Apr 21 (DM) Attack on UNP MPs at the Mahagampura Port is a blatant violation of human rights by this Govt and is a clear justification of the Geneva resolution on Sri Lanka, DP Leader Sarath Fonseka said. He said that he was prepared to participate at any international probe being carried out by the UNHRC on allegations of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. He recalled that his party supporters were also assaulted more..

Apr 21 (DM) A British female tourist who had the image of the Buddha tattooed in her hand was arrested by the Katunayaka Airport Police and produced before Negombo Additional Magistrate T.M.T. Bandara today. Police told the court that the image of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower was tattooed in her hand and it was contrary to Buddhism. Michele Calmon (37) who arrived in Sri Lanka this morning was scheduled to visit several other countries in the region. more..

Apr 21 (DN) At least 112 shops in Bodhiraja Mawatha and in the 5th Lane in Pettah are to be taken over by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), reports said. The move comes as a result of the failure to pay the rent for these shops. CMC Commissioner, Badrani Jayawardena confirmed to the Daily Nation that they were planning to take over the shops as they had not paid their rental for a long time. “The Central Committee (Maha Sabha) will take the final decision soon,” she said. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Sri Lankan Cricket coach Paul Farbrace had indicated to the Sri Lanka Cricket officials this morning that he had not made a decision regarding his career despite receiving a more lucrative offer from the England and Wales Cricket Board. “We met him this morning and we had a very cordial discussion with him. He didn’t demand for anything from us, but said that the ECB had provided him with an attractive package,” more..

Apr 21 (CG) The police today filed a report to court on the recent Nippon hotel incident involving the BBS and it’s General Secretary the Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara thero. Gnanasara thero and a group of people had recently prevented a press conference led by the Venerable Watarekke Vijitha thero from taking place and verbally abused the Buddhist monk when he was about to brief the media at the Nippon hotel. Venerable Watarekke Vijitha thero had later complained more..

Apr 21 (DM) The GMOA said today said the Public Services Commission had approved one of the demands in the Medical Service Minute and therefore it had postponed the trade union action which was to be held tomorrow. It had earlier threatened to launch an indefinite strike tomorrow against the delay in issuing the gazette notification on the Medical Service Minute. “We postponed the strike as the Public Services Commission (PSC) approved the Medical Service Minute on more..

Apr 21 (CG) TNA once again raised the issue of private land being acquired by the Govt in the Jaffna District. The issue was raised at the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting held in Jaffna today under the joint chairmanship of Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and Minister and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda. At the meeting, TNA MP M.A. Sumanithran had proposed that an agreement more..

Apr 21 (CT) When President Rajapaksa contested for the Presidency in January 2010 for the second time, overwhelming assumption of the people who voted or campaign for him was that it was his last term. That was the constitutional position as well as the tradition of this country, like in many other democratic countries, since 1978 when the presidential system was inaugurated. The two term limitation was ingrained in the Constitution. Since 1994, the people have voted overwhelmingly more..

Apr 21 (CT) Sunday newspapers carried credible reports that the Presidential election would be held anytime after Nov this year, most probably in Jan 2015 while parliamentary elections would be held before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2015. What this means is that over the coming year, the serious political participant or student of politics should think almost entirely in terms of three subjects: Sri Lanka’s external relations (OHCHR probe, relations with the incoming Indian administration), more..

Apr 21 (SO) The beautiful, foamy waves surrounding the country continued to strike the shores even during trouble times but since tourists both domestic and foreign were hard to come by , they struck the shores and receded as usual with no one to admire their beauty. Now once again since tourism in Sri Lanka has hit the headlines there is a tourist wave in these areas. Domestic tourism has boomed in line with more..

Apr 21 (NS) There has been quite a few slanderous stories published over the years about a conspiracy to kill Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike by serving him a glass of milk mixed with cobra venom, and Minister CP de Silva, sipping the milk and falling sick. The political gossip goes as, CP, the next in command was sidelined by the SLFP leadership, [with caste factor playing a role], in recommending a successor to the slain PM, etc., Recently, a columnist quoting more..

Apr 21 (NS) The gains made by the DP and the JVP at the recently concluded elections for the Southern and Western Provincial Councils, along with modest performances by the ruling party and the main opposition party as well as a relatively lower voter turnout can be read in many ways. One explanation has been dissatisfaction with the law and order situation in the country. This is not about rise in crime. It is not about a blanket dismissal of all entities coming under the Defence Ministry. more..

Apr 22 (CT) The water buffaloes of Sri Lanka were once synonymous with agriculture and paddy farming, so involved they were in the agricultural sector of the country in an era prior to machinery and technology. Now, however, the numbers of water buffaloes are fast declining, and the buffaloes are more of a white-elephant than being a valuable asset and source of income. Main reason for this of course, as reiterated by more..

Apr 21 (GV) The country woke up a few days ago to news that a group of opposition UNP MPs on a fact finding visit to the new airport and port in Hambanthota had come under attack from goon squads. Subsequently, photographs showed His Worship (the UPFA) Lord Mayor of Hambantota, Eraj Ravindra Fernando, chasing the UNP MPs with a pistol in his hand, closely followed by members of the goon squad. Subsequently the mayor was to claim that he was only acting to protect more..

Apr 21 (ST) Like curses wrongfully made return home to him that curses, at long last it seems the Bodu Bala chickens are coming home to roost in accordance with the karmic law of cause and effect as expounded by the Buddha. Hardly had the cheering reached its crescendo over Lanka’s T20 cricket victory in Dhaka, which had some regaling how the country’s multiracial society transcended their violent differences and displayed the underlying national unity at that joyous hour more..

Apr 22 (CT) Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil said that he would never quit the UNP although the Party mistreated him while he was performing an unprecedented service to the city. He said that his wife was not granted nomination to contest the Western Provincial Council election although the party leader and the other seniors had promised to do so. He said 3 more candidates, including Feroza Muzammil, more..

Apr 22 (Island) Asgiriya Maha Nayake Thera Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera is reported to have sought President Rajapaksa’s intervention to prevent the print media from publishing the pictures of the Buddha. The prelate has reportedly argued that papers with such pictures are used for wrapping meat and fish. His concern is to be appreciated. But, the practicability of his exhortation is open to question. The prelate, we are afraid, has, instead of grasping the nettle himself, more..

Apr 22 (Island) Less than five years after the end of the three decade long internal war, the govt has warned that the LTTE is regrouping and plotting to renew its violent campaign for a separate state again. This warning has come in the context of a shootout reported in the North that led to the killing of three LTTE members by the military, who according to the govt, had shot and injured a policeman in the leg. It is plausible that there are small groups within the local population more..

Apr 21 (FP) Days after the UNHRC adopted a resolution calling for an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka, Colombo govt began moving to cut links between the country's Tamil minority and its powerful diaspora. Tamil diaspora, many of whom were driven out of Sri Lanka due to atrocities committed by govt troops and rebel LTTE fighters, is expected to play a prominent role in presenting evidence at the inquiry, more..

Apr 22 (ST) Cargills (Ceylon), as part of its annual Community Development Programme (Rural) recently distributed Rs 1.2 million worth of scholarships and other benefits to the Boralanda farmer community. According to a media release by Cargills, the largest beneficiaries were the smallholder farmers in the region with a land extent less than an acre. Accordingly, scholarships were awarded to students who have passed Grade 5 scholarship exam while a further 68 students more..

Apr 22 (Island) "Last year, 441 complaints were lodged with us by aggrieved parties on loan repayment hardships, lease payment difficulties as well as accrued overdue interests which they had found shocking. More than half of them were settled through our office as the complainants were satisfied with the settlements we could arrange with banks and financial institutions through a very transparent mechanism, Financial Ombudsman Dr. Ranjith Ranaraja said. more..

Apr 22 (NS) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is planning to carry out an independent survey among the business community to obtain an overall understanding of the sentiments of business executives in Sri Lanka. This survey is similar to the survey which produces the primary data source for compilation of the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and several other indices which extract information from the responses to the more..

Apr 22 (Island) A married man who had a love affair with a 21-year-old woman attacked her with a club causing serious injuries when the victim came to his residence in Siyambalagahawela, Galewela with her parents. Incident occurred after the woman’s relatives had found out that the man was already married with three children. Investigations have revealed that the suspect had carried on with the woman for some time. She had first visited her residence and sought the blessings of her more..

Apr 22 (FT) The Perceived Economic Opportunity Index (PEOI) for March picked up slightly; from 1.68 to 1.71, its compiler the Foundation for Economic Freedom in Sri Lanka (FEFSL) said. “The good news however, is that the trend line indicates that after hitting its lowest level in the first quarter of last year the PEOI has slowly turned upwards, albeit marginally,” it added. FEFSL said perhaps the non-event of feared imposition of economic sanctions at the UNHRC and the expected victory of more..

Apr 22 (ST) A rise in nationalism and unsafe environment for women and children in addition to financial crises in investments made in Colombo have raised alarms on whether Sri Lanka has become safe as a destination to visit. These concerns were brought to light through the UK and Australian travel advisories issued recently. The tourism industry that was just reviving after it ended in 2009 picked up to reach over more..

Apr 22 (FT) A new record was set for cash dispensed in a single day when users of the Commercial Bank’s ATM network withdrew a mammoth Rs. 2.05 billion on Friday, 11 April, beating the bank’s own record set a year previously by Rs. 263 million. The new one-day record was the peak of a record breaking 12-day period for Sri Lanka’s largest private bank, whose 585-terminal ATM network dispensed Rs. 15.438 billion between 1 and 12 April, as the country prepared to more..

Apr 22 (FT) Dialog Television has announced its appointment by Turner International as the exclusive re-distributor of CNN International and Cartoon Network for the country’s tourism and hospitality sector. Travellers to Sri Lanka will be ensured of the best in international news and family entertainment through this exclusive partnership between Turner International and Dialog Television – the preferred digital entertainment provider to Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector. more..

Apr 22 (CI) Paul Farbrace has said that he has not yet made a commitment to England, and remains conflicted over whether to become their assistant coach or remain head coach of Sri Lanka, after talks with SLC yielded no concrete decisions on Monday. He said there had been "nothing untoward" in his tenure with Sri Lanka that would drive him away from his current position, but admitted the prospect of working with more..

Apr 22 (Island) Etisalat Lanka, Mediccom and the Ministry of Health recently launched a joint initiative to enable the public to locate prescription/ none prescription medicine through their mobile phones. By dialling the USSD code #336#, Etisalat customers will be able to retrieve information on all the locations a particular prescription drug is available for purchase and a hotline to get further advice. ‘The ‘MyMediccom’ platform is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, more..

Apr 22 (TT) The Congress and India’s foreign office, long at loggerheads over the Sri Lankan policy, have been independently coaxing a common visitor to fly across the Palk Straits. The foreign ministry is trying to convince C.V. Wigneswaran, the Tamil chief minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, to visit India as soon as possible for a trip crucial for New Delhi’s tightrope balance between its concerns for that nation’s Tamils and its strategic interests. Ministry’s efforts have gained urgency after more..

Apr 22 (CT) Secretary General of the TULF V. Ananadasangaree urged the PM of Canada to reconsider the decision to suspend contributions to the Commonwealth fund. Anandasangaree, in his letter to the Canadian PM, said, "this decision will certainly directly or indirectly have adverse effect on the very same people with whom the Canadian Govt sympathizes with and those who had undergone untold hardships during more..

Apr 22 (Island) The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in Colombo has organized "An Evening with Prof. K Satchidanandan", to be held at the Indian Cultural Centre, 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7, on April 25. There would also be an interaction with the world renowned poet and scholar as well as recital of his poems,Director ICC, M. Ramachandran said. "Prof. Satchidanandan", will also launch the book titled ‘Tamil Short Stories from Sri Lanka’, edited by So Patmanathan during the event. more..

Apr 22 (TOI) To commemorate the 363rd birth anniversary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, a special delegation of 25 priests from Sri Lanka visited Sancoale sanctuary and participated in the Eucharistic celebrations. Episcopal Vicar of diocese of Kurunegala, where the first church was erected and dedicated to Bl Vaz soon after his beatification, Fr Piyal Fernando attributed the staunch faith and existence of Christians in Sri Lanka today only due to the mission of this apostle of India. more..

Apr 22 (HT) Karuna starts each time a car stops outside the door. He shows his wounds at the hands of SL army; the ones that have been inflicted by an Indian policeman hurt no less. “I should return to the camp,” he says after an hour. “I’m out of work, I might be asked by the cops why I had to stay out so late.” No one takes a pause in Chennai. Sentences spoken are long, exchanges, hurried, and there is drama everywhere. more..

Apr 22 (LBO) Sri Lanka's vehicle registrations rose 4% to 26,921 in March 2014 from a year earlier picking up from lull in February with hybrids continuing to lead motor cars, an analysis by an equities research house showed. Total registrations fell to 23,199 in February from 27,913 in January with a shorter month and less working days. Motor car registrations to 7% to 1,694 in March from a year earlier with more than half (894) made up of hybrids. Hybrids were up 88% from a year earlier. more..

Apr 22 (Island) Higher Education Ministry had no objections to the restoration of the course term of Allied Health Sciences degree programme to four years. It was the GMOA that wanted its period reduced, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said in Kandy yesterday. In a statement to the media, Minister said ‘instead of holding ‘upawasa’ on public roads the students should hold protests in front of the top officials of the GMOA. If it is necessary we, too, can extend support to such action." more..

Apr 22 (DM) Senior players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara could face disciplinary action over remarks they made on arriving after winning the ICC World T20 title. At today's executive committee meeting of the governing body, SLC said it has been decided to refer the matter to the SLC's disciplinary committee, an ex-co source said. After arriving from Bangladesh, duo had slammed SLC officials more..

Apr 22 (Island) Chairman of Puttalam PS Nimal Bamunuarachchi had a narrow escape when two unidentified persons tried to shoot him at his residence on Saturday morning. Two persons thrust a gun into the room he was sleeping in around 4.30 a.m. through an opening however they ran away when the occupants shouted for help. Bamunuarachchi said he could not identify the two persons as they were covering their faces with helmets. He has lodged a complaint with more..

Apr 22 (CG) Arputhammal, mother of one of the killers of Rajiv Gandhi has urged political leaders not to impede the release of her son, A.G. Perarivalan, a former member of the LTTE. Indian Chief Justice P. Sathasivam has indicated that the court would pronounce its verdict on a petition for the release of all seven convicts serving life sentence before April 25. “We have been making all arrangements with regard to the release of my son and at this time a leader suddenly commenting on more..

Apr 22 (CT) Govt constituents, the SLMC and the JHU may either vote against or abstain from voting for the Casino Bill, which is part of the Strategic Development Act, to be taken up for debates in Parliament on Thursday. JHU said the Party will take a final decision on the gazette tomorrow, while the SLMC said the Party had not taken a collective decision yet as to whether to abstain or vote against the three gazettes. more..