Jan 9 (PTI) A Sri Lankan court today extended till January 23 the judicial remand of four Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the island navy and lodged in a prison there. The four fishermen of Jegathapatinam was stranded in deep sea near Neduntheevu on December 4 as their boat sank. They were rescued by Lankan navy personnel who arrested them. The four fishermen were produced in the Oorkavalthurai magistrate court which extended their remand, Armstrong Fernando, more..

Jan 9 (DM) The Colombo High Court today issued an arrest warrant against Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath VidyaPathirana for not appearing in courts for the trial into the alleged murder of British tourist Khuram Shaikh and harassment of the victim’s Russian girl friend at a Tangalle holiday resort in December 2011. When the matter was taken up for inquiry Counsel Shabdika Wellapuli informed court that more..

Jan 9 (LBO) Stocks end 0.25% higher Thursday with tobacco and diversified stocks gaining. All Share Price Index closed 14.87 points higher at 6,069.34, up 0.25%. The S&P SL20 closed 12.08 points higher at 3,362.39, up 0.36%. Turnover was 1.57 billion rupees, up from 849.52 million rupees a day earlier, with stocks of 89 firms closing in the red against 100 gainers. JKH topped the market turnover list with transactions of 170.77 million rupees contributing to 11% of total turnover today. more..

Jan 9 (CG) The Ministry of Health has issued a dengue alert for the Dehiwala and Moratuwa area and for Kohuwala, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Angoda and Katubedda. Ministry of Health said that dengue in some areas is at an epidemic level and the public need to take precautions. Operations to check for dengue mosquito breeding grounds in public places as well as schools, state institutions and other places in and around Dehiwala, Moratuwa, Kohuwala, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Angoda more..

Jan 9 (AP) A group of Sri Lankan govt supporters protested Thursday against a visit by a U.S. diplomat to discuss alleged war crimes committed during Sri Lanka's civil war, accusing America of ignoring its own human rights violations. Stephen J. Rapp, an ambassador-at-large with the Office of Global Criminal Justice, has met with ethnic Tamil politicians and religious leaders and is scheduled to meet with SL govt leaders before leaving more..

Jan 9 (Island) The supply of nearly 300 MW of cheap coal generated electricity or some 20 percent of the country’s power needs to the national grid is expected to be restored today. CEB Additional General Manager M C Wickramasekara said that Norochcholai coal-fired power plant would be reconnected to the national grid today following Sunday’s breakdown. The country’s first coal-fired power plant has so far broken down nearly 30 times since its launch in 2011. more..

Jan 9 (CI) Sri Lanka's tour of Bangladesh has taken a potentially decisive step forward following a meeting between officials of the two boards in Dubai on Thursday. The BCB said it had been told by Sri Lanka that the tour was on and the SLC, while not explicitly confirming it would send a team, said its final decision would depend on the visit, from January 13, of a security delegation to Bangladesh. The tour had been in doubt because of security issues by political instability in Bangladesh more..

Jan 9 (CT) The Chief Incumbent of Kotte Naga Viharaya, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, urged the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, to formulate a revolutionary programme through which Sri Lankans can be protected from consuming food that are mainly chemical-based, which impacts negatively on the overall health of the population. Ven. Sobitha Thera was addressing more..

Jan 9 (Island) Apropos yesterday’s news story ‘UL 503 in double jeopardy in one day’, SriLankan Media Relations Manager, has sent us the following statement: "SriLankan Airlines wishes to reject and deny the content of the article as the report is misleading the general public. In the article, the writer has cited online comments made in a website quoting the captain of the flight UL503, saying "I am sorry for the unscheduled descent. I have a serious problem with a hole in the window." more..

Jan 9 (CT) A nurse is set to put her skills to the test when she spends two weeks working in a Sri Lankan hospital. Beth Morris has spent the last three years working as a neonatal nurse looking after premature babies at University Hospital in Coventry. However, the mum-of -four has always wanted to help others across the globe and will head out to Sri Lanka tomorrow to work alongside and teach nurses on the island. Beth, 43, from Warwick, said: “My personal goal has always been to work more..

Jan 9 (CT) The depositors of Central Investments and Finance (CIFL) who had been defrauded by the company were in tears yesterday speaking about the loss of their hard-earned money. They said that Rs 1.7 billion out of the Rs 3.7 billion deposited with CIFL had gone missing. More than 1,000 CIFL depositors who had gathered yesterday at the Colombo Public Library Auditorium for a special meeting more..

Jan 9 (Island) Chief of the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said that the Health Ministry had failed to get the public involved in the fight against the mosquito borne disease. However, he said, the public also had a duty to take part in mosquito control programmes, while the Health Ministry and the MOH office of the area should work as individual focal points. Inspecting 120,000 premises within the Colombo City alone was time consuming and more..

Jan 9 (Reuters) The Sri Lankan rupee ended firmer on Thursday at its 2-1/2-month closing high on exporter dollar sales and foreign buying in rupee bonds while dealers expect the local currency to gain unless the central bank intervenes to keep it at a particular level. The spot rupee closed at 130.68/75 per dollar, its highest close since Oct. 25 and firmer from Wednesday's close of 130.80/90. "There were decent inflows from some exporter conversions and rupee bonds," more..

Jan 9 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene and Kaushal Silva did not put on a show - there weren't many people at the stadium to entertain anyway - but their exercise in restraint, self-preservation and gradual accumulation was exactly what Sri Lanka needed to consolidate the advantage earned by their fast bowlers on the first day. Silva fell five short of a maiden century and Jayawardene left his sublime shots on the shelf until the final session, more..

Jan 9 (Island) A 17-year-old schoolboy in the Dompe police area was stabbed by another student in the college playground yesterday morning. The injured student had been rushed to the Gampaha hospital as he had sustained stab injuries to his rib cage close to the arm pit. Gampaha hospital director, Dr. Sudath Dharmaratne, said the injuries were not serious and he had sustained three cut injuries that were not deep. The wounds had been sutured and the victim sent to a ward, he said. more..

Jan 9 (AD) The US Embassy in Colombo claimed in a tweet today that two top US Ambassadors had visited the site of the “killing of hundreds of families by army shelling” in January 2009. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele Sison and US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp are engaged in a visit to the North of Sri Lanka where they also visited St. Anthany’s Ground. The official twitter account of the US Embassy to Sri Lanka claimed in a tweet that this was the site of more..

Jan 9 (PTI) Under international spotlight over alleged rights violations during the last phase of war with the LTTE, President Rajapaksa on Thursday sought more time to deal with the Tamil issue. Defending his govt’s efforts in rehabilitating the Tamil-dominated northern region, Mr. Rajapaksa said, “We always support peace and we will keep supporting peace for all people.” “In Sri Lanka we also fought thirty years of war more..

Jan 10 (CT) The campaign by Tamils living in the UK against holding the CHOGM in Sri Lanka was vigorous. There was huge opposition to the participation of David Cameron, the British PM. But unfortunately the campaign was not able to stop him from visiting Sri Lanka and shaking the bloody hand of the war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, Cameron came under enormous pressure from the international protest movement against Chogm in Sri Lanka. And hopes were raised that this was more..

Jan 10 (NS) Burning mosquito coils is a common practice to repel mosquitoes. The growing menace of mosquitoes has prompted people to turn to mosquito repellents in the form of body lotions, creams, coils and mats. For many families ,burning mosquito coils is a daily ritual. While many of us may have used mosquito coils at one point, hardly many of us know the ingredients that make this a poisonous repellant. Some of the active ingredients include Pyrethrum (a natural powdered more..

Jan 10 (NS) Fresh fruits have become the latest casualty in the chemical and pesticide warfare. Tasty but toxic, are fresh fruits really fresh? A recent raid by the Consumer Affairs Authority made a startling revelation. 75,000 Kg of fruits which were ripened by the chemical Ethephon was seized from the Manning Market in Pettah last week. While the long- term effects of the toxic chemical is yet to be assessed, more..

Jan 10 (CT) Articles “God In Buddhism?” and “From Siddhartha Gautama to God” written respectively by Mr. Shyamon Jayasinghe and Dr. Jagath Asoka appeared in CT gave me the idea to write something revealing the true nature of popular Buddhist practices. It seems to me that not only both writers but also many amongst us who criticize popular Buddhist activities fail to understand the complex nature, different dispositions and the levels of the understanding of the masses in the world. more..

Jan 10 (NS) Delft, Neduntivu, as locals call it, is soon to be designated a sanctuary for ponies. This relatively undiscovered tourist destination has a rich history and is known for its Dutch Fort, Baobabs and ponies, both introduced species now quite at home in Delft. Wildlife Resources Conservation Minister, Wijayamuni Zoysa has said that he would draw up plans to set up a Sanctuary for the ponies, complete with food and water supplies for conserving them as a national resource. more..

Jan 10 (SO) The Sri Lanka Gamma Centre (SLGC), known as the Multipurpose Gamma Irradiation Plant or facility (MGIF) is functioning at an experimental level in the Biyagama Export processing Zone (BEPZ) from last week. On the completion of experimental operations level, commercial irradiation works will commence in a couple of weeks. The companies and industries can get their products irradiated in the plant, more..

Jan 10 (Island) Iraqis had only one problem prior to the US invasion of their country—Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship. The Americans and their allies brought down that murderous regime, promising them a better future in a democratic country. But, today, they have been sucked into a vortex of despair. The US itself has lost more than 4,000 troops in Iraq and poured billions of precious dollars into a bottomless pit. About 800,000 Iraqis are reported to have died due to war. more..

Jan 10 (SL) The state of development of the Jaffna town and its environs four-and-a-half years after the cessation of hostilities provokes a heated debate between supporters of the Rajapaksa regime and its critics. There will be those who claim that Jaffna is booming and the economy is picking up, the enrichment of the people are visible and the people are living freely without constraints being applied on their basic freedoms. The opposite view is that it is still a war ravaged town, more..

Jan 10 (DBS) I vividly remember that long night in Toronto on January 7th/8th 2009 which was daytime in Colombo. The telephone rang while I was reading a magazine article on the wildlife in Sri Lanka. It was Dushi (Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai). She broke the news that Lasantha Wickrematunga had been shot and injured on his way to work. The phone rang again just as I replaced the receiver. more..

Jan 10 (GV) Amidst the obfuscations and cumulus clouds of propaganda that have subsumed reviews of the last stages of Eelam War IV, it has taken time for some remarkable feats to emerge. The affidavit provided by Dr. Shanmugarajah on 10th May 2012 with assistance from a British solicitor reveals astounding medical relief work by a body of doctors, nurses, attendants and administrative aides during the Tamil peoples’ enforced retreat and crucible of battle in 2009. more..

Jan 10 (CT) This week, media groups commemorated Lasantha Wickrematunge, the editor of the Sunday Leader who was killed while he was driving to work on 8 January 2009, five years ago. Like all other previous killings, abductions and forced disappearance of media personnel, the assassins of Lasantha were never caught, prosecuted or convicted. Local media activists would commemorate during this month, a long list of colleagues who had paid with their lives more..

Jan 10 (CI) When Dinesh Chandimal fell hooking in the 11th over of the day, Bilawal Bhatti practically begged Misbah-ul-Haq for the ball. In the huddle, passing through at the end of the over, standing at his position at point, Bhatti made himself hard to miss. His last three balls to Mahela Jayawardene had all been nicked or gloved behind the stumps, and now, an injured Jayawardene had arrived one position below his normal haunt. more..

Jan 10 (CI) Ajmal went wicket-less. Junaid Khan was tidy. Bilawal Bhatti was ineffective. Mohamamd Hafeez was under-bowled and Rahat Ali was unlucky. That was the tale of Pakistan's bowlers on the second day in Dubai. They managed to take only three wickets, conceded 261 as Sri Lanka walked away with a decent lead of 153 runs and six wickets in hand. Pakistan walked away with few positives in terms of the bowling, on a pitch that is expected to get flatter and test them further. more..

Jan 10 (CI) Kaushal Silva narrowly missed a maiden hundred on day two in Abu Dhabi, but Mahela Jayawardene emphasised the value of Silva's 95, which he said was as good as a ton. Silva forged a 139-run fourth-wicket stand with Jayawardene to help consolidate the advantage Sri Lanka's fast bowlers had earned on day one, and had been the more fluent partner during their association. Silva had also hit 81 in Abu Dhabi - his first Test since 2011 - as he stepped into the opener's role more..

Jan 10 (FT) The Central Bank said yesterday that favourable developments in the external sector continued in November 2013, with a sharp contraction of the trade deficit, leading to an improvement of the overall balance. It said earnings from exports increased substantially, reflecting gradual recovery in export destination countries, while expenditure on imports declined. Accordingly, the current account deficit narrowed, more..

Jan 10 (Island) Sri Lanka's top forex earner apparels have arrived at the next level in global supply chains, and in the manufacturing front, have progressed beyond the original ODM status. "It's a first time in the world for us. We are pioneering G4 level in Sri Lanka. We are beyond the experimental level and it's a new supply chain model. We at PVH Corp are directly working with manufacturers instead of working through an office in Sri Lanka" revealed Mark Green, the Executive Vice President of more..

Jan 10 (Guardian) If you were going to pick a name for one of the most ecologically progressive hotel chains in the southern hemisphere, you'd hardly plump for 'Jetwing'.It might smack of a tacky 1960s love affair with the glamour of air travel but this family-owned Sri Lankan business is quietly transforming itself into something of a green pioneer. Not that you'd notice. Most of Jetwing's hotels hardly ooze greenery. There's none of the wood-and-thatch, earthy adobe ambience more..

Jan 10 (IRIN) University graduates in northern Sri Lanka, which is recovering from decades of civil war, are looking at a sparse employment landscape with few opportunities on offer, say officials. “Those from the north face a much more difficult time than those from elsewhere in the country. New jobs are very difficult to find,” Rupavathi Keetheswaran, the govt agent for the northern Kilinochchi District, told IRIN. more..

Jan 10 (Island) With the rapid developments in technology and the growing demand for new products, the production and consumption of more 'Electronic and Electrical Equipment' (EEE) has significantly increased around the world. This has also resulted in the acceleration of the rate of replacement of new products, creating a substantial burden on the waste stream in general. The rise of outdated EEE - which is known as Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) more..

Jan 10 (Island) The Joint Union Federation headed by the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya warned they would resume their strike depending on the outcome of the report of the Presidential Committee appointed to look into the demands made by Milco employees during last month’s strike. Media Spokesman for the SLNSS Rohan Gunasekara said that the committee would also look into corruption charges made by Milco employees against the management, he said. more..

Jan 10 (Island) The govt is to decide in four years’ time whether Australian investor James Packer’s casino project is to be proceeded with, once the casino mogul’s newly approved hotel project. This was revealed by Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane yesterday. The govt would consider whether to establish a casino or not only after the completion of the ongoing hotel project, he said, adding that before that we couldn’t make more..

Jan 10 (WA) It is a performance that would impress a professional mime artist. The platform guide for Sri Lanka Railways at the maniacally busy Colombo Fort station cuts through all language barriers with a skill he has held all his life. He is deaf and mute. His technique is simple. As soon as he sees a puzzled look on the face of a tourist wandering through the entrance, he plants himself in front of them. His facial impression conveys sympathy, then he will gesture for your ticket. more..

Jan 10 (SCMP) Christmas has come and gone but it’s still apt to bring out that seasonal jingle Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town and its opening line, “You better watch out”, having witnessed the happenings in Sri Lanka over the past few weeks. Rugby is taking off in a big way under the stewardship of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union president Asanga Seneviratne, who revealed that plans to include foreign players in the national teams at 15s and sevens are under way. more..