June 2 (Island) Sri Sangaraja Museum of the Malwatte Maha Viharaya, Kandy would be re-opened for public for Poson (June 18), the Secretary General of Malwatte Chapter Ven. Walgowwagoda Sri Wimalabuddhi Thero said. The museum remained closed for nearly a year after Ven. Kandakkulame Dhammkithti thero who had been in charge of it had fallen ill. The thera passed away last January. more..

June 2 (Island) The remains of late Reggie Ranatunga lie at his residence in Udugampola and the funeral of the veteran politician will take place this evening at Udugampola today(02). Reggie Ranatunga was born on April 22, 1937. He had his primary education at the Minuwangoda Nalanda Collage and entered Kotte Ananda Sasthralaya to continue his secondary education. His keen interest in politics led him to enter the Moscow Faculty of Political Science in 1960. more..

June 2 (Reuters) Foreigners are to be allowed to deposit money with Sri Lankan banks in a move to promote investment in an economy which is short of domestic savings, the central bank said on Monday. It said Sri Lankan citizens living abroad, corporate bodies incorporated outside Sri Lanka and foreign institutional investors will be allowed to invest in savings and time deposits in designated foreign currencies or in rupees with commercial banks. more..

June 3 (LG) A spontaneous conscientious act of communication sharing his experiences after a visiting a school gave the readers of Sri Lanka Guardian an insight into the day to day happening of a school somewhere in Sri Lanka from 7 30 in the morning to 1 30 in the afternoon. We have to be grateful to visitors like Paul Melvyn to have the good sense and the responsible nature that certainly emphasizes what every elder in a community should be doing more..

June 3 (LG) Ethnic conflicts and civil wars have plagued mankind since ages. But the strong undercurrent of pathos in the suffering of Jaffna Tamils in the course of on-going war at Northeast part of Sri Lanka between Tamil Tigers and the Sinhalese army is brought out vividly in a 50-minute documentary titled Burning Memories by film-maker S Someetharan. If one has to mark the calendar in the rise of ethnic strife in Sri Lanka, then more..

June 3 (AT) The meeting between Sri Lanka and United States at the sixth US-Sri Lanka Trade and investment Framework Agreement Council meeting held in Washington deepened both countries’ commitment to expand bilateral trade and investment said John K. Veroneau. The US delegation was led by Deputy US Trade Representative John K. Veroneau. G.L. Peiris, Minister for Export Development and International Trade, led the Sri Lankan delegation. more..

June 3 (AT) East Provincial Council Chief Minister Chanthirakanthan alias Pilliyan is a kind man. I love to work with him, said East Provincial Council Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayaka. He said the 20 years of war came to an end and East is now liberated. In this liberation battle Pilliyan played a big role. We people are thankful to Pilliyan’s greatest contribution, Minister Dissanayaka said. more..

June 3 (AT) The JVP said the UNP has no right to launch a protest campaign against current fuel crisis in Sri Lanka and said the UNP was responsible the present fuel crisis. General Secretary of the JVP Tylwin Silva said the UNP had closed government owned fuel related businesses during their regime. They also introduced open economy which brings worst results for the local businesses and industries. more..

June 3 (AT) The year 2008 so far has proved to be a bad year for the LTTE. In this year two prominent LTTE leaders and one of the most senior LTTE female leaders got killed in the battle within the LTTE control area. The LTTE had announced that its number two or overall operations commander Balraj died of a heart attack. However, well informed sources from Tiger territory said Balraj died in a clandestine claymore bomb attack at Pallamadu in north Mannar. more..

June 3 (LD) A leading unionist has warned that trade union activists would face intimidations in a manner similar to the threats issued to two media rights leaders by the Defence Secretary recently. Joseph Stalin, who is Chairman of the Ceylon Teachers Union and National Organizer of the Trade Unions Federation, called on trade unions in all sectors to unite and counter this threat. more..

June 3 (LBO) Central bank said financial institutions would have to open two branches outside the fast growing Western province to be allowed to open one in the area, which also contains the capital, Colombo. This was to increase the access to credit to areas outside the Western province, where banking density was lower. "This new policy will be applicable for all future requests made to the Central Bank for opening of branches by licensed banks and registered finance companies," more..

June 3 (BBC) Three Sri Lankans were injured in explosions in the Bangladeshi capital, Sri Lankan High commission in Dhaka said. According to the Bangladesh police at least 30 people have been injured in a series of explosions at a multi-storey hotel in the city. Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya, Amitta Munasinghe who was at the hotel when the explosion happened confirmed that his friend A R Samantilake was hurt. more..

June 3 (Rediff) In V V Ganeshananthan's thought-provoking and moving first novel Love Marriage, Kumaran, a dying former Tamil Tiger, triggers a series of reactions in his last days that provoke some people close to him to examine their political and family heritage. Yalini, the daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants who left their war-torn country and married in America, is caught between the history of her ancestors and her own little world. more..

June 3 (AFP) The elusive head of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka has placed a senior rebel leader under house arrest over a worsening internal dispute, the defence ministry said Monday. Seevaratnam Prabaharan, alias Pulidevan, who is attached to the Tigers' peace secretariat, has been placed under arrest on the direct orders of the Tiger supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, the statement said. more..

June 3 (IN) Floods triggered by torrential rain have killed at least 16 and forced thousands of people from their homes in Sri Lanka, with some taking shelter in schools and temples, officials said on Monday. Flooding, often fuelled by monsoon rains, and ensuing mass displacement are common in Sri Lanka. “The death toll had gone up to 16 with four people in the same family including (an 18-months-old) infant and an 11-year-old girl killed by a landslide.” more..

June 3 (MG) Rauff Hakeem, the leader of SLMC, and Basheer Segudawood the chairman of the party are responsible for creating a conspiracy to initiate ethnic conflict between the Tamil and Muslim communities, charged Minister of Disaster Relief Services M.S.S.Ameer Ali at a conference held May 28 at Eravur police station attended by a number of senior government officials and media personnel. more..

June 3 (LG) One could postulate that Anil Athale’s ‘India’s soft under belly’ from a historical perspective refers to Sri Lanka’s (SL) emerging as an Israeli like ‘genie’ that turned the Middle East into the world’s hottest conflict spot. A rearmed SL also has the potential to extend the conflict beyond its boundaries to engulf the region, specifically TN that is in closest proximity. more..

June 3 (LG) The golden jubilee celebration of Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s ‘MANAME’ was held at Lional Wendt theatre in Colombo on 3rd of November 2006. Considered a landmark in Sinhala theatre since its first performance in 1956 up to date Maname has created a record in Sri Lanka’s Arts world by its continuous popularity and satisfying the tastes of ‘Rasikas’ both urban and rural for over three generations. more..

June 3 (LBO) Pegasus Reef Hotels, a unit of the Sri Lanka's Carsons Cumberbatch group said the government had announced the take-over of 10 acres of land belonging to the firm. Pegasus said in a stock exchange filing that the take-over order was being made under a land acquisition law. The 10 acres of land (4.0 hectares) was next to the hotel premises, the firm said. The company was not informed of a reason for the take-over or any compensation. more..

June 3 (LBO) Sri Lanka will not try to impose laws on productive sectors of the economy to curb oil use, but is aiming to cut energy use in the state sector by about 20 percent, a government minister said. "We will not try to force the private sector to cut petroleum use," deputy finance minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. "There was a proposal to ration petroleum but that was discarded. It would not go with today's economic realities. more..

June 3 (LBO) Floods caused by heavy rains in southern Sri Lanka have disrupted cropping on tea plots but no serious shortfall is anticipated unless the rains continue, trade officials said. They said tea bushes and roads leading to cultivations were under water in parts of the southern districts of Galle, Matara and Kalutara which produce low grown teas which are much in demand in the Middle East and Russia. more..

June 3 (PTI) Sri Lankan navy allegedly shot dead an Indian fisherman while he was fishing in a motorised boat along with three others, a short distance near Katchativu. Indian fishermen had resumed fishing in the Palk Straits two days back after the 45 day ban imposed by the Tamil Nadu government on mechanised trawlers on April 15 ended. Police said the fisherman, who suffered bullet injuries in the kidney, died on the spot, more..

June 3 (LNP) Despite concerns from the experts of the Technical Evaluation Committee, Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne has recommended that the Ceylon Electricity Board outsource all domestically funded Transmission and Grid construction projects. Experts in the CEB yesterday said that CEB is capable of handling its own projects and they had already spelled it out to the minister. more..

June 3 (LNP) The JVP has dashed the Opposition s hopes of forging a grand alliance to dislodge the Rajapaksa regime. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has ruled out the possibility of a coalition with either the UNP or any of its allies. He has responded to speculation in political circles that moves are afoot to bring the UNP and the JVP together vis- -vis mounting opposition to the present UNP leadership from the party front liners in the wake of their defeat at the Eastern Provincial Council elections. more..

June 3 (SAMN) Police Monday said the islandwide civil disobedience protest organised by the United National Party (UNP) together with several other political parties to stop vehicles for five minutes, switch on the headlights and toot the horns at 12 noon today against the rising fuel prices was an illegal move and warned of legal action against those engaging in a commotion that could disturb the regular lifestyle. more..

June 3 (SAMN) The Presidential Secretariat has directed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) investigating cases of serious violations of human rights to suspend recording evidence via video conferencing from witnesses living abroad, CoI Chairman Nissanka Udalagama said Monday. “The Commission has been instructed to suspend using the video-conferencing facility until the ‘Witness Protection Act’ is passed in Parliament to ensure the safety of witnesses,” more..

June 3 (SAMN) In the wake of escalating international oil prices, coupled with pressure on domestic fuel and energy costs, the government Monday announced the introduction of an energy audit on all government institutions as a measure to curb down expenditure. Minister for Finance, State Revenue and Deputy Minister for Finance Planning, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya made this announcement yesterday at more..

June 3 (SAMN) Speculating that next year would be an ‘election year’ the JVP Monday said the party was ready for any election at any time but accused the government of resorting to undemocratic means to win elections. “We are ready for any election at any time but this government has made a practice of following undemocratic means at elections. The government is not holding elections according to the Constitution or the accepted norms. They want to hold elections as and when they wish,” more..

June 3 (GDI) Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Acting Foreign Secretary and sister of His Majesty the Sultan during a visit to Brunei Darussalam. Dr. Kohona briefed Her Royal Highness on the current political situation in Sri Lanka including the determined efforts of the Government to counter the LTTE terrorism and also its political initiatives. more..

June 3 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a condolence message at the death of SLFP stalwart Reggie Ranatunga, said that the political policy of SLFP was Ranatunga's political policy since the day he joined the SLFP until his demise. He was a true public representative of the people of Gampaha electorate which is one of the most important electorates to the SLFP, the President noted. more..

June 3 (GDI) Commending the continuous assistance lend by the Government of Israel in several occasions including at the time of Tsumami devastation in Sri Lanka, Minister of Higher Education Wishwa Warnapala said "Israeli assistance has helped Sri Lanka immensely in its efforts to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity," The Minister made these remarks when he met with Isreali Ambassidor Mark Sofer at the Higher Education Ministry yesterday (02). more..

June 3 (DN) The National Farmer Awards launched in 2006 by the National Agribusiness Council to encourage and educate farmers will be held for the third year from August 22 to 24 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. This event is held annually concurrent to the AG-Biz Exhibition and Trade Fair. Agricultural equipment such as two wheel tractors, threshers, sprayers, CDMA phones, trophies and certificates have been given to national and district winners. more..

June 3 (DN) Nearly 34 Indian nationals are languishing in Sri Lankan jails on alleged drug charges after being duped by Sri Lankan Tamil drug traffickers in Tamil Nadu who had promised them lucrative jobs abroad. Nagamuthu Thangavel was 42 when he boarded a flight for Colombo from Chennai. A car driver who was the sole breadwinner of his family, Thangavel was offered a lucrative job overseas by a group of Sri Lankan Tamils who were his neighbours. more..

June 3 (Island) Minister of Consumer Affairs Bandula Gunawardhana had to grin and bear it when several speakers at a function where he was present made reference to Sakara’s son Vima. The audience was reminded of Minister Gunawadhana’s popular excuse that not even Vima would be able to bring down the high cost of living. Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara delivered scathing remarks quoting his now famed ‘Sakka’s son Vima’ phrase at a felicitation ceremony to honour Gamini Lokuge at the BMICH on Sunday. more..

June 3 (Island) The UNP-led Opposition campaign to form a grand coalition, with the JVP as a partner, to oust the government ran into a snag yesterday when the JVP took exception to the idea of any such alliance. The rumour of a grand alliance of Opposition forces is widely considered as part of a move to counter an internal dispute of the UNP, where pressure is mounting on UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down. more..

June 3 (DM) The government yesterday distanced itself from allegations and accusations made by the Defence Ministry website against some private media organizations. Government defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said the views expressed on the website were its own and did not reflect the view of the government. The article published on the website accuses some private media organizations of committing treachery against the armed forces through some of their reports. more..

June 3 (DM) Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on the government to finish the war by crushing the LTTE or come up with a political solution for the national issue. He made this call at the opening of the ‘Mangalapaya’ reception hall of the Kolonnawa Urban Council yesterday. “The war should be finished up quickly or the APRC should come up with a political solution without any more dragging,” he said. more..

June 3 (BN) The leadership of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is divided, Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry said, citing intelligence reports that the head of the group's peace secretariat is under house arrest. Seevaratnam Prabaharan, also known as Puleedevan, was detained recently on the orders of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, the ministry said on its Web site. more..

June 3 (PRW) A group of Tamil Americans is searching for a Tamil they can nominate to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The histories of a number of modern nations have included Nobel laureates who have helped to end civil wars and then have become leading citizens of their nations. Jose Ramos-Horta of East Timor, Lech Walensa of Poland, and Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela of South Africa come to mind. The Tamil American group hopes to find a Tamil equivalent. more..

June 3 (Reuters) Tamil Tiger rebels said on Tuesday that a Sri Lankan military roadside mine killed six civilians in the rebel-held far north. "Six civilians including two children were killed in a claymore by the Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lanka military in Oddusuddan Road in Mankulam at 8.00 pm on Monday," Tamil Tiger rebels said in an emailed statement. It said four people were injured in the explosion, among them three children. more..

June 3 (LG) I mention Mossad has directly sustained violence in Sri Lanka since 1983, when ethnic Tamils in the north started fighting for independence from ethnic Sinhalese in the south. The Tamils want an independent state called Tamil Eelam. Mossad has caused Sri Lanka’s fighting to become some of the bloodiest in human history. Entire villages are routinely wiped out. Massacres happen almost daily. Over 70,000 people have been killed. more..

June 3 (LG) Out of Sri Lanka's nettle of war the flower of peace can be plucked with a free and fair referendum on Tamil statehood. That was an unwritten insight of U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake in a recent interview with the Sunday Observer newspaper. More on that later. A grisly civil war between Sri Lanka's Tamils and the Sinhalese-dominated government of Sir Lanka (GOSL) has convulsed the island nation for more than three decades. more..

June 3 (GDI) The Ministry of Agriculture is to introduce fuel-free water pumps to the agricultural sector to boost food production as well as to reduce overall input costs. The new instrument was introduced to the media in a simple ceremony attended by the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Minister of Aviation and Water Management, Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister of Lands Jeevan Kumaranatunga, Secretary to the Ministry C. Abeywickrama, more..

June 3 (LD) Large crowds joined a protest campaign today (June 03rd) against the government for effecting exorbitant fuel prices and failing to arrest the skyrocketing cost of living. The 'Janabala Kahala Nadaya' by the UNP, the SLFP Mahajana Wing and the SLMC kicked off at noon across the island. The main demonstration, led by UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, took place at the Lake House Roundabout in Colombo Fort. more..

June 3 (LD) A poster campaign challenging the United National Party leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe has been carried out several areas, including in Kesbewa and along Parliament road in Kotte this morning (June 03rd). Displaying slogans such as ‘enough defeats’ and ‘let us unite UNP through a new leadership,' the posters were pasted by a group who identified themselves as the ‘Movement to protect the UNP’. more..

June 3 (KT) A Sri Lankan minister expressed gratitude for Korea's help in rebuilding efforts of the South Asian country which was hit by a tsunami in 2004. "The message we would like to give to the Korean people is `kamsa-hamnida,' for what Korea has done for us after the tsunami tragedy," said Sri Lankan Minister of Mass Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana. "We remember with gratitude what Koreans have done for us after the tsunami, especially in the southern part of Sri Lanka," more..

June 3 (Reuters) Sri Lankan authorities appealed for canned food, drinking water and clothes on Tuesday for thousands of people forced from their homes because of flash floods in the west and south of the country. At least 18 people have been killed in the floods triggered by torrential rains and 225,780 people have been affected, many sheltered in schools and temples. "We have requested specially canned food such as canned fish and water, clothes for the flood affected people as an urgent need," more..

June 3 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the FAO Conference on food security in Rome today, gave an overview of the situation in Sri Lanka with respect to the challenges of climate change and bioenergy. He also proposed the setting up of Regional Food Security Funds so that the financial and technological resources within a given region can be better employed to expand food production, improve storage and distribution. more..

June 4 (MG) Several Muslim organisations are engaged in providing relief to flood victims belonging to all communities regardless of cast or creed. Mr . Asker Khan of the Al – Kafala organisation told Muslim guardian that Al-Kafala, Hira and Dehiwala Friendship Society together have been helping flood victims in the Kolannawa area and have now extended their assistance to victims in Kalutara and Ratnapura. more..

June 4 (LG) When a pastor who misappropriated several millions meant to help the needy not so long ago attempts to mislead the community on a matter of court procedure to twist the truth, then he has not learnt his lessons. This being the case of the Rev Annappa Jeyakumar of the highly status questionable Church of the American Ceylon Mission, either he has a flock of stupid sheep willing to jump off the cliff at his command or like the emperor who wore no clothes, more..