Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up by 9 percent in April
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 9.0 percent in April this year compared to the same period last year, the data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Wednesday showed. read more..

නිදහස ලැබූ තරුණයන් භාර දී නැහැ- මනෝ ගනේෂන්..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

කොටි සංවිධාන සාමාජිකයන් ලෙස චෝදනා ලබන පිරිස් නිදහස් කරනු ලැබීමෙන් අනතුරුව දෙමාපියන්ට භාර නොදීමේ අවස්ථා ඇති බව මනෝ ගනේෂන් කියා සිටී. read more..

President agrees to implement LLRC recommendations jointly with UNP
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News-15.May.2012,11.55PM) The President Mahinda Rajapakse had agreed to implement the recommendations of the LLRC jointly with the Opposition . The President has made this announcement when the Opposition... read more..

Rumors of Gen. Fonsekas release President dodges the issue
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News-14.May.2012, 11.55PM) Those who are supposedly discussing with the Govt. with Gen. Fonsekas permission to get him released , have been forever announcing dates in regard... read more..

MaRa regime nonplussed Its treasure hunt turns into child abductions
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News-14.May.2012, 5.30PM) Even as Ven. Medhananda Thero was announcing that digging for ancient treasure is the same as digging for oil or any other natural resources , and it is best the Govt . digs those treasures... read more..

Racist Ven. Medhananda who knows only of grave digging defends illicit treasure..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News-13.May.2012, 11.55PM) Ven. Medhananda Thero at an interview with a weekend newspaper had moved heaven and earth to vindicate the dastardly illicit treasure digging operations... read more..

Gotas war book to be launched War kudos misappropriated
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News-13.May.2012, 9.30PM) The most ludicrous event in history which would make even the dead to sit up and laugh is to take place at the Waters edge on the 14th. That is the day the book written in English entitled Gotas war is... read more..

Surviving under gallery talks
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News -13.May.2012, 7.00PM) Minister Wimal weerawansa said certain external parties comments have divided the Sinhala and Tmail communities in Sri Lanka. He made this statement when he gave housing loans... read more..

War Widows Turn to Sex Work in Sri Lanka
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News -12.May.2012, 8.00pm)On May 18, some 800 women in Sri Lankas northern region will hold Hindu religious ceremonies for the welfare of thier husbands who disappeared... read more..

Grenade bomb discovered at the venue of meeting where Ranil was to attend
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lnka-e-News -12.May.2012, 8.00pm) A hand grenade bomb had been discovered at the venue where the Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was scheduled to visit, according... read more..

IGP dodging: True picture on Rajapakses orchestrated treasure robbery at Mahavil..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News -11.May.2012, 11.59PM) After the STF soldiers were caught red handed when digging for treasure on the 1st of May night illicitly , the IGP N K Ilangakoon a week later narrated a very intriguing fairy tale in that connection while... read more..

MaRa govt. playing musical chairs with northern District secretaries in its dera..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(Lanka-e-News, 10.May.2012, 11.59PM) Ms. Imelda Sukumar , the Jaffna district secretary had been transferred with immediate effect to the Presidential secretariat... read more..

Sri Lankan government called on to reveal its foreign policy to the public
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: An anti-imperialist movement backed by Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said the government's foreign policy was not clear to the country and called on the state to reveal its foreign policy. read more..

PHIs in Sri Lanka to boycott National Dengue Prevention Week
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) in Sri Lanka say they would not participate in the National Dengue Prevention week that was launched on Monday (14). read more..

DNA parliamentarian discusses Sri Lanka's jailed Army commander's release with t..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: Tiran Alles, a parliamentarian of Sri Lanka's Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, today met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees to discuss Fonseka's release. read more..

Post-war Sri Lanka needs a home-grown solution - Minister Peiris
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Washington DC: The post-conflict Sri Lanka will achieve reconciliation only through a home-grown solution, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has said. read more..

A man was found hanging from a tree inside an empty land adjoining an international school at Alwis Town in Wattala earlier today, police said.

The Divisional Secretary of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha Sanifa Mohommad was arrested by the officials of the Bribery Commission today for accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000, Police said.

The bribe was taken by the suspect after promising to provide the explosives permit needed by a villager for a quarry.

Officials of the Bribery Commission had arrested the suspect while he has accepting the bribe at his home.

The suspect had worked as the Mutur Divisional Secretary before moving to the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha.

Aide says grandmother not in house as Dhanuna came
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Giving evidence in the case filed against Dhanuna Tillekeratne’s grandmother, a domestic aide who had been employed at her home told Court that Mrs. Tillekeratne (grandmother) had not been at... read more..

Colombo High Court Judge Sunil Rajapaksha directed the Terrorist Investigation Division to rehabilitate K.P. Lankasewaran who had acted as the legal draftsman for the LTTE.

He had also acted as lawyer and the judge of the of the LTTE courts before, he functioning as the legal draftsman for the outfit during the period 2007 to April, 2009.

He was forcibly recruited by the LTTE when he was studying in the Sri Lanka law college. He was a resident of Jaffna.

External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L. Peiris on yesterday said that the government believes economic development is a crucial component of wider reconciliation.

Prof: Peiris made these comments during his four day official visit to the United States.

“The economy of the Northern Province grew by 22 percent in 2011, while for the country as a whole it was 8.3 percent. This is the result of sustained and substantial investment and development in infrastructure in that part of the country”, minister said.

The minister met the Republican Senator John McCain, former presidential candidate and who is one of the U.S senate’s leading experts on terrorism and national security.

He also made a speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars conference and highlighted Sri Lanka’s accomplishments since defeating terrorism.

“Ninety-eight percent of the people who were displaced by the conflict have been and they have not just been returned to their homes. We have seen to it that resettlement has occurred in an environment of confidence and satisfaction.” minister said in his speech.

The minister is due to meet U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit.

Singaporean Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam is visiting Sri Lanka on May 26-June 2, leading a powerful business delegation, officials said on Wednesday.
The businessmen are from the Singapore Business Federation (SBF). “One of the key expectations of the delegation is to establish mutually beneficial relationships with key Government officials as well as the Sri Lankan business community during this visit,” the organisers of the vist, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) said in a statement. –Ends -

Blocking of websites: Leave to proceed turned down by SC
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Supreme Court refused to grant Leave to Proceed with Fundamental
Rights application that was filed against the blocking of five news
websites by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC).

The court noted that it saw basis to inquire into the alleged rights
violations as claimed.

Free Media Movement complained to the court that five news websites
namely www.srilankamirror.com, www.srilankaguardian.org,
www.lankawaynews.com, www.lankanewsweb, and paparacinews.com were
blocked by TRC on November 06, 2011.

Fraud in Matale police
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Two woman police constables and a home guard were interdicted for their alleged involvement in a fraud in the Matale Police Headquarters. They are alleged to have misappropriated the reward... read more..

Sri Lanka exports maize to Taiwan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Sri Lanka for the first time in history will export maize to a foreign country when it ships out a c.. read more..

Parliament Act soon to regulate Intl Schools
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said a Parliament Act would be brought in soon to regulate al.. read more..

Z-score review: Don`t throw out the baby
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The present government is in the habit of dislodging systems that work perfectly, making an unholy m.. read more..

We reject all types of communalism - Lankan President
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

We reject all types of communalism, be it Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim. We will not let any communal .. read more..

Sri Lanka main opposition party to support the government to resolve ethnic issu..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Sri Lanka`s main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that it will extend its full support to.. read more..

Doctors` union of Sri Lanka Colombo National Hospital to launch strike
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Colombo National Hospital branch of the Government Medical Officers` Association (GMOA) of Sri L.. read more..

Lankan group donates air tickets for the repatriation of detainees
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund in Qatar has donated air tickets to repatriate 16 community.. read more..

Tea exporters defend imports for value addition
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Claim no need for overreaction as it was only at a proposal stage Protesting Dilmah .. read more..

Sri Lankan government to re-open Kankasanthurei cement factory
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Sri Lankan government is to re-open the cement factory in Kankasanthurei in the Northern Provinc.. read more..

Philippine - Sri Lanka economic relations strengthened
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Ms. Erlinda F. Basilio, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Philippines met, Minis.. read more..

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Tiran Alles has met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa today to discuss the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka.

Mr. Alles later visited Mr Fonseka at the Nawaloka hospital where he is receiving medical treatment.

Speaking to journalists he said that there were a couple of legal issues to be resolved regarding the release of Mr. Fonseka and there was likely to be a couple of round of discussions regarding the matter.

He said that there have been no conditions imposed regarding the release of Mr. Fonseka.

Two artillery bombs weighing 250 kilograms were found by the police
in the North, officials said today.

The bombs were found hidden in a forest in Pandivirichchan area on Tuesday.

One of the artillery bombs weighs around 150 kilo and the other 100 kg.

In a separate recovery in the same area a claymore bomb weighing 1
kilo and five 81 mm motor bombs also were found.

TheMannar police are further investigating.

Ambassadors of China and Sweden bid farewell to Sri Lanka
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: The Ambassadors of China and Sweden made separate farewell calls on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Tuesday (15). read more..

More facilities for SL refugees
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Indian State government yesterday announced some more welfare measures for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in camps. read more..

Sri Lanka Tamil party ready to submit its stand on parliamentary select committe..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: Sri Lanka's major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to inform its position regarding the Parliamentary Select Committee next week. read more..

Sri Lanka to establish a central Tourism Authority
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: The Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Nalaka Godahewa says that steps have been taken to unite all government bodies related to tourism under one umbrella. read more..

23 Police Officers transferred
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Twenty-three police officers- including three SSPs, four SPs and four ASPs were transferred with immediate effect based on service requirements, the Police Headquarters announced. read more..

Doctors' union of Sri Lanka Colombo National Hospital to launch strike
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: The Colombo National Hospital branch of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) of Sri Lanka has passed a resolution proposing to launch an island wide strike from May 21. read more..

Sri Lanka Power and Energy Minister says energy conservation is a future invest..
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: Power and Energy Minister of Sri Lanka Patali Champika Ranawaka says that conserving energy is a future investment. read more..

Concessionary loans to Sri Lankan industries based on coconut products
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May 16, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to provide loans on concessionary terms to those engaged in coconut based industries and those hopeful of entering such an industry. read more..

Laws to regulate private schools are presently in drafting stage and will be presented to Parliament under a new Education Act, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena has said.

Private schools also known as international schools will come under a regulatory authority and will have to follow certain regulations in terms of education.

20,000 Lankans to sign petition calling for embassy in Bahrain
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A petition will be launched calling for the opening of a fully operational Sri Lankan Embassy in Bahrain.

It follows complaints from members of the 20,000-strong Sri Lankan community who claim they are facing unnecessary obstacles completing basic consular tasks, Bahrain’s Gulf Daily News reported.

A senior official at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait, which is also responsible for its citizens in Bahrain, confirmed it had received several complaints and had repeatedly urged its Foreign Ministry to establish a diplomatic presence in Manama.

He confirmed many of the complaints surrounded the fact that Sri Lanka's sole representative in Bahrain was Honorary Consul General P B Higgoda.

"It is true that we have in fact received several complaints from Sri Lankans working in Bahrain and all these are referred to our Foreign Ministry for action," the embassy official told the GDN.

However, he stressed that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait continued to provide mobile consular services in Bahrain through visits by its representatives in co-ordination with Mr Higgoda.

"Our embassy staff in Kuwait regularly provide mobile consular services in Bahrain in co-operation with P B Higgoda to help Sri Lankan nationals living there," added the official.

Sri Lankan community leaders and businessmen in Bahrain told the GDN people were fed up with delays in consular services such as passport renewals.

They also claimed they were not given receipts for money paid for consular services and questioned why they were being charged a BD17.5 courier fee to renew documentation, particularly when it was often slow in being processed.

"The petition will be soon launched and we expect thousands of Sri Lankans to sign it as they all have faced problems," said a community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He argued that Sri Lanka's sole representative in Bahrain had a full-time job and it meant he was unable to properly cater to the community.

"He (Mr Higgoda) has a full-time day job and it is only in the evening, for a few hours, when he meets people at the Sri Lanka Club," said the community leader, who has already submitted one petition to the Sri Lankan government.

Mr Higgoda could not be reached for comment yesterday, but he normally meets people requiring consular services at the Sri Lanka Club, Manama, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

A Sri Lanka Club executive committee member told the GDN it was not Mr Higgoda's fault that there was no Sri Lankan Embassy in Bahrain.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he added the honorary consul-general deserved credit for the work he had done to help the community.

"There is no doubt he should be credited for providing labour and consular services all these years as there is no Sri Lankan embassy in Bahrain," he said.

He added Mr Higgoda had helped resolve several issues faced by Sri Lankan workers.

"Our government is to be blamed for not setting up an embassy in Bahrain and sanctioning the required financing," he said.

The GDN reported on Monday that the Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) had called on the Sri Lankan government to open an embassy in Bahrain.
It operates a shelter in Bahrain for female expatriates in distress and 59 of the 129 women it housed last year were Sri Lankans.

Eighteen workers were rushed to Dankotuwa Hospital after a gas pipeline leak at a factory in Dankotuwa on Tuesday (15), police said.

The workers including 17 females and one male were hospitalized after they suffered from severe breathing difficulties. Several workers were transferred to Negombo and Colombo National Hospital.

Public Health Inspectors (PHI)’s island-wide will stay away from duties during the National Dengue Prevention Week from May 14 to May 20.

The Public Health Inspectors Union stated that despite requests, the expense allowance, office allowance and uniform maintainance allowance have not been increased by local authorities and Health Ministry.

PHI’s play a main role in dengue control programmes and this time they are to boycott inspecting residences and offices for dengue breeding spots and would not participate in awareness programmes until authorities assure to increase the allowances.

The number of persons killed by Dengue fever has reached 51 while the number of cases was 11,350 during the first four months of 2012, Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said.

The Health Ministry declared Dengue control week to prevent an outbreak of dengue.

Sun Sea case: Two men charged
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The man who allegedly purchased the ship-Sun Sea-that carried 492 Tamils to Canada has been charged with illegally organizing its entry, as has another person who was onboard the rickety... read more..

Two VIP mill owners ruling paddy fields in Polonnaruwa
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has in its inquiries found that two politically influential mill owners in the Polonnaruwa district have defaulted on the repayment of loans amounting... read more..