June 3 (CT) Plans by the Ministry of Wildlife Resources Conservation to legalize the sale of unprotected munias was halted because the trading section of the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance (FFPO) does not clearly specify what types of birds can be sold. Environmentalists have welcomed this move taken by the ministry at a time when hundreds of munias, both protected and unprotected, are caught using cruel methods. more..

June 3 (Island) Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday said that his ministry had taken all possible measures to provide immediate relief to more than 7,000 flood and landslide victims in five districts and instructed all divisional secretaries in the affected areas to assist the people. He said that funds required for relief had also been sent to the District Secretaries and asked them to request more funds in case the allocated funds were not sufficient. more..

June 3 (LBO) SriLankan Airlines and Lanka Sportreizen, a travel firm is planning an annual cross-country adventure tournament in an effort to boost tourism in the country. "We like to encourage more adventure tourists to come into Sri Lanka," G T Jeyaseelan, Chief Marketing officer of SriLankan Airline said. Lanka Sportreizen which already caters to tourists provide adventure, nature, water sports, mountain biking, hiking estimates about 15 to 20% of tourists coming to Sri Lanka gets involved more..

June 3 (DM) the JVP said today an unruly mob accompanied by Deputy Minister Sanath Jayasooriya and a few other PC Ministers had forcibly entered the Ruhuna University on Monday and attacked the university students. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said about seven students were injured but were unable go to a hospital for medical treatment because they were trapped inside the university. more..

June 3 (Island) The 18th Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) would address all the current issues related to tuna resource management in the Indian Ocean in an efficient and fair manner, Fisheris Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said. IOTC commenced sittings on Sunday at the BMICH in Colombo under the patronage of Minister Basil Rajapaksa with the presence of over 250 delegates, observers and invited guests from over 35 countries. more..

June 3 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee traded steady on Tuesday as dollar inflows from exporters and remittances were offset by state banks' buying to prevent possible sharp gains in the local currency. Dealers expect the local currency to face upward pressure until demand for imports and credit picks up. The rupee was at 130.35/36 per dollar at 0623 GMT, little changed from Monday's close of 130.35/37. The two state banks, through which the central bank intervenes to direct the market, more..

June 3 (KUNA) Deputy National Assembly Speaker MP Mubarak Al-Khurainij met with his Sri Lankan counterpart Chandima Weerakkody, on Tuesday, as part of his official visit to Sri Lanka. Al-Khurainij praised the two countries' relations, noting that this visit aims to develop cooperation in all fields, and mainly in the parliamentary domain. The talks will also touch on regional and international issues of mutual concern, the MP added. more..

June 3 (LBO) Sri Lanka has seen weak demand for chicken in 2013 a top poultry firm while costs were elevated, as the country emerged from a balance of payments crisis and steep currency depreciation. Bairaha Farms, which sells processed meat, branded chicken, day old chicks and parent breeder chicks said revenues rose just 4.6% 3 billion rupees in 2013 while direct costs rose 5.6% to 2.61 billion rupees. In 2012 when Sri Lanka's currency depreciated from 110 towards 130 more..

June 3 (DM) Wellamadama complex of the Ruhunu University has been declared out of bounds indefinitely as of today following an assault on a few students last evening. Students who assembled at the Administration building of the Wellamadama complex last night seeking safety following an attack on several students by an unidentified gang, have been notified by the administration to vacate the premises by 1 pm today, as Wellamadama complex has been declared out of bounds. more..

June 3 (ANI) Former SL cricketer Russel Arnold has said that the more threatening Sachithra Senanayake becomes the more rumours one hears in light of the off-spinner being reported to the ICC over suspected illegal bowling action. Arnold said that he does see a lot of other bowlers with similar actions and the ICC has a process whereby testing would be done or has been done, adding that that process needs to take its course. more..

June 3 (Island) Teachers and Principals in government schools of the Colombo District will stage a sick note campaign on July 04 in protest against the new gratuity scheme. Convener of the Teacher – Principal Trade Union Joint Committee Mahinda Jayasinghe said that it would be their next protest after marching to the Education Ministry on May 28. He said that hitherto govt servants could obtain a gratuity equivalent to two years’ salary when they retired. more..

June 3 (Island) The Court of Appeal on May 30, 2014 suspended till June 25,2014, an order of the High Court of Moneragala, whereby it was decided to amalgamate a Trial by Jury and a Trial by a High Court Judge. Fourteen murder accused persons had requested for a Trial by the Judge. Three accused persons had wanted the Trial by the Jury. One of the accused persons A.M.S.L. Banda, had appealed to the Court of Appeal, against the High Court order for amalgamation, claiming that more..

June 3 (DM) The International Football Federation, FIFA and their Asian representative, AFC have warned the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) of an immediate suspension if it did not take steps to ensure that action filed in court by ex-football president Gamini Randeniya to prevent the incumbent executive committee from holding office in 2013-2015 was withdrawn. District Court of Colombo last month issued an enjoining more..

June 3 (AM) Leader of the SLMC and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem found himself in an embarrassing position in Parliament today when Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkodi failed to recognize him as a 'party leader". When the Minister attempted to make a special statement in Parliament he was prevented from doing so by the Deputy Minister on the grounds that the former was not a party leader. When Minister Hakeem reminded the Deputy Speaker that he was the Leader of more..

June 3 (AM) A British tourist, who was holidaying in Mount Lavinia, had disappeared in Sri Lanka, her family told the UK media. Lauren Smith, 26, a British tourist from Colchester, was last seen leaving the Ocean Blue House B&B in Mount Lavinia, Colombo, at 6.30am yesterday morning local time. She left the B&B saying she was going to the shops, but did not return. She left all of her belongings, including her money and passport, at the hotel. Sri Lankan Police are also involved in the search. more..

June 3 (TOI) TN chief minister J Jayalalithaa has taken a firm stand on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue despite conciliatory gestures by the Island nation in recent times, including release of Indian fishermen from the jails in that country. In a memorandum submitted to PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, the chief minister reiterated her stand. She demanded the Centre sponsor a resolution in the UN condemning genocide more..

June 3 (AM) A football team representing "The Tamil Eelam Football Association" will play their first match of the 2014 ConIFA World Football Cup today against Arameans Suryoye. However, there is no recognized 'country' in the world named 'Tamil Eelam'. FIFA also does not recognize a country by the name of 'Tamil Eelam'. The players trained for the first time since their arrival from their training camp in Norway on Sunday, with all the players fit for the big match. more..

June 3 (CT) Red notices have been issued to 3,780 companies for the period of January 2014 to April 2014 for defaulting on taxes, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said. These include 497 large companies, 3,100 other companies and 113 partnerships and proprietors. Default is when fixed liabilities are not paid. Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue, Mallika Samarasekara, noted that Rs 167 million had been collected thus far as taxes for the four month period. more..

June 3 (AM) The NFF, led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa, has lost two more stalwarts with Dodangoda PS member K.H. Wickremasinghe and former Western Provincial Councilor Sugath Mathugamage deciding to step down from the party with immediate effect. This development came nearly two weeks after two Provincial Councilors of the NFF representing UPC crossed over to SLFP and UNP. more..

June 4 (FT) Like President J.R. Jayewardene before him, President Rajapaksa will win the (re)election and lose the crisis. In these days when ‘homespun’ is all the rage, one may well resort to the Sinhalese saying “do not fall in broad daylight, into the pit one plunged into at night”. Rajapaksa regime is about to take a long jump in broad daylight into the same pit that his most illustrious predecessor President Jayewardene plunged into at night as it were, more..

June 4 (CT) When the President put me on the delegation to negotiate with the TNA, in April 2011, I found that no response had been made to suggestions they had made a couple of months previously. I thought this was absurd, and urged a response. These are the notes I made. Unfortunately there were no meetings of our delegation to review such matters. We could not take things further, even though I did manage, by insisting by dates for the next meeting more..

June 4 (SO) June will be the month for crocodiles in the Sri Lankan wildlife field. News gets reported periodically on human deaths and injuries throughout the year. Surveys have been done by researchers in isolation on this Human - Crocodile conflict on different areas of the country. We hear many incidents related to the Human - Elephant conflict. Wildlife authorities and experts have brought in numerous solutions over more..

June 4 (CT) Many battles have been fought by the warring parties – won and lost – since the adoption of the 13th amendment in 1987, and the war too eventually ceased in May 2009 with the overwhelming power of the state and the international support. But the implementation of the infamous 13th amendment to the constitution has become a political football game even after the end of the war. The lethal cocktail of the UPFA alliance and the unwilling President who likes to more..

June 4 (CT) Sri Lanka has a longer history than its South Asian counterparts in its battle for a Right To Information (RTI) legislation. Unfortunately it continues to be a battle. In the present circumstances, the failed and failing attempts can easily be transferred to the milieu of political will. But this would not deliver justice to the passage for right to information in Sri Lanka. The re-emerging attempts are indeed vitalizing. But we all seem to be merely scratching the surface. more..

June 4 (CT) The annual accounts of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) for the year 2011 were tabled in Parliament on 21 May with recommendations from the Auditor General (AuG), H.S. Samaraweera. The AuG has mentioned in his report that the EPF's 8% investment in the share market is not transparent and was not based on good market study. UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that this was the first time in recent more..

June 4 (Island) Some ruling party supporters, angered by a govt decision to shift the venue of the next Deyata Kirula exhibition from the Ruhuna University to another place in view of student protests, set upon a group of undergrads injuring several of them on Monday. Prior to the incident, scores of irate govt backers had held a demonstration opposite the university. Ancient Roman rulers or optimates, as they called themselves, used bread and circuses or more..

June 4 (NS) The South Asian region just became uni-polar (again). With that change in the strategic environment, the context of Sri Lanka’s strategic existence has changed. Therefore, logically, our entire strategic thinking must change. Mr Modi’s investiture ceremony and the attendance of eight apex level delegations from the region restored South Asia’s status as a sub-system of the world system. Every system or subsystem has a centre and a periphery. more..

June 4 (GV) Last time I am writing opened letter. Peoples are reading it and telling me, The Silva, you are writing very intelligent things in support of Our Majesty and his country. We are proud of you. Even His Majesty is sending text message early in the morning saying well done! It is true that my neighbour and his neighbour are also getting same text message even if they are not doing anything like I am doing. And to be telling the truth, I am very suspicious that the whole neighbourhood is more..

June 4 (Island) New Indian PM Modi is a cultural nationalist who has to depend on western economic models and political structures. It is unlikely that the Indian "intellectuals" would come out with indigenous economic models and political structures during the "reign" of Mr. Modi. They will not even formulate a philosophical framework based on Hinduism though the BJP govt is Hindu as a cultural movement. As in the past they and the rest of the country would merely recite more..

June 4 (FT) Minister Champika Ranawaka said the country needs sustainable and achievable economic targets based on the corporate nationalism concept and therefore we can no longer concentrate on carpeting roads and beautifying cities. He added: “We have bigger tasks to achieve. We have to break the middle income trap. Technology-based innovations are essential for that. We have to absorb technology and go for investments. more..

June 4 (Island) This is a response to the article appeared in Editorial: Analysis Commentary of the Daily Island on March 30 on Z-score by Dr. S.M. Poruthotage. Some of the misconceptions, incorrect assumptions, irrelevant example and erroneous conclusions in the said article warrant clarification in order to avoid misinformation to the readership. It demonstrates an example where individuals propose solutions for problems without having a sound understanding and knowledge of more..

June 4 (Island) Sri Lanka Insurance has tied up with one of America’s leading global emergency service companies, Assist America, to launch another ‘first’. During yesterday’s launch, Deepthi Lokuarachchi, CEO of Sri Lanka Insurance, described the new and innovative product as a value addition to its Motor Plus policy which already enjoyed top position in the market. "We provide unmatched services in a competitive market and have remained number one," the CEO said. more..

June 4 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene has defended the Sri Lanka team after England's captain, Alastair Cook, suggested "a line had been crossed" in the deciding ODI of the series between England and Sri Lanka. Jayawardene insisted that Sri Lanka were left with little option but to run out Jos Buttler in the 44th over after the batsman, at the non-striker's end, repeatedly backed-up too far. more..

June 4 (CI) The game was in the balance when Mahela Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne came together. Sri Lanka were 62 for 3 and looking uncomfortable against both Tredwell and the excellent James Anderson. But if England were to defend their modest total, they needed to take every chance. With the score on 77 and Jawawardene on 8, he edged a probing delivery from Harry Gurney only to see the ball pass between Chris Jordan, at first slip, and Jos Buttler, the keeper. more..

June 4 (CI) There was little doubt what the Birmingham crowd thought to the run-out of Jos Buttler. Boos rang out around Edgbaston every time Sachithra Senanayake touched the ball following his decision to end Buttler's innings. Already utilising an action that some in England - a conservative country in cricketing terms - believe to be dubious, Senanayake will now forever be cast in the role of villain after running out the home side's golden boy in a rare instance of 'Mankading' in more..

June 4 (CI) Anyone who thought that Sachithra Senanayake being reported to the ICC for a suspect bowling action might be a cue for Sri Lanka to excuse him from duty, and the added attention it would bring, did not reckon with the player himself. Figures of 1 for 36, including the wicket of England's top-scorer, Alastair Cook, were just one thread of Sri Lanka's series-clinching six-wicket win but, by running out Jos Buttler while the more..

June 4 (CT) JB Securities Research forecasts the economy would grow by 5.5% to 6% in the short to medium term despite higher official estimates that don't add up when compared with primary data and ground realities. "We forecast economic growth to hover at 5.5 - 6% in the short to medium term. Official growth statistics indicate higher levels but we find it difficult to reconcile this with primary indicators and the ground situation," JB Securities said in a report 'Sri Lanka: Value is Back in Equities'. more..

June 4 (FT) Sri Lanka and Japan are to initiate talks on a win-win trade deal with the latter agreeing to send a top team to Colombo to pursue the initiative. This was following Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda meeting with Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Vice Minister for International Affairs Norihiko Ishiguro last week, to discuss key issues prior to the commencement of ‘Inter-governmental Economic Policy Dialogue’ between more..

June 4 (CT) In 2014 Sri Lanka is ranked 69th in the EPI which is a Global Environment Assessment index (EPI). It stands in sharp contrast to its regional neighbours India (155) Bangladesh (169) and Pakistan (148) in the EPI, which is an exhaustive environmental impact assessment study made annually by the Yale University USA. The EPI identifies targets for several core environmental policy categories more..