June 11 (MoD) In contrary to false conceptions only a negligible percentage of security forces personnel have been accused of committing crimes in the country. Parties with vested interest are trying to discredit the security forces by bringing about various allegations of misconduct and paint a bad picture of them within the country and abroad. As per recent statistics 916 suspects have been arrested in connection with 586 more..

June 11 (DM) SLC announced the squads for the upcoming Super 4�'s T20 tournament which will be held from the 27th June to the 2nd July. All matches will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds. The four teams namely Western Troopers, Yaal Blazers, Udarata Rulers and Southern Express will be led by Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanna and Lasith Malinga respectively. Tournament played under the slogan �No one left to conquer but each other� more..

June 11 (Island) Even as its Southwest-monsoon predictions proved cockeyed last week, the Meteorology Department said that it was 80% confident of the accuracy of its forecasts. Due to wrong forecasts made by the Department, fisheries community in coastal areas refrained from setting sail. Disaster Management Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera said that he had appointed a special independent committee to investigate the reason for inaccurate weather predictions. more..

June 11 (CG) A motion has been submitted to Parliament against the proposed investigation on Sri Lanka led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The motion, signed by 9 MPs, has been submitted to the Secretary General of Parliament. Motion has been signed by MPs Achala Jagoda, Malini Fonseka, Uditha Lokubandara, A.H.M. Azwer, Janaka Bandara, J.R.P. Sooriyaperuma, more..

June 11 (AM) In an interesting turn of events, it has now been revealed that the vehicle belonging to Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera - who received a speeding-ticket on the Southern Highway - had a 'fake number plate'. Soon after the incident, the Police officer, who gave a speeding ticket to the Deputy Minister, was attacked by goons. Police investigations into the incident have revealed that Minister's vehicle had a fake 'Garage Number' (C13/1188) when it was issued more..

June 11 (DM) President Rajapaksa, in a message to Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif vehemently condemned the terrorist attack on the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi last Sunday which killed several security forces personnel and civilian employees. "I am deeply shocked to learn of the heinous terrorist attack. Sri Lanka having been a victim of terrorism for nearly three decades, can empathize with Pakistan's dreadful experience in this instance," President said. more..

June 11 (AM) A staff member of Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia has died while another has been injured in a brawl with two Russians in the Southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. A clerk at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Russia, who arrived in the city of Rostov for the "Days of Sri Lanka in Russia" program died after a car ran over him. Meanwhile Second Secretary of the Embassy was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the chest. more..

June 11 (NF) TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has called on the government to co-operate with an international inquiry. He made this statement at a media briefing convened by the �Unity Through Power Devolution� movement. �An international inquiry has commenced because even after five years, there has been no inquiry. After the international inquiry has commenced, they are saying that it is a national problem that they will resolve domestically,� he said. more..

June 11 (AM) Two deputy ministers of the UPFA govt publicly lashed out at each other at a meeting held in Matale yesterday. Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake and Higher Education Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake, who invited for a function in Matale, criticized each other in their speeches. It is widely known among political circles that the two deputy ministers, who represent the same district, are at loggerheads. "Only those who play hosanna get higher positions more..

June 11 (PTI) A Sri Lankan panel investigating the cases of thousands of people who went missing during the nearly three-decade war with LTTE has been asked to probe the execution of over 600 policemen by the Tamil rebels in 1990. Representatives of a retired senior police officers' association have met the chairman of the panel, Maxwell Paranagama, and requested him to probe the killings. LTTE is accused of killing more..

June 12 (CT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Jordan on a special official tour early this year. He was not seeking the support of Jordan to vote in favour of Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, where a resolution was passed against Sri Lanka in March as Jordan was not among the voting States of the UNHRC this year. However, now we have an inkling about the President's sudden tour. It is revealed that the reason may be the President wanted to meet Prince Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, more..

June 12 (NS) As per the front page, head line news item appeared in the last Irida Divaina, the govt has sent a message to the Indian PM promising the implementation of the 13th Amendment, other than the Police Powers, in response to a request made by the Indian PM to implement 13th Amendment in full. If the news item that appeared in the newspaper is correct, the message said to have been passed onto the Indian govt is proof that there is tremendous pressure from India to more..

June 12 (SO) Sri Lanka's fishing fleet largely consists of artisanal 'multi-day' vessels, totalling around 2,800. Fish provides over 70% of the protein intake of the people. Our per capita intake of seafood has increased over the years, and now stands at 45 grams per day, Minister Rajitha Senaratne told the 18th Indian Ocean Tuna Commission at BMICH last week. "It is still below the target of 60 grams recommended by WHO. more..

June 12 (ST) Like releasing trussed parrots in captive cages to appease the rage of heaven and placate the gods, the Lankan Govt has now resorted to releasing Indian fishermen captured poaching in Lanka�s territorial waters by the boat load to pacify the wrath of India in the hope that such action and willingness to free those caught flouting international laws of the seas will assuage the ire of Tamil Nadu and invoke the Central Govt�s amenability to ease strained ties and sympathise with Lanka�s more..

June 12 (ST) India�s new PM Narendra Modi has sprung yet another surprise on the foreign policy establishment by announcing that his first trip abroad will be, not to any of the centres of influence that had been speculated on, but to neighbouring Bhutan. The tiny Himalayan Kingdom�s PM Tshering Tobgay was among other SAARC leaders who all extended invitations to Modi to visit their countries. Modi�s decision appears to underline the importance he attaches to the South Asian region more..

June 12 (GV) Happy, by Pharrell Williams bills itself as the world�s first 24 hour music video. Song is extremely catchy and aired at least once a day, every day at the time of writing this on SL radio. On YouTube, nearly 300 million have seen the original music video. Over 10 million have viewed 24hoursofhappy.com, a dedicated website for Pharrell�s music video, which aside from the music, features a compelling concept/design. more..

June 12 (CT) Gandhi was a martyr to satya, which is �truth� or �true being,� or �being true,� �. Truth�s power radiates through the person who participates in it by eliminating the personal ego-centered passion that distorts it. Truth is God whom Gandhi called Ram. To serve Ram as a conduit for his gracious power in the middle of India�s violent political life, Gandhi had tried for years to reduce himself to �zero� [as he himself expressed matters] (Hudson 2002:132). more..

June 12 (CT) The new tank farm complex and bunkering terminal, the latest integration to the portfolio of services offered by the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP), will be ceremonially inaugurated by President Rajapaksa on 22 June 2014 at the port premises. The tank farm storage capacity is totally 80,000 m3 for marine fuel oil, aviation fuel oil and LPG. This project is composed of 5 up right tanks with dome in 10,000m3, 3 up right tanks with dome in more..

June 12 (DN) Poson poya is significant for Sri Lankan Buddhists. The appearance of Arahant Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka in Lanka, from Jambudvipa was extremely successful in shaping the destiny of the people and the country, and was unparalleled in human history. Before that there was no structured religion, as such, people were involved in devotional actions which would delight the deities whom they believed in; mainly the reverence more..

June 12 (Island) The police have got a rap on the knuckles from Puttalam Magistrate Judge Ranga Dissanayake. Remanding a politician who had been released by the police in spite of his involvement in an attack on a constable, the judge rhetorically asked how the public could expect protection from the guardians of the law who let down their own kind. The police arrested the politico recently for assaulting the constable who had seized a tractor transporting sand, but later succumbed to more..

June 12 (CT) Prof Laksiri Fernando, in responding to my account of discussions about a Senate, has reminded me about publishing the proposals, as I had mentioned, and I will send them in as soon as I am back in Colombo. However, while I do not recall promising to publish my correspondence with Mr Sumanthiran � which is not in fact of any great significance � perhaps it would be useful, given current controversies, to publish the draft he and I prepared about land matters. more..

June 12 (FT) SriLankan Airlines expands its presence in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka by opening its latest passenger sales office in Batticaloa in a bid to capture a larger share of the local travel market. This is SriLankan�s eighth passenger sales office outside of Colombo, with representation already in place in the East coast, in Trincomalee. The branch office will facilitate travel procedures to a large clientele in Batticaloa more..

June 12 (CI) After an overseas season when nothing went right, England will have high expectations from their home series, where Sri Lanka and India beckon over the next three months. In Australia, England were pummeled by pace - especially by Mitchell Johnson - but playing the Sri Lankan and Indian bowlers in home conditions should be easier on their batsmen: neither opposition possesses the kind of bowlers, on paper at least, who should give Alastair Cook and Co sleepless nights. more..

June 12 (Island) The arrival of Arhat Maha Mahinda Thera, the son of Emperor Asoka of India to Sri Lanka bringing with him the sublime Dhamma of the Buddha, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa is much significant, as his event changed the entire social, political, national, religions and cultural attitudes of the people of this country and paved the way to their future progress. What all these caused was that in our good old days it had been the custom of the rulers � the kings of more..

June 12 (CI) Five months of limited-overs dominance has set spirits soaring in the Sri Lanka camp, but on the eve of their biggest away series of the year, their perch seems less secure. In ODIs and T20s, a spurt of young talents have suggested a future beyond the senior men's retirement is not one to be feared. In Tests, though, several new players are yet to nail down their place. From the likely top 6 batsmen, 3 are yet to more..

June 12 (FT) Global giant Holcim said yesterday it sees great opportunities in Sri Lanka, and has a strong commitment to the country since 1996 � a commitment confirmed by Group CEO Bernard Fontana during his visit to local Group company Holcim Lanka. As a Swiss-based company with unique competences in solutions for the building industry, Holcim is committed to contributing to the ambitions of Sri Lanka and its people and will continue to invest in the island. more..

June 12 (ST) Atom, a local audio visual company, has opened operations in Dubai with a state-of-the-art showroom on the renowned Jumeirah Beach Road. �Atom�s first stand-alone showroom in the United Arab Emirates marks the first time a Sri Lankan audio visual company has ever been launched in the Middle East. The opening was a culmination of a journey that started eight years ago which took Atom from Sri Lanka to Korea, China, Bahrain and now Dubai,� more..

June 12 (CI) The talk of England's regeneration and a new era now has real credence. England's one-day side contained familiar personnel to those who competed over the winter but the Test side has gaping holes to fill; holes that were blown open by Australia and have plunged English cricket to its lowest ebb since 1999. England will hope that from their winter of discontent can be made a glorious summer. more..

June 12 (ST) Sadaharitha Plantations Ltd, a commercial forestry plantations recently released a landmark study on the possibility of growing Walla Patta in home gardens, the company stated. Initiated by Sadaharitha Plantations, the research was conducted in collaboration with the National Research Council and the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science of the University of Sri J'pura, to dispel the �baseless beliefs� that are prevalent in the media on Walla Patta, more..

June 12 (TRF) Incessant torrential rains continued heavy downpour from 1 June until evening of 4 June, and caused severe damages mainly to Southern part of Sri Lanka. The rains have had serious impact in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and Central provinces, causing displacement of 27,243 people (7952 families) due to rains, floods, landslides/mudslides and high winds lightning. Preliminary estimates have reported 22 deaths, full damage to 72 houses and more..

June 12 (CT) The Ministry of Industry and Commerce earlier this week told the South Korean Envoy in Colombo that it hoped to establish a free trade agreement between the two countries. The 15th largest economy in the world and also a G20 nation signalled its readiness towards first ever Joint Economic mechanism with Sri Lanka-and also strongly praised Sri Lankan migrant workers' contribution to its economy, the ministry said more..

June 12 (CT) The national cheque clearing house, Lanka Clear, has planned to expand electronic and digital cash through various platforms to help the govt and the economy and encourage reduced money printing and increased national savings, by bringing in physical cash which has not been utilized effectively. Lanka Clear CEO, Sunimal Weerasooriya, said that the agency was aggressively promoting electronic and digital cash through various platforms and more..

June 12 (NC) NetCracker Technology announced today that Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has chosen to upgrade its existing NetCracker billing and mediation environment to NetCracker�s next-generation billing, rating and active mediation solutions. Sri Lanka Telecom is Sri Lanka�s national ICT solutions provider and leading broadband and backbone infrastructure service provider. SLT delivers quad-play services to consumers; 4G LTE; FTTx; Wi-Fi hotspots; carrier grade Wi-Fi technology; more..

June 12 (TOI) A Sri Lankan Tamil was rescued by fishermen after they found him struggling to swim towards the Rameswaram coast of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. the man's sudden appearance in the sea created a flutter among fishermen who assumed he had swum all the way from Sri Lanka. But inquiries revealed he undertook a trip to the sea with a group of fishermen who dropped him off at an islet from where he swam ashore. more..

June 12 (Hindu) Members of the Janata Dal (Secular), which faced a drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections, are all set to leave to Sri Lanka to formulate a strategy that can help steer the party in the future. Sixty JD(S) members, including MLAs, MLCs and important former MLAs, MLCs and Ministers, are listed for the trip commencing over the weekend. The getaway includes a day�s stay in a resort. H.D. Kumaraswamy, JD(S) State president, told presspersons here on Wednesday said more..

June 12 (CT) The distribution of heroinin the City of Colombo, its suburbs and the outstations is on the increase, according to police investigations. A police officer revealed that following raids conducted over the last two days in Panadura, Poddala, Peliyagoda and Welikada, heroin to the value of Rs 350,000 and several suspects have been taken into custody. A resident of Koralawella was arrested with 22 grams of heroin on the Panadura beach yesterday. An individual who had 4.1 grams of heroin was more..

June 12 (CT) Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera yesterday called upon the UNP to abide by the earlier decision to field a common candidate at the next Presidential Election. He reiterated his invitation to the UNP, the JVP, TNA and the Leftist Parties, to field a common candidate for the Presidential Election. In doing so the Thera hoped they would be able to abolish the Executive Presidency. "All the members in the more..

June 12 (FT) The Presidential Commission investigating cases of missing persons in Sri Lanka has focused its attention on providing psychological assistance to the families of persons went missing during the war. The Commission together with the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently organised a consultative meeting with mental health specialists in an effort to coordinate existing mechanisms to develop more..

June 12 (Island) Deputy Solicitor General, Nerin Pulle, yesterday, told the Court of Appeal that the Supreme Court had given an order that the status quo should remain unchanged in the Pradeshiya Sabha of Homagama. The Supreme Court made that order in the hearing of a fundamental rights violation application filed by A.D. Kumarasiri against his removal from the post of chairman. His budget for 2014 was defeated twice. He was replaced by the Vice Chairman Indika Koralage. more..

June 12 (Hindu) Rameswaram fishermen took out a rally and their counterparts in Jegadapattinam in Pudukkottai district launched a strike on Wednesday protesting against repeated arrests of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and non-return of the seized boats. Led by leaders of 11 associations, the Rameswaram fishermen, who have been abstaining from work since Monday, took out the procession, covering their mouths with black cloth, more..