May 13 (Hindu) The talks between fishermen of India and Sri Lanka, aimed at evolving a sustainable solution to the Palk Bay conflict, reached a deadlock here on Monday. Northern Sri Lankan fishermen urged their Indian counterparts to immediately stop using bottom trawlers, but the Indian fishermen said they needed at least three years to completely phase out trawling. Sri Lankan side was not convinced by the Indian more..

May 13 (DM) In this Vesak week when religious and cultural values of this country take centre-stage it would be apt to discuss an important and crucial aspect of governance that had not received much attention of the professionals, the academia and the authorities concerned during the past 60 years since independence. The aspect of governance that we intend to dwell upon is the legal and judicial system in the country which is an intrinsic part of the Sri Lankan state. more..

May 13 (DM) Following is the speech delivered by UNP MP Ruwan Wijewardene, at the World Conference on Youth 2014’s session on “Empowering Marginalised Youth” on Friday. It gives me great pleasure in being able to address this gathering at the Plenary Sessions of the World Conference on Youth 2014 held in my home country and as a member of the Opposition I am grateful to the Govt of Sri Lanka for inviting me to address today’s session on more..

May 13 (DM) Eran Wickramaratne, a UNP MP was one of the MPs who came under attack in Hambantota last month. Speaking to Dailymirror he criticized the govt for the cowardly act and said that the Opposition cannot be stopped by such threats and intimidation. Q: You were a part of the group of UNP MPs who were attacked in Hambantota recently. Could you briefly tell me what exactly happened? A: We had decided that more..

May 13 (SL) Ruling party politicians and their stooges are to be blamed for the looming threat to the world heritage site – the Knuckles Range, allege environmentalists. Matale District MP and Deputy Minister Lakshman Perera; Chairman, Matale Pradeshiya Sabhawa, Kapila Hendeniya and District Secretary Matale, Helan Meegasmulla have come under severe criticism for obstructing and threatening District Forest Officer, more..

May 13 (ST) An elephantine problem in Sri Lanka, involving the illegal capture of baby elephants from the wild, reached crisis-point with environmentalists meeting to discuss measures to halt such captures. Baby elephants are isolated from their herds in the jungle, captured and transferred to different locations for sale for anything between, Rs. 10 million to Rs. 15 million each, said environmental activists Vimukthi Weeratunga more..

May 13 (Island) Principals and teachers are up in arms against the Education Ministry’s silence over their problems, although it earlier promised to solve them immediately. They have now given the Ministry two weeks to solve them or face trade union action. Spokesman for the Teachers-Principals Trade Union Joint Committee, Mahinda Jayasinghe said that they had sent a letter to Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday more..

May 13 (DM) Major General Prasad Samarasinghe has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from May 17. Current Chief of Staff of the Army Major General General Krishantha Silva will take over the Deputy Ambassador post in Russia with effect from May 17. Maj. Gen. Samarasinghe was the Commandant of the Volunteer Force Headquarters and Regimental Commander of the Military Intelligence Corps more..

May 13 (AD) Firing another salvo at Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, NFF leader Minister Wimal Weerawansa charged that Sri Lanka’s powerful Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary is holding the govt “hostage” and that he should be behind bars. He claimed that the country’s economy is being handled by a gang comprising of only 2-3 persons. P.B. Jayasundera is an official who engaged in numerous wrongdoings to sell more..

May 13 (DM) Four leading environmental associations today charged that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had illegally cleared 18,000 acres of forest land belonging to leading wildlife parks in three districts. Center for Environmental justice, Environment Conservation Trust, Sri Lanka Environment Congress and Buddhist Collective for Nature said the Minister had cut down trees in forest reserves at 14 locations in districts of more..

May 13 (SLA) The first initial round for recruitment of Mullaittivu youths to the Army commenced on Thursday at Maritime Divisional Secretariat, Mullaittivu for the first time after the humanitarian operations were over in 2009. Recruitment programme for Army tradesmen in Mullaittivu in the field of engineering, plumbing, welding, motor mechanism, masonry, electricity, etc, will continue as the first phase till June 30, more..

May 13 (Island) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva announced that UNP MPs would inspect all big projects including Norachcholai Power Plant, proposed power plant at Sampur, Trincomalee Port Project and the filling of the sea at Hambantoa port. UNP MPs would visit the Hambantota Port again. The Opposition was duty bound to conduct such tours on behalf of the public whose money the govt was spending lavishly. more..

May 13 (DM) President Rajapaksa reportedly had to intervene and censure two squabbling top cricket officials last evening in order to save the cricket establishment and avoid a possible disastrous situation at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as the national cricketers were away in England preparing for a difficult series under extremely cold pre-summer conditions. The president’s intervention couldn’t have been more timely as more..

May 13 (LBO) Shares closed 0.29% lower reversing the gains a day earlier with index heavy stocks losing ground. All Share Price Index closed 18.20 points lower at 6,284.96 down 0.29%. The S&P SL20 closed 1.92 points lower at 3,478.99, down 0.06%. Turnover was 757.85 million rupees, down from 866.48 million rupees a day earlier with 80 stocks close positive against 99 negative. Shalimar closed 98.00 rupees lower at 1,600.00 rupees with market transactions of 148.06 million rupees more..

May 13 (CT) Though set in a grim backdrop, it is still refreshing news that the police had acted swiftly over a death of a young man, in Kandeketiya, Badulla who had died due to internal injuries caused by an alleged police assault. The 18-year-old suspect, Sandun Malinga died on 9 May, two days after he and four other suspects were arrested while they were allegedly engaged in treasure hunting in Kandeketiya in the Badulla District. The five suspects were remanded after more..

May 13 (CT) Way back in the 1970s the manner in which Anagârika Dharmapâla conflated the concepts of “Ceylonese” and “Sinhalese” in one of his public exhortations (Guruge 1965) led me to argue that this was a powerful tendency in Sinhalese nationalist thinking and that this unexamined tendency was a major problem in securing political accommodation that would assuage the growing dissent among the Sri Lankan Tamils (Roberts 1978). The problem remains and has been marked more..

May 13 (Island) Acknowledging that the country needed a second runway to handle international flights in an emergency in keeping with IATA regulations, the UNP said that Mattala was not the right location for such an alternative. Sri Lanka’s second international airport was located at Matttala, but it could not be used in the event of adverse weather conditions or an unforeseen situations at Katunayake since both locations were in the Southwest monsoon zone, more..

May 13 (Digit) Q: When Prof. Willie Mendis invited you to start the first Computer Science department in Sri Lanka at the University of Moratuwa, how did you take on the task? A: I had just returned from my post-graduate studies and I was still in the Electrical Engineering Department. So computer science or computing was quite new to us. Quite fortunately we had the opportunity to use the IEEE Computer more..

May 13 (LBO) India's Krrish which has been given city centre land in Colombo is expected to settle its balance payments in three months. UDA chairman Nimal Perera said Krrish had already paid 87% of 4,995 million rupees for state land. "They have promised to settle the balance amount with the legal interest within the next three months," Perera said. Krrish had run into controversy over repeated delays on paying for the land with earlier reports saying the latest deadline was May 26. more..

May 13 (USAT) Looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure for 2015? Expedition cruise line Lindblad is out with a new "Indian Ocean Odyssey: Seychelles, Maldives, and Sri Lanka" itinerary that pairs stops in the islands of the Seychelles with an Indian Ocean crossing to little-visited Sri Lanka. The adventure-travel pioneer will offer a single sailing of the 21-day trip on April 18, 2015 aboard the 102-passenger National Geographic Orion, which just joined the Lindblad fleet this year. more..

May 13 (DN) Those conducting May Day rallies and processions freely around the country are yelling that there is no freedom in the country, President Rajapaksa said yesterday. He said those talking of freedom have forgotten the gloomy era in the country where May Day processions, protests and picketings were banned in the country. President added that violence was unleashed on Trade Union members more..

May 13 (LBO) Board of Directors of Sri Lanka's Sierra Cables said a probe had revealed a 172 million gap in its accounts and further investigations were planned. The Board of Sierra Cables, asked Colombo Stock Exchange to suspend trading in the stock. The Board in a statement said following suspicious raised, KPMG, an accounting firm, was asked to inquire and its preliminary findings show a 172 million rupee gap in work-in-progress between the March 2014 accounts and more..

May 13 (Island) Leader of the DPF Mano Ganeshan said that his party was completely against the banning of commemoration events in the North, where thousands of people had lost their lives in the 30-year war. He said that one of the recommendations of LLRC was that people be permitted to commemorate the dead and the families, friends and people’s representatives had a right to do so. the family members of the dead LTTE cadres, who were also citizens of Sri Lanka, more..

May 13 (DM) MP Duminda Silva, who is to be indicted in the High Court in the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra murder case, was allowed by the court to go to Singapore for six weeks, to obtain treatment for the injuries sustained during the shootout. The matter was called yesterday on a motion before High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya. Senior Counsel Anuja Premaratne appearing for Duminda Silva submitted that his client who more..

May 13 (LT) Despite Mr. Sarath Fonseka being an intimate friend in the past as well as at present, the political operation during the presidential election in 2010 against him through Upul Ilangage, a close friend of Dhanuna Tillekeratna, was carried out by him said Minister Rajitha Senaratna. He said it was President Rajapaksa who assigned the operation to him. Minister Senaratna revealed this at a ceremony held to launch the new web site of the Ministry of Fisheries. more..

May 13 (CG) The JVP thanked the Muslim community in Sri Lanka for remaining patient despite pressure from some groups including those who claim to be the “unofficial police. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at an event in Colombo, accused the Govt if instigating a rift between Sinhalese and Muslims in the country. He says the Govt is also today facing strong opposition from the general public including the business community. more..

May 13 (CG) Britain says it is concerned at reports that the Sri Lankan govt has proscribed a number of individuals and Tamil organisations operating outside Sri Lanka. UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth office Hugo Swire said that while UK respects the right of the Sri Lankan govt to take appropriate action against individuals and groups where there is clear evidence of their involvement in more..

May 13 (CG) President Rajapaksa has written to South African President Jacob Zuma with a congratulatory message on the “resounding victory secured by the African National Congress (ANC)” at the recently-concluded general elections. “The ANC’s victory is an unambiguous endorsement of not only your personal popularity, but also that of the enduring strength of the party of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo and other great heroes of the anti-apartheid movement,” President wrote. more..

May 13 (SM) Former leading Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Samaraweera has joined a revamped Casey South Melbourne coaching panel. The 81-Test player will serve as the Swans’ batting coach under new head coach Chris Hall, who has been elevated from his assistant’s role to replace the departing Brett Lewis. Samaraweera, who played for Berwick in the Dandenong District Cricket Association last season, counted 14 Test centuries in the 5462 runs he made at an average of 48.76. more..

May 13 (AD) Rejecting comments made by Minister Wimal Weerawansa that he publicly praises the Finance Secretary to get approval for cabinet papers, Minister S.B. Dissanayake today said that cabinet papers are approved by the cabinet Ministers and not P.B. Jayasundera. Dissanayake said he believes that P.B. Jayasundera is a rare official who is highly knowledgeable of the country’s economy and more..

May 13 (SM) Steps have been taken to initiate a satellite television channel called "Thinetha TV" with the view of informing the world on economical and social trends achieved by Sri Lanka after the 30-year-long war. All programmes, which are telecast in a national level television channel, are expected to be telecast in this channel. Accordingly, programmes such as news and current affairs, tele dramas and musical programmes, documentaries, youth and women's programmes, more..

May 13 (wsws) Dayan Jayatilleka, a former middle class radical turned diplomat and political adviser to the Sri Lankan establishment, has proposed that Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the new leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), should be the main opposition candidate in the next presidential election. Media speculation is rife that President Mahinda Rajapakse is planning to hold the election in early 2015, though constitutionally it is not due until 2016. more..

May 13 (CI) Middle-order batsman Ashan Priyanjan and slow-bowling allrounder Chaturanga de Silva have been retained in Sri Lanka's squad for the five-match ODI series against England. Both players, 24, have had a moderately successful introduction to international cricket so far, with Priyanjan earning a place ahead of Kithuruwan Vithanage, and de Silva's left-arm spin allowing the selectors to rest Rangana Herath ahead of more..

May 13 (CG) President Rajapaksa has slammed the abduction of over 200 school girls from a Nigerian school which he says has shocked the conscience of the world and invited universal opprobrium. President Rajapaksa, in a letter to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, said the incident is reminiscent of a particularly ignominious chapter in Sri Lanka’s own recent history, when the LTTE, dubbed as the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world, carried out a systematic more..

May 13 (DN) Organizers of the World Conference for Youth (WCY) are yet to verify reports which allege that some of the foreign delegates who attended the conference are now seeking political asylum in Sri Lanka. Official cited that the delegates whom they were acquainted with during the conference had not informed them of their plans to stay or seek asylum. According to media reports, 6 youth representatives from Nigeria, Uganda and Girifani were reported to have said more..

May 13 (DM) The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) seized a stock of medicine valued at Rs. 60 million past the day of expiry from a warehouse at Grandpass yesterday, Internal Trade Ministry said. “The stock was being prepared to be release to the market when the raid was carried out. The owners had re-packed the expired medicine altering expiry dates. They have mixed medicine in good condition with expired ones,” more..

May 14 (CT) Thank you for the opportunity to address the Tamil Writers Guild on the 10th Anniversary of its founding by Mr CJT Thamotheram. I have been asked to talk on the ‘Future of the Tamils’. I am conscious of the weight of the topic. And of the impossibility of doing it justice in the time available. It is somewhat like the story of the team of blind men touching an elephant and trying to describe it. My comments are in a personal capacity rather than on behalf of more..

May 14 (NS) An exhibition took place alongside the World Conference on Youth 2014 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall on May 7, 8 and 9. Stalls included school and university stalls like Nalanda College Astronomy and also stalls by organizations like the Sri Lanka Youth Parliament and ADIC. There were also various entertainment shows being held, including a musical show which attracted a large crowd, especially on May 9, the last day of the exhibition. more..

May 14 (SO) Ethics, or morality, is the way in which we judge our actions. If we consider any action “right” or “wrong” we are making a moral judgement. If I make a decision to change my religion or if I disapprove of the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, in either case my judgement is a moral one. If I think it is “good” to meditate daily for one hour, or “unskilful” (when married) to have sexual relationship with more..