Jun 30 (RW) Since early April 2009, YMCA Sri Lanka has been providing much needed emergency support to internally displaced children and youth affected by the armed conflict. Though the conflict officially ended on 19th May 2009, the situation remains desperate; according to government reports the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) exceeds 280,000 across four districts. more..

Jun 30 (Hindu) Padma Somakanthan; Kumaran Publishers, 3, Meykai Vinayakar Street, via Kumaran Colony 7th Street, Vadapalani, Chennai-600026. Rs. 90. THE COVER tells all. An army man with his gun stuck on the back of a prone man, the tear-stained face of a woman. These 30 stories from Sri Lanka torn by an atrocious civil war are reflections of reality, and there lies their strength and appeal. Truth is always stranger than fiction. more..

Jun 30 (UCAN) The Sri Lankan Catholic Church recently closed its tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation program four and a half years after killer waves ravaged the island's coastal areas. The occasion was marked by an emotional ceremony on June 23 where Father Damian Fernando, the national director of Caritas Sri Lanka, said he would "push his team toward other works." While the major rebuilding phase may have ended, more..

Jun 30 (AP) An ethnic Tamil group has threatened to kill anyone working for or distributing a Tamil nationalist newspaper in northern Sri Lanka, accusing the paper of supporting the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels. The group calling itself the Tamil Front Protecting the Country said in a note sent to newspaper dealers that reporters and other staff, must quit the Uthayan newspaper by Tuesday. more..

Jun 30 (PTI) India on Monday said Sri Lanka has not done enough to rehabilitate displaced Tamils and asked Colombo to allow the Red Cross to take up relief and give media access to refugee camps in the strife-torn areas. India had allocated Rs 500 crore for rehabilitating Lankan Tamils, but the rehabilitation plan was not ready in Sri Lanka, Union Home Minister P Mr. Chidambaram said. more..

Jun 30 (TOI) India and Sri Lanka are set to energise their relations. Literally. The two neighbours will soon sign an MoU to study the feasibility of laying an undersea cable — which will be one-of-its-kind in Asia when completed — to connect their power networks. Sources said the MEA has approved the draft agreement which is to be signed shortly. An interlink between India and Sri Lanka will also firm up the idea of establishing a South Asian energy grid more..

Jun 30 (IPS) Sri Lankan journalists are laying aside their pens once again and bracing for renewed confrontation with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government after the revival of the repressive Press Council and fresh attacks on the media. The abduction and release of a journalist and the torching of newspapers by an unknown group last week exacerbated the crisis facing the media in Sri Lanka more..

Jun 30 (DBS) Hello Friends, “Can the Tamils Seize a new opportunity” ? was the heading given by Ajith Ratnarajah to his well-written piece on the future of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Though lengthy the post evoked a lot of constructive discussion and debate on this blog. Ajith had written it from a Tamil perspective and outlined certain ideas and proposals envisaging a bright future for the Tamils of Sri Lanka who at the moment face bleak prospects. more..

Jun 30 (SLW) The search for peace, unity and harmony is vigorously on in Sri Lanka and this feature by the learned Professor C.M Maddumabandara is an example of it. Sri Lanka has a wonderful example of how our people in the ancient of times were masters of water technology and built tanks in all the rich agricultural regions. The Giant’s Tank in Mannar is considered one of the earliest and best ever constructed in the world, virtually a pioneer in tank irrigation. more..

Jun 30 (TC) We have a once –in-generations chance to re-found Sri Lanka, to build Sri Lanka anew. To do so, we must be both hard and soft; and vigilant as hawks and as conciliatory as doves. We must be hard enough to obliterate what is left of the LTTE as an organization and surgically pre-empt any attempts at re-emergence, be they local or Diaspora-based and originated. more..

Jun 30 (TT) If symbolism can heal wounds, this one should rank top. India plans to open a centre for the ancient Tamil medicine system, Siddha, in a Sri Lankan university whose growth was stunted by the civil war. As New Delhi prepares to firm up ties with Colombo post-LTTE, it has decided to foot the entire bill for the establishment of the faculty, to be located on the Trincomalee campus of Eastern University. more..

Jun 30 (GV) Editors note: This article was published in The Sunday Island on 28 June 2009. Groundviews does not usually reproduce content first published elsewhere in print or online. In this case however, given that the Island's website has no mechanism to feature reader generated comments and because Rohini Hensman's article was exclusively published on this site, Malinda's response is republished with the expectation of more..

Jun 30 (TOI) In this once lush cashew belt, sandwiched between a lagoon and the sea on Sri Lanka’s eastern coastal district of Batticaloa district, the guns fell silent in early 2007. But even now in the warscarred Vakarai landscape, one of the last eastern redoubts captured by the army from the LTTE, there is an eerie stillness. The only sounds that break the uneasy calm are the beeping of mine detectors and more..

Jun 30 (wsws) An outbreak of dengue fever in Sri Lanka has led to 151 deaths and is continuing to spread. To cover up its own responsibility for the erosion of public health care, the government has blamed ordinary people for the epidemic and imposed punitive measures on those who fail to comply with its regulations. Since the beginning of January, 12,300 persons have contracted dengue hemorrhagic fever—a viral mosquito-borne disease for which there is no vaccine. more..

Jun 30 (TN) The North and East of the island of Sri Lanka should first be subjected to ‘archaeological’ investigation to prove the land’s Sinhala ownership, before its ‘resettlement’, is the demand of the National Front of Buddhist monks of Sri Lanka, reported Virakesari a few days ago. If archaeology has any say, the entire island having microlithic sites of prehistoric period has to be resettled by Veddas, and more..

Jun 30 (PSM) The government is collecting data of all the state lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces, these lands include all the lands coming under the central government and both under Northern and Eastern provincila Council. This was disclosed by Minister of Land Development Mr. Jeevan Kumaranathungha answering an oral question in Parliament recently. The UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka raised an oral question with regard to the state lands under the control of more..

Jun 30 (SLE) Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade visited New York and Washington DC last week to encourage United Nations and U.S. government support for the post-conflict economic projects and foreign investment. Prof. Peris met with Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as an Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and the Acting Under Secretary of the Department of Commerce. more..

Jun 30 (LG) English has become the main E-Com, Commercial and link language of many Nations due to availability, simplicity, clarity and sheer necessity due to colonisation as a result of Navel Power of the west and resulting exploration of the Globe. A Sinhala trader in Pettah is compelled to have a working knowledge of Tamil for his survival. Though originated in an Island the ownership is shared by the entire world today. more..

Jun 30 (LG) Now that the Sri Lankan army has claimed victory in the war against the LTTE, it’s time to rebuild the Sri Lankan economy and reconstruct infrastructure. And the most important and basic to a permanent solution to the Tamil issue is to address it by a political resolution. It calls for concrete steps beginning with measures to resettle the vast number of internally displaced people, especially in the wake of the war to regain Tamils’ confidence. more..

Jun 30 (GDI) State sector employees will be facilitated with government transport from July 01st, said the Ministry of Transport in a press statement today. The statement further revealed that the new transport service is the brainchild of Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma. The new public sector transport service will be launched by Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma at the Transport Ministry at 4.30 pm tomorrow. more..

Jun 30 (GDI) New museum is to be set up in historically important Ranchamadama area in Embilipitiya and it will exhibit the pre-historic era, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa province Mahipala Herath said. According to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Archaeologists have uncovered nine tombs in Ranchamadama school premises. It has been proved that the tombs had been built over 3000 years ago. more..

Jun 30 (GDI) 'The Norochchalai coal power project was earmarked as a massive power project that would be set up to fulfill Sri Lanka’s energy expectations in the industrial, commercial and social sectors under the 'Mahinda Chintana' and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his visit to China, requested the Chinese President to help Sri Lanka materialize such grand hopes, and the Chinese government responded positively by fully funding the entire project,” more..

Jun 30 (GDI) China’s association is so respectable, cordial and progressive for Sri Lanka. The Chinese community stood by Sri Lanka at the worst of times with a steady supply of arms and ammunition in the battle fronts. And, the moral support they extended in the international arena is incomparable. Now, battling in the economic fronts, China’s assistance towards uplifting our economy is invaluable, more..

Jun 30 (GDI) ‘Uthuru Vasanthaya’ jin colloboration with the Department of Examination will accomodate internally displaced students to sit the G. C. E. (A/L) examination in August.. “This will be a big boon for ambitious students taking their academic examinations as a step into the future,” said Commissioner of Examinations Anura Edirisingha to www.news.lk, more..

Jun 30 (LT) Awarding posts of SLFP electoral organizers to a batch that crossed over from the UNP will take place today morning at Temple Trees under the auspices of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Minister Bandula Gunawardene is the new electoral organizer of the SLFP for Homagama, while Minister Gamini Lokuge with be the SLFP organizer for Kesbawa. Minister P. Dayaratne will be awarded Ampara while Dedigama will go to Minister Mano Wijeratne. more..

Jun 30 (LT) The price of gas would be increased from tomorrow. The price of gas was increased thrice this year and was decreased only once. The data necessary to increase the price of gas every two months according to the formula was provided to the authority at the beginning of the month say Shell Gas and Laugfs Gas companies. The price increase would be based on the price increase in the world market in the months of April and May. more..

Jun 30 (LT) Incidents of landslides have been reported from many areas in the island states the National Building Research Organization (NBRO). A land slide of about half an acre area occurred on the 28th at Ahaliyagoda. About 55 people in 15 houses have been evacuated from the area states NBRO. However, the government has not taken any measures to find relief to these people who have temporarily taken shelter in their relatives homes. more..

Jun 30 (DN) Reminiscence of by-gone three years of a person’s birthday celebration held September 17, 1996, a man born to this land, not with a silver spoon in his mouth but breast-fed by his mother and nurtured in healthy environment, and endowed with a masterly clarion call with the force of his pen, in a multifaceted arena to push forward a dormant culture, drives me to write this short note not to praise him, instead more..

Jun 30 (LP) Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said that salaries of public servants and pensioners will be increased simultaneously by government .More than 500, 000 pensioners will benefit from this increase. Addressing the eighth Annual General Meeting of Public Service Pensioners' Trust Fund recently he said that public servants should understand that they are being paid by public money and more..

Jun 30 (LNP) A bad workman, it is said, never finds a good tool. So do politicians and their top bureaucrats. They are never short of excuses for their failure. It was only the other day that Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama urged the media to expose frauds in the public sector as if the fault lay in the failure of the media to do their duty. Close on the heels of that ministerial exhortation comes the news that Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga has suggested that the State intelligence services be used to tackle corruption in public institutions. more..

Jun 30 (LNP) Newly appointed Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara vowed to produce result oriented entertaining cricket during the forthcoming home test series against Pakistan. He made these observations during the launching ceremony of the Mobitel Cup three Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Sangakkara said that it will be a tough task for his team to readjust themselves from Twenty20 cricket to the longer version of the game in a short period of time. more..

Jun 30 (PISL) Around 30 expatriate Sri Lankan investors looking to get involved in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), along with nearly 100 local investors and 40 heads of regional business chambers gathered last week to explore investment and business partnerships. BizPAct ‘Invest in Sri Lanka Symposium’ which kicked off on Thursday (25th) attracted tremendous interest both locally and internationally. more..

Jun 30 (DN) The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) will make the Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) report compulsory for all future development projects. This system will help identify suitable land for development projects and will also help to mitigate and prevent disasters to a greater extent. “Therefore, a national level risk atlas for different hazards in Sri Lanka will be released on line and off line covering areas where droughts prevailed, more..

Jun 30 (SLA) COMMANDER of the French Joint Forces in Indian Ocean Region Vice Admiral Gerard Valin paid a courtesy call on Commander of the Army General Sarath Fonseka Monday morning at his office in the Army Headquarters, Colombo. The Senior French Naval Commander, accompanied by French Ambassador Mr. Michel Lummaux during his meeting with General Sarath Fonseka exchanged views with regard to security and matters of bilateral interest. more..

Jun 30 (Xinhua) A cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid for Sri Lanka's war-affected civilians has been allowed to unload its goods in southern India after it was turned back by the Sri Lankan navy, a local English newspaper said on Tuesday. The Daily Mirror said the ship would be allowed to unload its goods in Chennai from where the supplies will be transferred to Sri Lanka through the Indian Red Cross. more..

Jun 30 (SLA) A METICULOUSLY pre-planned LTTE sea battle that was to be staged against Security Forces by terrorists during the just-ended Eelam War-IV was exposed Monday evening when Task Force-8 troops unearthed two big LTTE torpedoes with their launcher from PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU area on information provided by a former LTTE cadre. The two torpedoes, each 26 ft in length and 5 ft 7 inches in circumference remained neatly wrapped in polythene when the troops made this startling recovery. more..

Jun 30 (SLA) THE Attorney General has filed indictment against nine persons for granting Rs. 35 million to the LTTE from the funds of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation in 2006. The Attorney General filed indictment against Velupillai Sivanadiar, Murugesu Shanmugarajah, Kanthilingam Prem Raj, Kathirakesu Ganeshalingam, Sinnaiyah Shanthilingam, Eliyathambi Nadarajah, Krishna Kutti Sukumaran alias Udayan, Balasubramunium Sri Scandarajah, and Kamalias Prabakaran before the Colombo High Court. more..

Jun 30 (DN) Finding a lasting solution based on constitutional amendments to address the grievances of the Tamil people and drawing more investments into the country will strengthen the military victory over terrorism and rooting out any possibilities of resurfacing of the LTTE terrorism, the High Commissioner said. His remarks came in response to a news item that the Tamil Diaspora has formed an International Tamil Association, as a long term plan. more..

Jun 30 (DN) The Urban Development Authority (UDA), undertook the Beira Lake restoration project to give a facelift to the City of Colombo and to improve the living conditions of the people is now progressing smoothly, sources said. The purpose of this project was to develop the water front in the City of Colombo , improve tourism and other recreational facilities. Therefore the Government has allocated Rs 1.2 billion for the entire project, more..

Jun 30 (island) The JVP yesterday accused the Education authorities of illegally charging fees from students in government schools for entry to Advanced Level classes. They claimed that the amount was half of what was levied by private schools for the same purpose. This was tantamount to the State converting government schools into private schools, the JVP told a press conference yesterday. more..

Jun 30 (LT) Even after one and a half months since the defeat of tiger terrorist organization the government has not taken adequate measures to provide relief to IDPs and build national unity says the JVP. In a letter to the President the JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has asked the President to take immediate measure regarding this. He, in his letter, has complained that the government was hindering attempts made by the JVP to provide relief to IDPs in the North. more..

Jun 30 (island) Commitments of foreign aid by bilateral donors, multilateral agencies and export credit agencies reached a high of US$ 2067 million in 2008 exceeding the previous committment of US$ 1740 million in 2005, in the aftermath of the tsunami, sources at the Ministry of Finance and Planning said. Disbursement in 2008 reached US$ 1226 million up from the previous highest of US$ 1146 million in 2006. more..

Jun 30 (Island) Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) Kingsley Ranawaka said that he would do his utmost to ensure that the people of the Batticaloa district who had been starved of all forms of employment over the years would be given priority in granting foreign employment opportunities, including quotas for vacancies in South Korea in the future. He said that he would also ensure that all services and more..

Jun 30 (Island) Sri Lankan market began to be filled with imported consumer goods due to ambitious politicians who promised the people to provide food at cheap prices in order to gain power, observed Agriculture Development and Agrarian Service Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the presentation of awards to the winners of a Home Gardens competition conducted for residents in the Victoria and Kotmale Mahawela sector. more..

Jun 30 (DM) Sri Lankan cricket officials fear a ghost attack on the visiting Pakistani team and have taken unprecedented security precautions not seen even during the reign of the LTTE, it has been revealed. In the first outing of the Pakistan team, hundreds of armed guards virtually cordoned off any unauthorized entry into the venue at Havelock Park where an unofficial three-day match began yesterday and more..

Jun 30 (DM) Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake yesterday stressed on the need to strictly enforce the ban on tuition classes on Sundays so that children would be able to attend ‘Daham Pasal’ on that day. The call for the ban came from the Prime Minister despite a claim by the Attorney General that such a ban cannot be enforced. The Premier made this point addressing a ceremony which was held to mark the awarding the title of ‘Mahopadyaya Abisambawana’ to more..

Jun 30 (AFP) Sri Lanka's veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya turns 40 on Tuesday, with a vow to carry on until the 2011 World Cup despite being the oldest cricketer still playing at the top level. "Age is not a problem, it is how you stay mentally and physically fit to remain on top of the game, to try out new variations with the bat and ball," Jayasuriya told AFP. more..

Jun 30 (DM) A triple tragedy left the picturesque village of Pattipola in shock and anguish after an elderly woman, her daughter and granddaughter were found dead inside a store room close to their house at Osu Uyana in Nuwara Eliya last morning, police said. They said the bodies of T.G.A. Somawathie (60), H.M. Mallika (28) and R.M. Himnimi Pumali (10) were found in the room while Mallika’s 3-year-old son Rohitha Bandara was nowhere to be found. more..

Jun 30 (ANN) An LTTE leader and his deputy were arrested by the anti-terrorist unit of the Vavuniya Police, while they were in the company of a young pregnant girl, according to reports from Vavuniya Police. Identified as Keenan and Kannawan, they were arrested at Pesalai in Mannar. When Police arrested them they were in possession of two claymore mines, two T-56 weapons, five magazines and 142 rounds of ammunition. more..

Jun 30 (LBO) Consumer prices in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo rose 0.9 percent in June from a year earlier, down from 3.3 in May, while prices during the month moved up 1.3 percent, the government's statistics office said. The Colombo Consumer Price Index moved up to 207.8 point in June from 205.8 percent in May. The seasonally adjusted average, which is a lagging number moved down to 12.5 percent to 14.7 percent, more..