 (DM) The world lost two greatest minds within the first four months of 2014. The death of the Nobel Prize-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the author of One Hundred Years of Solitude—”the greatest revelation in the Spanish language since Don Quixote”, the 17th-century masterpiece by Spain’s Miguel de Cervantes—as the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda puts it, hit the news less than 30 days to the death of world renowned Indian author Khushwant Singh. more..

Apr 19 (DM) At the General Elections of 1977, the UNP headed by J.R. Jayawardene, presented its manifesto to the people. By its manifesto, the UNP sought a mandate from the people inter-alia “to draft, adopt and operate a new Republican Constitution in order to achieve the goals of a democratic social society”. The UNP Manifesto declared that “We shall include in the Constitution the Basic Principles accepted by the 1975 Party Sessions with reference to religion and language and more..

Apr 19 (ST) A racket in which a gang offers help to people struggling to pay monthly vehicle lease instalments and later steals and sells the vehicle has been busted by Mirihana police. Gang has been advertising that vehicles are being sought for a rent-a-car service and individuals unable to pay their lease instalments could benefit from the scheme. People who have been finding it difficult to keep up their monthly payments often more..

Apr 19 (SL) Nearly five years after the extraordinary defeat of the LTTE, the Tamils in Sri Lanka and overseas are taking a tough stand against the LTTE. Tired of intimidation, assault and killings, ordinary Tamil civilians are beginning to fight back. One such leader is Rajan Mahavalirajan from Canada who is tired of racist Tamil politicians filled with hate and the LTTE remnants. These respectable men and women want to purge more..

Apr 19 (DM) Rat population in Colombo has increased and immediate measures need to be taken to bring it under control Chief Medical Officer of Health at the CMC Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said. “A special programme needs to be organised to reduce the rat population. We were unable to attend to the issue since most of our workers were involved in the dengue eradication programme. more..

Apr 19 (CT) It is a national tragedy that the EPF has still not submitted to Parliament its audited accounts for the year 2011 as required by law. UNP MP, Harsha de Silva, issuing a statement said: "This is notwithstanding the cynical press releases by the Central Bank 'warning' the public not to be misled by 'certain politicians' who have been repeatedly alleging that EPF's audited accounts have not been submitted since 2010. more..

Apr 19 (PTI) Sri Lanka cricket (SLC) is in the dark over any possible move by the national coach Paul Farbrace to become a part of England coaching staff. SLC, however admitted the ECB had communicated their interest in recruiting Farbrace, a release said. Farbrace had only become Sri Lanka's national coach in December when the incumbent Graham Ford left the job. Farbrace became an instant hit with the Islanders as more..

Apr 19 (CT) The All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU), the apex religious body of Islamic Theologians in Sri Lanka states that it hopes to secure an audience with President Rajapaksa as well as with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera. Chief of the ACJU's Media Unit and Moulavi, Aslam Zubair, said this decision had been reached to bring to notice the more..

Apr 19 (Island) Hambantota is fast becoming a place notorious for thuggery and crimes providing grist to the anti Lankan forces that question on the good governance and break down of law and order in the country, UNP MP Sajith Premadasa said in a media release. Thursday’s incident of government goons attacking five UNP MPs who tried to visit Mattala Air Port and Hambantota Harbour would further tarnish more..

Apr 19 (Island) Taking the dialogue process forward, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the govt was looking forward to the ministerial level talks on the issue of trespassing and poaching by fishermen of India and Sri Lanka before the fisheries organisations discussions announced by the Tamil Nadu. He said that the letters had already been sent to the Indian Central Govt seeking dates for the meeting next month. more..

Apr 19 (CG) The Govt says it will maintain its position on the US resolution adopted at the UNHRC recently. The resolution had called for an international independent investigation in Sri Lanka into human rights abuses alleged to have taken place between 2002 and 2009. However Government sources said that while a formal request is yet to be made by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) more..

Apr 19 (CG) BBC correspondent based in Colombo has been refused a one year visa extension and he has been asked to leave the country. The visa of Charles Haviland, who has been in Sri Lanka since April 2009, expired this month and he had sought a one year extension through the External Affairs Ministry. However the Ministry had refused to grant him one year extension and had given him a few days to leave Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 19 (CT) A group of UNP MPs, who were on a fact-finding mission to the Hambantota Harbour and the Mattala International Airport, were on Thursday attacked allegedly by ruling party acolytes in President Rajapaksa's pocket borough itself. The MPs were purportedly on a fact-finding mission on allegations of bribery, corruption and financial malpractice related to the construction of the MRIA and MMRP, two major infrastructure projects, both named after the incumbent President. more..

Apr 19 (ST) Teachers and students in Uchimunai, Kalpitiya have been facing hardship in travelling to school due to lack of transportation facilities. The school is situated in the isolated island or spit of Uchimunai which could be reached only by boat as there is only a sand route by land which is impassable at most times. Teachers have complained that they have to travel about 15 kilometres in fishing boats to get to the school due to lack of accommodation on the island. more..

Apr 19 (DBS) The traditional April new year named “Jaya” or Victory dawned on a positive note this year for Sri Lanka. A massive security operation launched by the Sri Lankan armed forces had resulted in the deaths of three persons in the Jungles of Vedivaithakallu-Oothukkulam-Bogaswewa in the North. Paradoxical as it may appear the “bad” news of deaths was in another sense “good” news for the Country at large more..

Apr 19 (Hindu) This film was an Indo-Sri Lankan joint-venture produced by businessman T.M. Menon and M.M. Saleem, noted building contractor (son of Mohammed Meeran, the famed architect and civil engineer who designed and built the landmark Gemini flyover on Mount Road) and D.M. Chandrasena of Sri Lanka. This film in colour was shot entirely in the picturesque island nation and the post-production work done in Madras (now Chennai). Sivaji Ganesan played the title more..