May 7 (DM) The public health sector, which should be the most humane service provider in the country, is fast losing its credibility as the saviour of the people whose lives are threatened. It has already lost credibility for a large extent not only due to the unfriendly attitude of many of the employees in the sector towards the ordinary masses, as in the case of many other public sectors, but also owing to the fact that it is a sector where people strike work even at the drop of a hat, more..

May 7 (DM) “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. This principle has been defined by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948 and has been re-affirmed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a multilateral treaty adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in more..

May 7 (ST) SLFEB is to distribute 50,000 face and nose masks for those travelling to Saudi Arabia and conduct awareness programmes for families of migrant workers and pilgrims on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a viral outbreak in Saudi Arabia that claimed about 40 lives last month alone. Last week, health authorities in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia reported deaths from the virus while more..

May 7 (SL) The ongoing nurses trade union action to win over the midwifery training and the four-year Allied Health Degree are to cripple more hospitals in the country in the days to come. Nurses unions have urged the Health Ministry to re-start the hindered four-year Allied Health Degree course and the midwifery training given to nurses immediately without allowing the GMOA to take an upper hand to obstruct the nurses’ rights or more..

May 7 (IP) IRELAND remain confident ahead of tomorrow’s second One Day International with Sri Lanka despite being beaten by 79 runs in their opening game in Dublin. Ireland were chasing a target of 220 but were dismissed for 140 in 39.5 overs, with many of the home side’s batsmen each failing to score a run total over 20. Captain William Porterfield impressed and top-scored with 37 from 87 balls whilst more..

May 7 (Island) The Coordinating Committee (CC) of the TNA which deliberated over two days (April 29-30) presided over by Leader R. Sampanthan in Trincomalee, had appointed a seven-member committee to look into problems faced by the people at district level in the North and East and provide solutions, TNA MP Selvam Adaykalanathan said. Committee would look into problems faced by civilians in eight districts more..

May 7 (CG) Private hospitals in Sri Lanka have denied reports of a major kidney racket taking place at private hospitals in the country. Private Hospitals Association (PHA) said that Indian media has been sensationalizing an alleged kidney donor sale by agents in both India and Sri Lanka and are alleging that donors are being enticed and paid by agents who charge excessively from recipients and give a pittance to the donor. more..

May 7 (CG) Canada has warned that there is a risk of further violence in Sri Lanka as none of underlying causes of conflict have been dealt with. Matthew Russell Lee wrote in an exclusive report that the concerns had been raised at a meeting held yesterday at Canada’s Mission to the UN in New York. Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Shavendra Silva sought to deny the reports of rape by the Army. more..

May 7 (Island) UNP said that as part of a plan to emasculate the country’s judiciary, Rajapaksa govt had deliberately made a mockery of important appointments in the judicial system. UNP said in a statement: "The nearest example is the appointment of Priyantha Jayawardena as a Supreme Court judge above the heads of many eligible candidates, sending shockwaves across the entire judicial system of the country. more..

May 7 (Reuters) A Thai court found Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra guilty of violating the constitution on Wednesday and said she had to step down, throwing the country into further political turmoil, although ministers not implicated in her case can remain in office. The decision is bound to anger her supporters, but the survival of her govt could take the sting out of protests they had planned for the weekend and may make confrontation more..

May 7 (DM) A delegation from the Rawana Balaya organisation today handed over a letter to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana demanding that the special police unit set up to look into religious disputes be withdrawn before the Wesak Poya Day. The organisation’s secretary the Ven. Ittakande Saddhatissa Thera, when handing over this letter to the deputy minister, asked that the President be requested to withdraw the newly set up police more..

May 7 (Reuters) Police are investigating a public brawl between James Packer, one of Australia's richest men, and a television executive, which could jeopardise regional expansion plans for Packer's casino business if it leads to a criminal conviction. The fight on Sunday between Crown Resorts Executive Chairman Packer and David Gyngell, CEO of Nine Entertainment, left Packer with a black eye more..

May 7 (CT) The long suffering public were given a respite of sorts, when nurses of two of the three striking unions decided to return to work by yesterday. What kind of a respite this turns out be is left to be seen, given the fact that the third union has expressed its determination to continue with the strike, and the warning postscript by the other two that they would resume industrial action, if the govt fails to resolve the vexing issue of midwifery training for nurses within a week. more..

May 7 (LBO) Sri Lanka's shares close 0.43% higher with index heavy stocks gaining amid strong foreign buying. All Share Price Index closed 26.47 points higher at 6,252.60 up 0.43%. The S&P SL20 closed 9.83 points higher at 3,433.95, up 0.29%. Turnover was 1.00 billion rupees, down from 1.30 billion rupees a day earlier with 104 stocks close positive against 80 negative. Seylan Bank closed flat at 65.00 rupees with two off market transactions of 132.15 million rupees more..

May 7 (CT) Criminal offences committed using social media are on the rise, signifying the need to take immediate steps to curb this trend. In most instances, the social stigma associated and the reaction from the victim has only motivated the miscreants further. Whilst enjoying a good laugh and sometimes immense rewards in the event they succeed, these perpetrators are not discouraged when a targeted victim does not fall prey to more..

May 7 (CT) The initial attempt at bringing down the 65 year old mosque initiated by a so called hidden hand continues to haunt your regime. You will remember that I brought this to your notice the day prior to this incident and failed to receive any response from you, until a senior minister confirmed that the mosque in question was indeed 65 years old. In the ensuing drama and at a general meeting you assured the Muslim community that the mosque at Dambulla will not be touched. more..

May 7 (AHRC) Sri Lankans have just been confronted with the abduction of two policemen, one of whom was assassinated. The other narrowly escaped by struggling and running into the jungle naked. He is now receiving treatment in a hospital. This incident happened at Kurunegala. The immediate reaction of some persons who were interviewed by the press agencies was: if this is what is happening to our policemen, what can we expect for ourselves? more..

May 7 (DM) Six officials of the Railways including the engine driver, his assistant, the head guard and the under guard and the two Station Masters who were on duty at the Aluthgama Railway Station at the time of the accident had been suspended until the investigations were over. A train transporting fuel from Galle to Colombo crashed into the back of a Power-set which was at the Aluthgama Railway Station this morning, more..

May 7 (NF) Mayor of Hambantota Eraj Fernando has surrendered to the police in connection to the attack on a group of UNP MPs in Hambantota, which took place a few weeks ago. Police stated that the mayor was released after obtaining a statement on Tuesday night. A special investigation is being carried out into the attack by Galle DIG Gamini Mathurata. Four individuals have been taken into the custody following the attack. Pictures of the Hambantota mayor holding a gun more..

May 7 (Island) Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that three persons had died due to lightning, drowning and falling trees during torrential rains that lashed the country during last few days. One in the Hambantota District had drowned; another one in Mannar District died after being struck by lightning and a person in the Kurunegala District had been killed by a falling tree. So far 1,063 people in Vavuniya, Mannar, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle, Hambantota and Kurunegala districts had more..

May 7 (CG) President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Dr. John W. Ashe called on President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this morning. Dr. Ashe is in Sri Lanka to attend the World Conference on Youth which began yesterday. A number of topics were discussed during the meeting between President Rajapaksa and Dr. John Ashe, including challenges faced by youth, the role of women in various sectors, more..

May 7 (CT) Teachers serving in difficult areas of the Northern Province launched a protest, in front of the Provincial Education Ministry office on Monday (5), demanding immediate transfer. However, the protest was called off after an assurance was given by the Secretary, Education Ministry, S. Sathiyaseelan. Teachers serving in areas such as Kilinochchi Education Zone, Madu, Thunukkai and Isles in the Northern Province were those seeking transfer. Teachers who participated in the protest said, more..

May 7 (GDI) A commemorative stamp was issued this morning to mark the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014. Minister of Postal Services Jeewan Kumaranatunga presented the stamp to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma before the opening of the first plenary session at the BMICH. Monitoring Minister of Education Mohanlal Grero and Chairman of Sri Lanka Youth Services Council Lalith Piyum Perera were present at the occasion. more..

May 7 (DN) Sri Lanka College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (SLCOG) clarifying its professional stance on the issue of midwifery training said the proposal to extend this training to nursing students is imprudent and ill-conceived. SLCOG President Dr Kapila Gunawardena stressed that his Organization is not against giving this training to experienced nurses who have the capability to identify and handle adverse more..

May 7 (Reuters) Rupee ended flat on Wednesday as importer dollar demand was offset by exporter sales of the green back, while dealers expect the currency to be stable in the near term until private sector credit demand and imports pick up. Rupee closed at 130.60/61 per dollar, unchanged from Tuesday's close. "There was nothing happening," said a currency dealer. "Dull trading was seen and we do not see much movements until imports and credit growth pick up." more..

May 7 (LT) At a Parliamentary debate held on the 24th last month the Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene has presented fake statistics to the Parliament. What was held on that day was the debate on the amendment to gazettes that provides tax relief for 28 years to propagate casino in Sri Lanka. Minister told Parliament that US$1391 million was received in 2013 as direct foreign investments. However, the annual report of Central Bank states the direct foreign income more..

May 7 (CG) Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has filed a lawsuit against the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) claiming Rs 500 Mn as compensation. Case has been filed in Colombo District courts by lawyers representing Minister Bathiudeen. Case was filed against the secretary of BBS, venerable Galagodaathe Gnanasara after the monk had failed to respond to a letter seeking an apology over some comments he had made against the Minister. more..

May 7 (DM) A man who claimed to have had a romantic relationship with popular Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai had made a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau, (CFIB) alleging that his nephew had swindled him of Rs.1.7 million. Complainant Niroshan Devapriya, currently resident in Taiwan, told police that he became mentally unbalanced following the actress’s marriage to Indian actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan, and decided to file a lawsuit more..

May 7 (NF) Ministry of Technology and Research says that plans have been made to use nuclear radiation to combat Dengue in Sri Lanka. Issuing a communique, Ministry says they expect to control the Dengue mosquito population through the use of this technology that is named as the Sterile Insect technique. Male Dengue mosquito will be made sterile through the use of this technique. Communique also notes that the project which will be in effect as a pilot project until 2017, more..

May 7 (DM) Former star athlete, famous coach and respected administrator Sunil Gunawardena charged that country’s premier Olympic sport athletics has suffered immensely over the years due to prominence grabbed by two other popular sports cricket and rugby. Sri Lanka with a relatively small population had been a force to reckon with for many years with some dazzling performances in the track but the more..

May 7 (CG) Army has said that students will not be allowed to hold commemorative events at the Jaffna university in relation to some incidents alleged to have taken place during the final stages of the war in Mullivaikal. Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Udaya Perera had met the Jaffna university administration and student union representatives today. Perera had said that Mullivaikal remembrance events cannot take place in an organised manner. more..

May 7 (DN) The Daily Nation contacted Milinda Rajapaksha, the Co-chair of the World Youth Conference for his take on various complaints regarding the organization process of the conference as well as the official standpoint of the WCY on the departure of a member of the Task Force, an international delegate from Belgium. “There are 1500 delegates from over 158 countries, certainly there’s bound to be disagreements and differences in opinions,” more..

May 7 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's tourist industry crossed the half a million tourist arrival mark in April, helped by a healthy 136% growth in Chinese travelers. Tourist arrivals in April grew by 39.5%, when compared to the same month last year, to 112,631 and the large numbers brought the total during the first four months to 534,132, an increase of 27.6% over 2013. So far this year, monthly arrivals have been over 100,000 more..

May 7 (LBO) Bangladesh can slash shipping times to to Europe, US and Canada East Coast, the Middle and Africa by transshipping from Colombo. A delegation made up of SLPA Chairman Priyath Wickrama, Additional ports ministry secretary Anuradha Wijekoon and Chairman Ceylon Shipping Corporation Jayanath Colombage had visited Bangladesh. They had met Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Secretary Syed Islam and chairmen of Chittagong and Mongla ports more..

May 7 (ST) State Engineering Corporation (SEC) and the Ports Authority had overbilled Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to the tune of over Rs. 350 million for reconstruction work on the Kettarama and Pallekele cricket stadiums while the contractors of the Hambantota /Suriyawewa cricket stadium had overbilled SLC to the tune of over Rs 700 million, Parliament was told today. Minster Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that SLC had not paid the Rs350 million after it was found that it was more..

May 7 (DM) The group of UNP MPs who visited Hambantota Airport and the Harbour on a fact-finding mission on April 17 handed over an interim report to the party Leadership Council today, based on the tour and charged that both mega projects were carried out in haste and were unprofitable. “It is evident that both mega projects were carried out in haste, ignoring feasibility studies. A strategic plan will have to be put in place more..

May 7 (SM) Addressing media Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) D.C.A.Gunawardena has stated that the Public Service Commission has ordered him to suspend the former (Acting) Director of National Accounts of the DCS H.S. Wanasinghe with immediate effect. Commenting on the ordered suspension he has further stated “this individual has clearly violated the establishment code which has to be followed by all govt officials. more..

May 7 (N360) Sri Lanka Telecom has formed a new subsidiary under the name of SLT Property Management Limited, aiming to get the maximum use of its extensive property base scattered across the Island, the telecom giant announced. The company says, the main focus of SLT PML is to develop SLT’s own properties through joint ventures and partnerships. “The company will also look at opportunities available to lease/hire its facilities/venues to different parties for more..

May 7 (TA) A leading Sri Lankan political figure says James Packer’s brawl with David Gyngell will not stop him passing a probity test for a proposed $US400 million ($430m) casino hotel in Colombo, but has warned the billionaire that his “arrogance" and tough business style would be “matched punch for punch". UNP MP Harsha de Silva has been a vocal opponent of gaming being a part of Mr Packer’s proposed Crown Sri Lanka venture more..

May 8 (CT) Your Honour, This is to keep Your Honour informed of some events in relation to the Prison of Anuradhapura. Yesterday, being Easter Sunday I was to conduct the Easter Religious Services in the Catholic Chapel situated inside the prison complex of Anuradhapura. Meanwhile, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, the Bishop of Mannar hearing that I was due to celebrate mass there, desired to join with me and meet briefly the many Tamil speaking Catholics of the more..