June 11 (CT) SriLankan Airlines cancelled its daily flight to Karachi yesterday, following a second attack on the Jinnah International Airport terminal. International media said around 10 gunmen on motorbikes attacked a security check post situated outside the Airport in the early hours. The attacks that lasted about an hour comes hot on the heels of an attack on Sunday night, which killed around 37 people, including airport staff, passengers and 10 militants. more..

June 11 (Hindu) The scars created by terrorism and conflict are yet to heal in Sri Lanka, outgoing U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday. Addressing the 26th session of the UNHRC in Geneva, her last as High Commissioner, Ms. Pillay said her office has put in place a staff team that would be supported by several experts and special procedures mandate holders, to conduct the comprehensive investigation more..

June 11 (DN) Sri Lankan females seeking jobs abroad as domestic workers had dropped to 33 percent, a sharp decline compared to figures in 2010 which is 52%. Minister Dilan Perera attributed this trend to the efforts undertaken by the authorities to discourage women migrating for jobs as domestic aides while encouraging the labour migration of skilled workers, both male and female. Speaking during a media workshop organised by the ministry, Minister Perera said that more..

June 11 (DH) Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs, MLCs and senior leaders will go on a four-day junket to Sri Lanka, in what will be an exercise in finding the causes for the party’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Group will leave Bangalore on the evening of June 15 and be closeted in a resort near Colombo before returning to the City on June 19. JD(S) party floor leader, H D Kumaraswamy, will have one-on-one talks with the leaders and get their feedback about his leadership. more..

June 11 (Island) The Election Department was silent over introducing a vote counting machine which was proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms five years ago, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. In 2006, some Indian company offered a machine, but researchers at the Moratuwa University informed the PSC that they themselves were researching to produce a machine. more..

June 11 (Island) JVP’s policy framework titled Our Vision could not certainly be called our vision, Wimalaratna Attho, spokesman and translator for Veddha Chief Uruwarige Wannila attho said. He said that former leader of JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe had visited Veddha Chief recently and presented his party’s new manifesto titled Our Vision to him. "He [Somawansa] just presented a sheaf of papers to the Chief. Various people come to meet our Chief who grants an audience to them. more..

June 11 (MO) Events of Jan 5, when England subsided in the equivalent of a session at the SCG, feel like another world now. And yet, when the first Test against Sri Lanka starts on Thursday, it will not take much to return to that indecently hasty afternoon. At Lord’s on Monday evening, where England’s players and administrators and backroom staff had gathered for their annual pre-Tests shindig, it felt like the first day of term, as nerves jostled for supremacy with natively cautious optimism. more..

June 11 (TOI) Fishermen on the Tamil Nadu coast are gearing up for another bout of confrontation with Sri Lankan authorities as the latest arrest of men has soured hopes of better ties. Meanwhile, Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities on Saturday and Sunday were produced before Mannar and Kytes court. Among the 86 apprehended, the court released five fishermen who were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy after more..

June 11 (DC) Hundreds of Sinhala men and women demonstrated outside the Indian High Commission on Tuesday slamming the new Indian Premier Narendra Modi for urging Colombo to speed up the post-war reconciliation with Tamils, clearly pointing to the hardening of the anti-India stance among the majority Sinhalese and their rulers. The protesters also targeted Tamil Nadu chief minister Ms Jayalalithaa Jayaram, even burning her photograph on the road, for pressuring Modi to initiate more..

June 11 (Island) Welcoming the SLFP’s decision to consult Parliament with regard to UN war crimes probe, the JVP said that the govt could have avoided such an eventuality if it had promptly addressed accountability issues. Had the govt adopted a realistic strategy, it could have even prevented the UNHRC adopting a punitive resolution against the country, the JVPer said. JVP MP Vijitha Herath, said that now that the UN was going ahead with a probe, the govt should face it. more..

June 11 (Guardian) William Hague has said the govt will investigate claims that Tamil asylum seekers are being deported from the UK to Sri Lanka despite evidence they have been subjected to rape and sexual abuse by the country's security forces. Refugees, their lawyers and advocacy groups made the allegations on Tuesday on the opening day of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, hosted by the UK, which more..

June 11 (Reuters) The GSMA today announced that leading Sri Lankan operators Dialog and Mobitel will launch a beta trial of the GSMA Mobile Connect service that will allow consumers to conveniently, securely and consistently access a wide array of digital services by using their smartphones and feature phones as devices for authentication. The service will be launched in conjunction with select Sri Lankan online service providers including Kapruka, MyDeal and WoW and more..

June 11 (DN) Since the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka is an unfair unilateral resolution, the govt will not agree to or cooperate with any program implemented through it, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. He said the resolution has been mooted in a baseless and malicious manner based on incorrect data and whatever arguments are brought forward to justify it with the strength of votes cast by various countries, 'it is definitely a unilateral resolution which is completely unreasonable more..

June 11 (Island) Parliament would decide on Sri Lanka’s participation in proposed UN probe on atrocities allegedly committed by the military and the LTTE on the Vanni east front, during eelam war IV. The decision was taken at a meeting of the SLFP Central Committee presided over by President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Monday. Parliament will meet next Tuesday. Soon after the UNHRC adopted a US-led resolution in March 2014, more..

June 11 (DM) The attack on the Pakistan’s biggest airport, the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Sunday that killed more than 20 people would have caused to flash the memories of the attack on the BIA by the LTTE on July 24, 2001 across the minds of many Sri Lankans. As a country that suffered from the savagery of terrorism for more than three decades, Sri Lankans would be in the forefront to sympathise with the people of Pakistan who are still destined to go through this kind of trials more..

June 11 (DM) While there should be interaction between the three legs each bearing its own weight for stability, there should not be overlap or duplication as it would then result in a collabpse of the system due to instablity. Sri Lanka can be proud of the development of Engineering and Technological education dating as far back as from 1893 at the Technical College at Maradana. The BSc (Eng) external degree of the University of London was the forerunner to the BSc Eng more..

June 11 (ST) The controversy over alleged external interference with examiners setting question papers for GCE A/L, deepened, with 39 of 50 Chief Examiners demanding that Minister Bandula Gunawardena explain how a Chief Examiner for the Economics paper was replaced. Dispute has been sparked following the appointment of a new Chief Examiner for GCE A/L Economics paper replacing the present incumbent. more..

June 11 (DM) Jo Butler had moved far out - a yard out of the crease on Sky Television replays [Not mere inches]- indeed audacious after two warnings; when Sachitra Senanayake broke the stumps and appealed for a run out. Butler was warned previously by the same bowler for advancing outside the crease before the release of the ball as was his partner at the other end Chris Jordan. Both warnings went unheeded. more..

June 11 (SL) The month of June is set to be a crucial time for the Govt as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launches the much anticipated investigation into the war in Sri Lanka. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is expected to refer to the investigations when she makes her opening speech at the 26th Session of the UNHRC which begins meeting in Geneva more..

June 11 (Island) Scientific officers of the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) have sought President Rajapaksa’s intervention to fill vacancies for three deputy director posts there by claiming that its Chairman has appointed acting directors without qualifications. Spokesman for the Scientific Officers’ Association (SOA) of the RRI said that those vacancies had not been filled for over three years. Posts of Deputy Director (Administration), more..

June 11 (IRIN) Better detection and care has led to a dramatic fall in the number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka over the past five years, but health experts warn there has been no corresponding decline in infection rates, highlighting the need for more effective prevention. “We need a combined effort where preventive programmes and curative medical care work hand in hand,” Paba Pallihawdana, the head of the Epidemiology more..

June 11 (GDI) Deyata Kirula Exhibition parallel to the Deyata Kirula Development Program 2014-2015 paving the way for rapid development in the Districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ratnapura will be hled in Kotawila, Matara in a land extent of 144 acres and at Mahinda Rajapaksa Vidyalaya premises in Meddawatta, Matara which has a land extent of 24 Acres. Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that these two more..

June 11 (CI) Moeen Ali has played mock Tests in his garden with his brother and watched his cousin, Kabir, make his one England appearance in 2003. Now he is on the brink of the real thing for himself. One of three uncapped players in England's squad, Moeen is pencilled in to bat at No. 6 against Sri Lanka but it is his bowling that is generating the most interest in the post Graeme Swann era. He is the main spin option more..

June 11 (DM) The Meteorology Department today denied reports which said there was a move to stop publishing weather forecasts. Some websites reported that plans were underway to stop publishing weather forecasts over the media following complains that the forecasts were wrong most of the time. Some websites even reported that some officers in the department were suffering from mental distress after people blamed the more..

June 11 (DM) The first Karachi-bound SriLankan flight which was scheduled to take off from Colombo left this morning, the SriLankan Airlines said. “The flights that were cancelled due to the attack by gunmen at the Karachi airport, will operate on the normal schedule from today,” Media manager Deepal Perera said. The air bus UL 330 left Karachi at 9.20 a.m as other flights also resumed operation as normal to Karachi. more..

June 11 (CG) The Govt has raised objections to some comments made by Dr. Chaloka Beyani, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs during his visit to Sri Lanka last year. A Govt report noted that no person who met Dr. Beyani, during his visit to Sri Lanka were threatened or intimidated at any point, and there have been no reports or complaints to that effect. In a report to the ongoing session of the UNHRC in Geneva, more..

June 11 (Island) 33 students petitioners had complained to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the Council of Legal Education to admit only 177 new entrants to the Law College for the academic year 2014. They had requested the court to quash this decision and to admit 225 students, who had succeeded at the entrance exam of October 2013. The normal quota had been 225. It had been reduced this time. The petitioners had complained to the authorities but no relief more..

June 11 (AHRC) The major problem affecting all Sri Lankans now, and which is likely to affect future generations, is the complete failure of law enforcement and resulting lawlessness. While virtually everyone is aware of this problem, it is not subject to conversation. For the few who are vocal on matters of public interest, the sole concern seems to be regime change. This is, of course, something any reasonable person would agree with. However, the survival of the regime itself more..

June 11 (CT) The rendezvous is at the Puttalam Lagoon where, as of 2014, the Ministries of Power and Energy, Finance and Planning, Defence and Urban Development, the China Machinery Engineering Corporation, the CEB, the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), the Geology Unit of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, Navy and Tourism Development Authority, locked horns more..

June 11 (LBO) Shares closed flat on Wednesday despite strong foreign buying. All Share Price Index closed 0.28 points lower at 6,293.36. The S&P SL20 closed 7.54 points lower at 3,476.58, down 0.22%. Turnover was 1.40 billion rupees, up from 886.88 million rupees a day earlier with 114 stocks closed positive against 68 negative. John Keells closed flat at 234.50 rupees with eleven off-market transactions of 582.07 million rupees changing hands at the same price per share more..

June 11 (Island) GMOA General Committee member Dr. Navin de Soysa accused the Health Ministry of having taken no action to appoint personnel to the posts of Additional Secretaries––Medical Services and Public Health. Dr. Soysa pointed said the Public Service Commission (PSC) had recommended the Health Ministry to call for interview and select two additional secretaries as Dr. Amal de Silva had been appointed Director of Cosmetic Devices and Drug Regulatory more..

June 11 (Xinhua) A 20-member high powered business delegation from China will arrive in Sri Lanka this month to explore trade opportunities in the country. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said that the visit by the Chinese delegation is organized by the Beijing Lansing Century Exhibition Company Limited in association with the Promotion of International Trade Hangzhou Sub-Council, Shenyang Municipal Bureau of Foreign Trade more..

June 11 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee edged up to hit a near one-year high on Wednesday as dollar sales by banks and exporters surpassed thin dollar-demand from importers, while state banks lowered their rate for buying the greenback to prevent any sharp gains. The rupee ended at 130.25/27 per dollar, its highest since June 28, 2013 and firmer from Tuesday's close of 130.26/28 per dollar. Exporter dollar sales picked up on expectations that the local currency would strengthen further. more..

June 11 (Island) The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) yesterday said it was carrying out wide scale awareness programmes for parents, teachers as well as those involved in child care and protection to prevent children from committing suicide. NCPA Special Investigation Unit head, B.W. Bopitigoda said that the Authority had initiated a ‘Cyber Watch’ and had already arrested five persons. In addition there were several programmes underway at present including more..

June 11 (DM) Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews agreed wholeheartedly with Sri Lanka’s world cup winning coach Dav Whatmore who had predicted Sri Lanka to be more united and determined to do well against England in the Test series starting on Thursday at Lord’s. “I agree with him totally. All these can only be strength to us and will never have a negative impact on our performance. We will not turn back” Mathews said yesterday. more..

June 11 (CT) In any society that is drawn into a protracted civil war, there are three curtail conditions for the future. 1 ) How to end the war with minimum damages 2) How to make sure such war is not repeated and 3) Fast socio- economic recoveries to fill the years of lost opportunities. In Sri Lanka, where South Asia’s longest civil war of modern history took place, one is still debating on all three frontiers, perhaps with even deeper disagreements. The regime loyalists and ultra nationalist more..

June 11 (SM) The Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero has stated that if he was elected as the President he would abolish the Executive Presidential System within six months. The leader of National Movement for Social Justice, Sobitha Thero made these comments in response to an inquiry made by BBC pertaining to media reports claiming that discussions are being held under the leadership of the movement regarding fielding a common candidate for the presidential election. more..

June 11 (AP) Sri Lanka's govt has disrupted a training program for journalists from the country's former civil war zone, accusing them of being agents for the defeated Tamil Tiger separatists, a corruption watchdog said Wednesday. Transparency International Sri Lanka said in a statement that it organized training on corruption-related investigative reporting for ethnic Tamil journalists from the country's north and east. more..

June 11 (DM) A Police Constable (PC) who had allegedly attempted to extort a sum of Rs. 4,000 from young lovers at Perahera Mawatha in Colombo 3, after threatening to prosecute them in Court for indecent behaviour, was today ordered to be remanded till June 19 by a Colombo Court. In his complaint to the Kollupitiya police, the boyfriend stated that he and his girlfriend visited the Beira Lake near Seemamalakaya every weekend for the past two years. more..

June 11 (Island) Constructive criticism made by Prof. Lal Jayakody was extremely important to streamline the drug policy draft bill, said Minister Maithripala Sirisena. He made the observation in response to shortcomings in the draft bill spotlighted by Prof. Jayakoday of the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. Minister said that to administer the National Medicinal Drugs and Cosmetic Devices Act, the National Medicinal Drugs, Devices and Cosmetic Regulatory Authority would be set up. more..