June 30 (Island) An ancient sewage system complete with a squatting pan was found during ongoing excavation work in close proximity to the Jethawanaramaya in Anuradhapura recently. "What we unearthed was similar to a squatting toilet system used by modern man", says Prof. T.G. Kulathunga, the director in charge of the Central Cultural Fund’s Anuradhapura project. There was a 15-meter pipeline made of clay found embedded 40 centimeters beneath the surface of the earth. more..

June 30 (Island) Undergraduates of Sri J'pura University have suspended their protests until the exams are over. Secretary of the Students Council Sanath Bandara said that they would however continue the Stathyagraha during the exams too. "Our members will continue with the Sathyagraha as there are no exams in the arts faculty," he said. "Exams in the Applied Sciences Faculty have already commenced and the Management Faculty exams will start next week", more..

June 30 (FT) Local banks faced with few challenges in complying with the US imposed Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act (FATCA), have found their way around most of the issues in a manner that ensures their safety from legal implications. With the Banking Act Section 77 stating that no information of a client can be disclosed, Daily FT learns from the SL Bankers Association that the banks will report to the US Inland Revenue Service (IRS) more..

June 30 (ENS) Puducherry Coast Guard, Marine Police and other agencies have no information on the reported illegal transportation of 152 Sri Lankan refugees by boat from the Puducherry coast on June 13. Though there has been an unsuccessful attempt from Veerampattinam Village in 2010, the security agencies have been taken by surprise. Indian Coast Guard at Chennai had issued an alert about three months ago on the possibility of human trafficking from the Puducherry coast, more..

June 30 (CT) The Ministry of Power & Energy and LECO took the initiative to go for the next breakthrough to introduce Electronic Energy Meter manufacturing technology to Sri Lanka through converting the Ante LECO metering factory. The launch of the first Digital Electronic Energy Meter was held at Taj Samudra hotel earlier this week. "Ante LECO metering factory has acquired modern technology to manufacture electronic energy meters, high performance meters and more..

June 30 (Island) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has run up a bill amounting to more than Rs.160 million in demurrage payments so far to two oil tankers stranded in Colombo due to their inability to discharge their cargo of crude as the buoy mounted pipeline at the port connecting to Sapugaskanda oil refinery has been damaged for more than a month, an assessment done by CPC has determined. more..

June 30 (Hindu) I refer to the article in The Hindu with the heading “Remains of the hate.” The first paragraph refers to the behaviour of politicians and specifically to the fact-finding mission of the main Opposition Party. It suggests that they went to look into the well-being of animals at the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens, not caring about the loss of life and destruction of properties that had occurred in a riot a few days earlier. It portrayed a wrong impression of the UNP MPs who undertook more..

June 30 (Island) This weekend shows a remarkable improvement in the hydro storage of the Country’s reservoirs as against water levels last week. By yesterday water in the CEB hydro reservoirs had reached 23.3% in comparison to less than 19% till last week. Castlereigh recorded a capacity of 70.5%, Maussakelle 82.5%, Kotmale 77.4%, Victoria 19.9%, Randenigala 50.7% and Samanalawewa 31.1%. Yesterday’s total power production stood at 34,920 MWh, comprising 12,630 MWh Coal, more..

June 30 (CT) The Govt Parliamentary Group, chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, will meet at a five star hotel in Bentota this afternoon to deliberate on a series of national issues confronting the country. The principal issue to be discussed will be the govt's proposed action plan in the wake of the investigations to be launched by the UNHRC on alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, top political sources told Ceylon Today. more..

June 30 (LBT) A programme on ‘Design Development for Sri Lanka’s Handlooms’ will take place at the Export Development Board auditorium today, at 9.30am. It will be inaugurated by International Design Expert Ms Jennifer Shellard of the UK. Sri Lanka's handloom textile industry is centuries old, the 6th century BC according to Mahavansa, when Prince Vijaya from India landed at Manthota (Mannar) in Sri Lanka. History records that when he found Kuveni, whom he eventually more..

June 30 (Hindu) Neither the marine police nor the district headquarters unit of the Indian Coast Guard in this coastal city have any clue to the antecedents of a group of about 150 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees reported to be stranded mid-sea while on their way to seek asylum in Australia. According to reports, a boat, carrying 152 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum-seekers, including women and children, bound for Australia, was reportedly in trouble after the boat sprang an oil leak off a remote Australian island. more..

June 30 (CT) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) accused the govt of planning to bring in special legislation to suppress social media networks. The BASL noted that the legislation, which could be brought as an emergency regulation and with provisions in the Penal Code, was an attempt to interfere with social media networks through which people come to know the truth as in the case of recent incidents in Aluthgama and Beruwala. more..

June 30 (DM) That line is from a mob movie. Well, not those exact words of course, but that’s how the mafia operates. Covers all bases. Don’t leave things to chance. But there are mobs and mobs, high profile corporate entities included. They are not that crass. They don’t carry pistols and don’t chew on the end of a cigar, but all things considered, they follow the same principles. Cover all bases. Don’t leave things to chance. We have editorially pointed out before this that the tobacco industry would more..

June 30 (DM) Increasing density of population in the Colombo metropolitan region due to rural urban migration over the last few decades has resulted in the fragmentation of land and loss of open space in the region, particularly in and around Colombo. Decreasing size of land plots leave little space around houses, and as a result, most families have no space for home gardening. The situation that has arisen is not dissimilar to what is found in most European cities where most families more..

June 30 (HCI) The High Commission of India announces the offer of eight scholarships for Sri Lankan Nationals under the “Ayush Scholarship Scheme” for UG/PG/PhD courses in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Yoga during the forthcoming session of 2014 – 2015. Govt of India selects meritorious Sri Lankan nationals for award of these scholarships Selection of candidates would be done in consultation with more..

June 30 (Island) With the aim of preventing human trafficking and illegal overseas recruiting, Sultanate of Oman and Sri Lanka signed a MoU in the fields of employment and training at the Manpower Ministry in Muscat recently. Manpower Minister Shaikh Abdullah Al Bakari signed the MoU on behalf of Oman, while Minister Dilan Perera signed it on behalf of Sri Lanka. The MoU provides for encouraging cooperation between more..

June 30 (NIP) Bringing to the notice of PM Narendra Modi yet another incident of arrest of TN fishermen by Lankan Navy on June 29, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday reiterated her view that the Centre should not treat the IMBL with Sri Lanka as a settled question as the very ownership of Katchatheevu islet and the unconstitutionality of the 1974 and 1976 agreements by which the islet was ceded to Sri Lanka more..

June 30 (IPS) What’s the connection between weather forecasts and the mosquito-borne dengue virus? It’s not just a question for science nerds; in Sri Lanka, health officials believe answering this question could save lives. For over half a decade now, doctors and residents of this island nation, especially those living in the cramped Western Province, have been battling the persistent, sometimes deadly, dengue plague, which more..

June 30 (Hindu) A Sri Lankan refugee, G. Chandrasekaran, 29, died at the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences at Kalapet on Sunday, sparking a protest by family and friends who alleged medical negligence. Chandrasekaran was a resident of the Keezhputhupattu refugee camp in Villupuram. His cousin Mayuran said he was brought to the hospital after he complained of stomach ache. more..

June 30 (SL) The incidents that took place recently in Aluthgama and Beruwela have definitely had an adverse psychological impact on youth who were affected and displaced due to the violence. The clear drop in student attendance in Muslim schools in the affected area is a sign of fear among the community even though the govt claims that the situation in the area has been brought back to normalcy. more..

June 30 (ST) A proposal to distribute lucrative wind energy contracts to local investors bypassing tender procedure continues to draw strong criticism, including from a former Minister of Power and Energy. Champika Ranawaka, who is now Minister of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy, calculates that the CEB will lose around Rs. 62 billion within a 20-year period if it agrees to buy wind power from these investors at more..

June 30 (CT) Govt and Opposition Councillors of the Matale Municipal Council on 27 June unanimously approved a proposal to the effect that Minister A.L.M. Athaullah, should resign from his post. The Councillors vehemently condemned the minister's statements made to the effect that there was no need to increase the allowances given to local govt councillors, while also alleging that more..

June 30 (AM) The BBS alleges that the US State Department has taken measures to cancel its General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera’s visa to the US. BBS CEO Dilantha Vithanage said an official of US Embassy had contacted Gnanasara Thera and informed him of the decision made by the US State Department. US had granted Visa to Gnanasara Thera before he formed the BBS in 2012. more..

June 30 (AP) A new U.N. investigation into allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka will intensify international pressure on its govt and could probe the purported responsibility of senior Sri Lankan officials with U.S. ties. As many as 40,000 civilians may have died amid govt shelling in the final five months of the conflict in 2009, according to a previous UN report. Govt forces have also been accused of executing Tamil rebel leaders more..

June 30 (CT) Studies have shown that the ageing population of Sri Lanka is expected to double from the current 12% to around 24% by 2041, placing heavy strains on the government as well as society, forcing the implementation of urgent measures to meet the challenges that the country would have to face as a result. This doubling of the over 60s, though a heavy burden on the economy, speaks well of the standard of the health services in Sri Lanka, which has even received the acclaim of more..

June 30 (CT) The first wave of Sinhala ethnic nationalism emerged in the Bandaranaike era during the mid- fifties and rather gradually morphed into a 26 year-old civil war that was brought to an end only a few years ago. Although the guns are down the embers of that bloody conflict are still burning; waiting to flare up again, given foolish handling by the govt and Sinhala nationalists. As one observes today, ethno-nationalism is a most intractable area of collective human relationships. more..

June 30 (LBO) Sri Lanka's shares closed 0.24% higher on Monday boosting turnover to a six-week high amid strong foreign participation. All Share Price Index closed 15.13 points higher at 6,378.62, up 0.24%. The S&P SL20 closed 13.58 points higher at 3,534.43, up 0.39%. Turnover was 1.45 billion rupees, up from 1.13 billion rupees last friday with 98 stocks closed positive against 88 negative. John Keells Holdings closed 20 cents lower at 219.90 rupees with seven off-market transactions more..

June 30 (Island) An attempt was allegedly made to torch the Thalayan Bawa Jumma Masjid of Ratmalana around 1:30 am yesterday. Some old clothes had been set on fire at the base of the door of the shrine. The wife of the Mosque Trustee raised alarm on seeing the fire and neighbours rushed there and doused it. The police arrived there with sniffer dogs to trace the culprits. No arrests had been made until this ediction went to press. Central Provincial Councilor (UNP) Azath Salley more..

June 30 (CT) Strong links between Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the BBS that recently instigated anti-Muslim violence in Southern Sri Lanka have been exposed by Ravaya – a mainstream Sinhala newspaper. Article written by paper’s former Editor & its Chairman, Victor Ivan titled ‘Gotabaya’s shadow’ has revealed the extent to which Gotabaya has been influencing activities of the BBS. more..

June 30 (DM) Health official of the Colombo North (Ragama) Teaching Hospital has launched a strike over the issue of midwifery training to the nurses and alleged arbitrary actions of the midwife service in the Hospital. Govt Nursing Officers Association said some nursing officers had been hospitalised following a tense situation prevailed in the hospital this morning. “The hospital has come to this situation today because the hospital administration and health authorities are not looking into the issue to more..

June 30 (Island) The number of complaints of incidents of cyber crime and internet abuse has multiplied in recent months, according to Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT). SLCERT Information Security Engineer Roshan Chandragupta said that they had received over 900 complaints during the first five months of this year. "This is a massive increase as we received only around 1,200 for the whole of last year." The increase indicated that the cyber crime and more..

June 30 (CSM) Tea-grower D.M. Sudumeninka is nearly 70 years old and has won prizes for her crop. All the same, the retired schoolteacher is keen to know more about how she can improve her tea-growing and keep her cropland clean. With 300 other farmers working the hills around Indigahadoowa in the tea-growing mountains in the southern, central part of the island, Ms. Sudumeninka is getting training on, more..

June 30 (DM) Badulla District UNP MP, Harin Fernando said at a meeting with the party activists yesterday that he would contest for the Uva Province Chief Minister’s post. He said it was 99% sure. The final decision would be taken at the meeting on June 30 with the party leaders, he said. He said that he would put forward two conditions. One would be that Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa should occupy the same platform at the first electoral rally held in each of more..

June 30 (AM) A prominent presenter of a state media institution, who hosts the morning newspaper show of the channel, has omitted the word “General” from the term “General Election” simply on the grounds that the word ”General” is unofficially banned in Sri Lankan state media due to obvious reasons. While preparing for the morning newspaper show of the channel, he had omitted the word ‘General” from a headline of a news story that appeared in an English newspaper. more..

June 30 (AD) UNP today stated that despite the “fairytale stories” of the Education Minister, priority is given to political lists during the admission of students into schools in the country and that the Mahinda Rajapaksa College is a prime example for this. UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe had alleged that a large sum of money is obtained from parents seeking to enroll their children into Mahinda Rajapaksa College. more..

June 30 (Reuters) The Sri Lankan rupee fell on Monday due to importer dollar demand mainly from state banks, while dealers said banks hesitated to trade the currency beyond 130.35 after the central bank curbed them through moral suasion last week. The rupee was traded at 130.33/35 per dollar at 0612 GMT, weaker from Friday's close of 130.30/35. It hit a more than three-week closing low of 130.34/38 on Wednesday. "There is demand for dollars from state banks. more..

June 30 (NS) Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandimithra Ekanayake said one might as well close down state universities in the country if disciplinary action was not taken against students who held the Vice-Chancellor of the Rajarata University hostage. Regarding calls to initiate disciplinary inquiries against the students, the minister said this was ‘an absolute must’ and called on university authorities to immediately initiate such measures. The protest was launched by the students last week primarily more..

June 30 (HN) Police suspect the motive behind the shooting in which two persons were killed yesterday was a consequence of a clash between two drug dealing groups at Andrew-ge Watta in Grandpas. SSP Ajith Rohana said information received that persons with connection to drug dealing are among the dead and the injured in the incident. A motor cyclist and his pillion shot at four persons at Andrew-ge Watta in Grandpas last night. more..

June 30 (PO) Sri Lanka’s police have arrested key suspects involved in fuelling religious riots and looting, as minority Muslims expressed fears of more unrest during Ramazan. Police said eight people directly linked to the June 15 anti-Muslim riots were arrested last week and recovered gems and jewellery looted from two shops targeted during the violence. The violence, which erupted in the coastal resort of Alutgama, spilled over into the neighbouring international tourist resorts more..