Apr 5 (Island) The Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) accused the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU) of having conspired with Indian doctors in advance to train Sri Lankan nurses in midwifery. PSUNU has said that it will have to bring Indian doctors to train Sri Lanka nurses in midwifery. The proposed programme was not practical at all though the nurses’ union had said that it had funds to pay Indian doctors, more..

Apr 5 (ST) A land acquired by the UDA for a development project is likely to be returned to the owner as it has not been utilized for any public purpose for the past 30 years. The 2.5-acre land at Kirulapone Station Road has remained unutilised for any public purpose, though the UDA claimed that a road development project was put into effect but delayed for several years. Land owner S.K. Wijetunga wrote to concerned officials, saying he wished to regain his ancestral land, more..

Apr 5 (CT) A person, claiming to be an acquaintance of Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, has been taken in for questioning, by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB), over an alleged scam involving over Rs 1.3 million. The suspect is alleged to have taken money from five women claiming that he could secure overseas employment for them through MP Rajapaksa. A victim, G. Indrani, a resident of Elpitiya brought the issue to the attention of the CFIB. more..

Apr 5 (CT) Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, said the Army is stationed in the North, in order to prevent another militant uprising and to serve the civilians affected by the war. He also said for 30 years the country suffered a ruthless war. "The innocent civilians in the North and East led a miserable life. However, with the annihilation of the LTTE, people are living peacefully in the North. more..

Apr 5 (CG) Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran briefed Mister for Foreign Affairs in Singapore, K Shanmugam, on the difficulties faced by the NPC. He was briefed when he visited Jaffna as part of his visit to Sri Lanka when he also met other officials including the Northern Governor. Wigneswaran had raised concerns over the inability for the NPC to conduct its operations effectively owing to the failure by the Govt to set the right conditions for that. more..

Apr 5 (SM) The UDA is preparing to construct a new four-lane highway in Battaramulla in a bid to ease the traffic congestion. UDA Deputy Director – Planning Ms. Priyani Navaratne said that the first phase of this project would be from Polduwa Junction along the main road near Diyatha Uyana or Waters Edge and pass the rear of Sethsiripaya up to Subuthipura. “We have chosen a local contractor for the construction. Work on this road will begin soon after Sinhala&Tamil New Year ends,” more..

Apr 5 (Island) UNP said that Rajapaksa govt had totally misread India’s abstention in Geneva as regards the US sponsored UNHRC resolution. Senior UNPer Gamini Jayawickrema Perera said that the govt was planning to take another ‘long nap’ as it had done after the first two UNHRC resolution against it were passed, but India had called for a domestic probe assisted by the UNHRC into war crimes allegation against more..

Apr 4 (DM) The elections to the Southern and Western PCs have just been concluded. People were able to witness some violence although no major incidents were reported. As in many other elections in the recent past, the candidates carried out their elections campaigns insulting the intellect of the general public while breaking most of the rules imposed by the Elections Commissioner. In this backdrop DP Leader Sarath Fonseka is reported to have described EC Mahinda Deshapriya as more..

Apr 4 (DM) At the end of the day it is the national interests of any country that decides its position on any issue. Security concerns and securing our territorial integrity go hand in hand in the country’s development programmes and the securing of a better Life. This happens the world over through the promotion of trade and commerce. We too should tread the same path in the most aggressive way possible. In the past our diplomats and our diplomacy has secured our country. more..

Apr 4 (BM) Five women from Sri Lanka, who claim to be on a visit to India to attend a marriage, were provided relief by the High Court of Karnataka which directed the Customs department to return their passports. The passports were 'illegally impounded' by the Customs on March 26, on their arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport, for failing to declare the gold bangles they were carrying. more..

Apr 4 (ST) Speakers at a crammed public forum this week denounced increasing military encroachment into various aspects of civilian life and warned that it boded ill for the country’s future. The gathering was held by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute auditorium to analyse the implications of a gazette vesting police powers in the armed forces. more..

Apr 4 (ST) Recent cases of harassment and rape of foreign women have raised concerns regarding the safety of tourists arriving in the country. Last week, a former Chairman of the Weligama PS was arrested, produced in Court and remanded for sexually harassing a 22-year-old Swedish woman at a resort in Weligama. Earlier this month two police constables were arrested in Ella, more..

Apr 4 (CT) The Chief Veterinary Surgeon (CVS) of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has announced his intention of setting up a dog shelter where dogs found on the roads within the city limits of Colombo will be seized and confined. He has also announced that once the shelters have been set up dogs will not be allowed to roam and be found on the streets. The CVS has taken this decision despite the fact that more..

Apr 4 (CI) Long levers, a blacksmith's shoulders, the chest of Adonis and a disregard for batting's conventions: if a Twenty20 superhuman were assembled, Mahela Jayawardene may not be required for its parts. As the format hurtles giddily towards transitory millennial glamour, lighting up its stumps and jazzing up its dancers, by some small miracle Sir Mix-A-Lot has not been lured to reprise "I like big bats and I cannot lie" more..

Apr 4 (CT) A baby elephant found in a paddy field in the Galgamuwa area by Wildlife officials is being treated for suspected poisoning. According to Wildlife Officials, they had received information regarding the sick baby elephant about six days ago. "The baby elephant is a male and about two years old. The animal was bleeding from the nose and mouth when it was found. However, it responded to treatment well. He drank some milk and more..

Apr 4 (LT) The boards of ministers for the Western and Southern PCs that were sworn in by the President is like baking again a once baked rotty says JVP MP Vijitha Herath. He said this responding to a question by journalists regarding the boards of ministers sworn in for the newly elected PCs. Mr. Herath said, “The same old ministers and chief ministers have been appointed again. People in the Western and Southern provinces more..

Apr 4 (FT) Sri Lanka will be the centre of attention once again as it prepares to be the first Asian country to host the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014 in May. Having successfully concluded the ninth Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF), which was held from 10 to 14 November in Hambantota in parallel to the CHOGM in Colombo, the nation is once again gearing up to host the most-awaited international event for youth, the WCY, more..

Apr 4 (CG) Tamil Diaspora groups have decided to challenge through court, the Sri Lankan Govt’s decision to proscribe them in Sri Lanka. The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) said it will deploy all legal and political instruments that are at it’s disposal to send a clear message to the regime that none of these ‘terror’ tactics will work as they live in a free society where they cherish freedom of speech and democracy and democracy not more..

Apr 4 (DM) Lasith Malinga will be appointed Sri Lanka captain on a full-time basis in the T20 format replacing the present captain Dinesh Chandimal after the present ICC World T20 tournament, sources said. Malinga who has led Sri Lanka with much aplomb in the last two matches they played against NZ and WI to put the team in yet another world cup final will take over reins after the present tournament, sources added. more..

Apr 4 (CT) Tomorrow, the nation would come together as 20 million Sri Lankans and many millions of cricket fans around the world are rooting for the Sri Lankan Lions who would be playing the T 20 Cricket World Cup final in the Dhaka Cricket Stadium. Who would be our opponents in tomorrow's match was expected to be decided in the second semi-final match, between India and South Africa which is being worked out, at the time this edition went to press, on the same grounds. more..

Apr 4 (CT) Today, the 5th of April 2014, marks Lasantha’s birth 55 years ago. Five birthdates have come and gone and his family, friends and colleagues still remember Lasantha with affection. Is the pain less for those near and dear to him, after a lapse of five years? I say… No. Many changes have taken place in Sri Lanka during the past five years and it is natural to wonder what impact, if any, Lasantha would have made, had he been alive. Most certainly he would have had plenty to more..

Apr 4 (CT) “The Govt of Sri Lanka (GSL) touts the ‘economic success’ in Eastern Sri Lanka, where the fighting ended in 2007, as its blueprint for the reconstruction of Northern Sri Lanka. Econoff found that the base economy in the East of paddy rice farming and fishing has bounced back, the GSL has improved the road network, and the number of security checkpoints has been reduced. Two new apparel factories have been more..

Apr 4 (CT) To foster peace the UNO was founded. It established a Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in 1946, which drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the period 1947 to 1967 the Commission concentrated on sovereignty in keeping with the spate of decolonization in Asia and Africa. After the mid-sixties when violations increased, emphasis shifted by 1967 to action on violators and a policy of interventionism came about. It implied that investigation and report were assuming more..

Apr 4 (Island) A teacher who had given evidence in the Venusha Imandi suicide case had been attacked on Thursday during a protest by students and parents of Kotalawela Vidyalaya, Kurunegala over the court decision to re-remand its Principal on Wednesday, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said. NCPA Police Desk said that the court decision was taken after it had been revealed that witnesses had been influenced and even abused allegedly by the suspect. more..

Apr 4 (CI) As Sri Lanka fans watched Virat Kohli gun down an imposing South Africa total on Friday evening, a familiar shadow of dread crept upon many. A final against an unrelenting India, whose belief and demeanour suggest they are champions already. This has all happened before. After four major finals in seven years, a clot of public superstitions has developed around big games. more..

Apr 4 (Island) Public Health Department (PHD) of Colombo Municipal Council urged all govt institutions to inform the CMC after they hand over food supply tenders to a private sector canteen operator. The PHD had received several complaints from Ministries and govt institutions as regards un-hygienically prepared or stored food items served in their canteens. In one instance an administrative officer of the Ministry had purchased a halape nibbled by a rat. more..

Apr 4 (Xinhua) SriLankan Airlines will commence direct flights between Beijing, Shanghai and Sri Lanka this week after years of preparations. Direct flights will allow passengers to fly directly to Sri Lanka from Beijing and Shanghai. Those heading for the Maldives will reach their destination with just one stop at either of the international airports in Sri Lanka. SriLankan Airlines previously flew to China via Bangkok, with tourists heading for the Maldives filling many seats. more..

Apr 4 (DM) Achieving a 75% pass rate at the GCE O/L exam by 2016 is within reach when one takes into account the pass rate at the 2013 GCE O/L exam – an increase from 64.74% in 2012 to 66.67% in 2013. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the education performance goals set for the 2016 GCE O/L exam are quite feasible. It was heartening to note that students had performed well in all subjects including English and Maths. more..

Apr 4 (WI) Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the epitome of composure on the cricket field. It takes something exceptional for Dhoni to express himself emotionally – usually, it’s a fantastic piece of fielding; sometimes, like on Friday, it is a special delivery of the sort R Ashwin sent down to Hashim Amla; very rarely, it’s a poor piece of cricket from a team-mate at a crunch situation. For the most part, however closely you scrutinise Dhoni’s face, if you didn’t know the match situation, more..

Apr 4 (CI) MS Dhoni is into his seventh year as India captain. It all started for him with the 2007 World T20, and for the first time after that, India are in the final of another edition of the tournament. In this time, Dhoni has seen "almost everything" there is to see in the game. He, as well as India, have been through on-field transition as well as off-field controversy. The latter word just refuses to leave Indian cricket alone, and brings additional pressure with it. more..

Apr 4 (DM) Army’s Military Police are currently questioning four soldiers with regard to the leaked video footage which went on YouTube showing a group of trainee women soldiers being harassed at an Army Camp in Anuradhapura. Adjutant General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said four soldiers were arrested by Military Police and were being further questioned. “During investigations it was found that the platoon commander more..

Apr 4 (Island) US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison called on the Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter, Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera yesterday. The ambassador and the prelate were in conversation for over an hour, but the discussion was not open to the media. However, it is learnt that the Mahanayake Thera told the ambassador that certain news reports in foreign countries about Sri Lanka were false. Among such media reports were the attacks more..

Apr 4 (ST) She walks gingerly down the steps of her daughter’s home at Battaramulla, giving us a big smile. Princy Perera, 76, has had a close-call and as her daughter Mangalika Ranaweera looks at her, she shudders at the thought of “what might have been”. What might of have been is incapacitation through paralysis due to a massive stroke 19 days ago on March 12. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops due to a clot in a vessel or the rupture of a vessel causing haemorrhage. more..

Apr 4 (WI) If they were a law firm, or chartered accountants, they would be called Jayawardene, Sangakkara & Associates. But, because they are merely a cricket team, they call themselves Sri Lanka. To say this is not to disrespect the other members who walk alongside Mahela and Sangakkara, but rather uplift a duo to their rightful place in Sri Lanka’s cricket pantheon. An island nation like none other, Sri Lanka more..

Apr 4 (ST) Irate residents and business owners in Udahamulla, Nugegoda, Wijerama and adjoining areas complain of ice-cream melting in their fridges, New Year work orders falling behind and sweltering conditions during power cuts caused by a transformer grid in Jayawardenapura Kotte which was burnt out six months ago. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been juggling the power load between different stations to keep up supply. This was not always successful. more..

Apr 4 (CG) A doctor at the Matale hospital has been accused of assaulting a four year old child at the hospital premises last evening. Eyewitnesses told the local Shree FM radio station that the child had been playfully knocking on the door of one of the hospital rooms while waiting with his mother to get medical attention. An irate doctor had then come out of one of the rooms and assaulted the child with his hands and feet. The mother of the child lodged a complaint with the police over the incident. more..

Apr 4 (WI) Lasith Malinga did not set out to try and lead his team to glory at the ICC World Twenty20 2014. With Dinesh Chandimal at the helm, and the likes of Mahela, Sangakkara, Dilshan and Mathews in the mix, Malinga would have arrived on Bangladesh’s shores expecting only to be wreaking havoc with the ball. But, as Sri Lanka stood one step away from a major world title, Malinga found himself at the receiving end more..

Apr 4 (Island) The Flying Squad of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) yesterday detected 200,000 rotten oranges at a warehouse on the Negombo road, Wattala. Spokesman for the Ministry of Trade said that acting on a tip-off, the CAA officials had made the detection of a stock gone bad, which would have fetched Rs. 8 million if it had been sold. The oranges were to be dispatched to fruit vendors in Colombo as the demand for them had increased during the Avurudu season. more..

Apr 4 (AD) The executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) at an emergency meeting this morning has decided to pay an additional bonus of US dollars 1.5 million to the Sri Lanka cricket team if they win the championship at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Cricket Tournament being played in Bangladesh. This includes the USD 500,000 participatory fee and the USD 01 million bonus offered for winning the tournament. The cash to be offered by SLC is through the monies to be received by more..

Apr 4 (IL) The National New Rice Festival (Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya) - 2014 was held near the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura under the patronage of President Rajapaksa. ‘Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya’ is considered as thousands of years old ancient tradition which was launched with the arrival of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to the island. It is an important annual ritual of the harvest festival in Sri Lanka. more..