Apr 19 (LBO) Sri Lanka's controversial state-run budget carrier Mihin Lanka lost 930 million rupees in 2009, despite support from the island's national carrier SriLankan, which itself made 12.2 billion rupees in operational losses, official data shows. The two state airlines together have lost 13.1 billion rupees in operations. SriLankan airline is a full-service carrier but has tended to make losses from airline operations for much of its life. more..

Apr 19 (AFP) Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka appeared in the dock at a court martial on Monday for the first time since winning a parliamentary seat in elections earlier this month. Fonseka last year led the military to victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels but later fell out with President Mahinda Rajapakse and unsuccessfully tried to unseat him in a presidential election in January. more..

Apr 19 (Hindu) The Tamil Nadu government is ready to write to the Centre to provide treatment to Ms. Parvathi, the ailing mother of LTTE leader V. Prabakaran, in Tamil Nadu, if she expresses her willingness to return, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi told the State Assembly on Monday. “We are ready to consider the request and write to the Centre. I will inform the House what the Centre says,” he said more..

Apr 19 (LeN) President Mahinda Rajapakse and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe held special discussions this morning at the Presidential Secretariat. It is reported that the UNP leader has responded to an invitation from the President. The President was not in his usual dress today at this discussion. He was in a simple attire. It is also learnt that when the President invited the UNP leader, more..

Apr 20 (EB) The Rajapaksa family is likely to increase its formal control over the Sri Lankan state apparatus in the coming years, according to a leading weekly paper. The Sunday Times said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was likely to nominate his brother and political aide, Basil Rajapaksa, as the Prime Minister, and get another brother, Chamal, elected as parliament Speaker, when the newly-elected House would meet for the first time on April 22. more..

Apr 20 (NST) President Mahinda Rajapakse's successes in the past year were capped with his parliamentary victory. It might also herald the end of the Marxist JVP, which had twice tried to overthrow the government by force. The JVP, which led two unsuccessful attempts at violently overthrowing the elected governments of the day, has been swept out of its southern strongholds and is now reduced to a few pockets outside the traditional areas. more..

Apr 20 (AN) On the third Sunday of Easter, the Diocese of Sri Lanka celebrated the feast of the Small Catholic Communities. Yesterday all parishes of the country offered prayers based on the theme "Let us love the Lord ... rebuild and relive the small Catholic communities," inviting the faithful to rediscover the origins of the Christian community in Acts of the Apostles ( 2:42 - 4:32 and 47 - 37). more..

Apr 20 (CI) A 41-run stand for the ninth wicket between Anisa Mohammed and Shanel Daley helped West Indies sneak home in a rain-affected thriller against Sri Lanka at St Paul's Sports Complex. Chasing 130 in 33 overs, Daley and Mohammed reached the target with three balls to spare to give West Indies an early lead in the series. Earlier, the rain had delayed the start by half an hour before the hosts chose to field. more..

Apr 20 (LG) In our last editorial comment, we said that if the UNP wanted to regain the confidence of the people they must admit to the wrongs they have done in the past; express sincere regret; ask for forgiveness and show how they have developed a different way in which to deal with problems in the future. They should admit to the large scale forced disappearances in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 20 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's shares hit a new record high on Monday as it opened with active trading following the local New Years' holiday and parliamentary poll results that showed a strong government coming to power. The All-Share Price Index touched the 4,000 mark to hit a new all-time high of 4,025.69 points, surpassing its previous high of 3,981.67 on April 12. It closed 1.22 percent firmer at 4,015.36. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Results from the re-poll in the Nawalapitiya and Kumburupitiya electorates is scheduled to be released by the respective election secretariats by midnight tomorrow. Kandy Divisional Secretary, Gotabaya Jayaratna said that counting of the votes would begin by 6.30 tomorrow evening and if the polls were conducted ‘freely and fairly’, then the final results would be announced by midnight. more..

AApr 20 (Hindu) Remember ‘Chinna Maamiye' — that hugely popular song among generations of college students in Tamil Nadu? But, not many Tamil music listeners have heard of Nithi Kanagaratnam, who composed and sang it. Tamil Baila music is his forte, however, Nithi has not received recognition in proportion to his talent. Not surprising, since his contributions to Tamil music came mostly while he was living in Sri Lanka and more..

Apr 20 (LT) The second court martial to inquire charges against Gen. Sarath Fonseka met today at the Navy headquarters to inquire into allegations that Gen. Fonseka has bought certain equipment against the accepted process of the SL Army. Counselor Sunil Watagala said the defense presented preliminary objections on behalf of the General. President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne presented his submissions for 2 1/2 hours. more..

AApr 20 (LBO) More private investment is likely to get attracted to Sri Lanka's power sector given stable and growing demand and improve profitability especially among hydro-power producers, a ratings agency report said. However, investments will be restricted to small power plants of less than 25 megawatts capacity as a new electricity law requires bigger plants to be controlled by government, RAM Ratings (Lanka) said. more..

Apr 20 (Reuters) The jailed general who helped win Sri Lanka's quarter-century war appears likely to attend parliament's opening this week, officials said, after he won a seat while in military custody facing court-martial. Retired General Sarath Fonseka this month won a seat in the capital Colombo under the opposition DNA, less than three months after he lost the presidential race to more..

Apr 20 (OI) Government today came under attack in Parliament from the Opposition and ally DMK for deporting mother of LTTE's slain leader V Prabhararan to Malaysia from where she had come to India for treatment. The issue of deportation of 80-year-old Parvathi at Chennai airport last week, was raised both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha by the DMK and the Left parties, while the BJP joined them seeking an explanation from the government. more..

Apr 20 (BBC) On her first visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has called for an end to the Gulf state's system of Kafeel, which requires foreign workers to have local sponsors. Sri Lanka had praised the efforts by the UN to end the Kafeel system. "Sri Lanka will give any support to end the sponsor system", said Kingsly Ranawake, chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment told the BBC Sinhala Service. more..

Apr 20 (IL) All night Pirith Chanting ceremony was held at the Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte Parliamentary Complex last night on 18th April to invoke blessings on the country and the people before the convening of the maiden session of the seventh parliament on Thursday. At the inauguration of the religious ceremony, Venerable Velamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thero said that more..

Apr 20 (LP) In Sri Lanka's history of executive presidency, always the Prime Minister has become the successor to the post sans single occasion. It was when President D.B. Wijethunga, the successor of slain President R. Premadasa, did not contest for a second term. The Premier under a President who is in his second term has always become the next President. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to commence his second term this year. more..

Apr 20 (LP) Mervin Silva of Kelaniya has banned sale of liquor in his stronghold Kelaniya electorate. He has announced this through public addressing systems. The ex-Minister of Labor has banned not only illicit liquor but also the sales at licensed liquor shops. Thirty seven liquor outlets in the electorate have now remain closed in fear of Mervin Silva's rogues. This ex-Minister Mervin Silva is famous for his notoriety. more..

Apr 20 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open a new building and A.P. Samarakoon Studio at Independent Television Network (ITN) at Wickramasinghepure, Battaramulla on 19th April. ITN is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and the President visited the premises to mark the occasion. His visit is significant because this is the first time a head of the state visited ITN since it was established. more..

Apr 20 (LG) I came across the article written by Jeremy Page of Time Online, London on April 6, 2010, and write to clarify some of the issues mischievously raised by him with the apparent intent of creating bitterness and controversies between the Sinhalese and Tamil inhabitants of Sri Lanka on the subject of archaeology. The Sinhalese who have lived throughout the length and breadth of more..

Apr 20 (LG) This moment is indeed historic when the emerging balance of political forces in Sri Lanka is taken into consideration. The ruling UPFA would enjoy a stable majority in Parliament and would probably govern unencumbered by worries of losing its ruling majority for the next six years. But to obtain the two thirds majority in Parliament, which is the talking- point of the country at the moment, it would need to enlist the Parliamentary support of more..

Apr 20 (LG) The enthusiastic participation of the electorate in the electoral process is one indication of a country governed by democratic norms. Another indication is the presence of strong institutions, such as an independent Election Commission, police and public service, which are able to inspire confidence in the electorate that the elections will take place freely and fairly. more..

Apr 20 (MoD) Bak Maha Ulelas were held in Northern Islands in Sri Lanka with massive participation of the civilians, over the last weekend for the first time after 30 years. Navy Spokesman Captain Athula Senarath told the Daily News that civilians living in the Pungudduthivu, Kayts and Karaithivu islands organized the Bak Maha Ulela in peace of mind for the first time after eliminating terrorism and the Sri Lanka Navy extended its support. more..

Apr 20 (SL) long will it take to climb?” I asked. My friends looked at each other. “You aren’t supposed to ask that question,” one of them finally replied. “It’s considered inauspicious.” Adam’s Peak has been an active pilgrimage site for over a thousand years. It’s revered by Muslims as the place where Adam landed after being cast out of heaven and by Hindus as the site of Lord Shiva’s footprint. more..

Apr 20 (MoD) The Government will provide Rs.100 million to 50 selected fishermen in Jaffna to re-commence their livelihoods and develop the fishing industry in the Northern Province. Northern Province Governor Major General GA Chandrasiri said the Government has taken steps to grant soft loans to 50 fishermen of Rs.100 million. "The IDP fishermen who moved from Mullaitivu and Killinochchi will be given priority in the selection process. more..

Apr 20 (SL) The election was auspiciously timed. We enter the New Year with new clothes, a bit of money and a new Government. It is fitting that this new hegemony emerges at the Sinhala/Tamil New Year and not the western one. This seems like the end of the post-colonial era and the start of something new. This may be a crude summary, but the British left an English speaking elite in charge. They failed to develop the country or provide enough government jobs more..

Apr 20 (NS) An outstanding series of paintings was exhibited at the Buddhist Mahavihara Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from March 26 to 28. It was an entirely different experience attending an art exhibition dedicated to promote Sri Lankan culture in Malaysia. To have the world renowned artist, Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage’s art showcased added just the right cultural experience Sri Lankans in Malaysia needed. more..

Apr 20 (TN) More than 10,000 registered to cast their votes in the referendum across Australia last weekend, on the creation of independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka, reported SBS Australia, citing organisers. However, the success of mass participation provoked Colombo's envoy to retaliate that "the Tamils who are in Sri Lanka at the moment are perfectly happy to go on with the present system. more..

Apr 20 (GDI) Coinciding with the Call by the “Jewel of Muscat” at the Port of Galle, bilateral consultations took place also in Galle between the Foreign Ministries of Sri Lanka and of Oman. It was noted that the visit by the ‘Jewel of Muscat’, an exact replica of a 9th century Omani trading vessel, built in the Sultanate of Oman, symbolizes in full the centuries long bilateral relationship. more..

Apr 20 (GDI) The Agriculture Department will rehabilitate the agriculture sector in the Northern and Eastern Provinces by the end of this year and the Department has already started repairing the Agriculture Research Farms in Kilinochchi, Paranthan and Batticaloa. The Thinnaveli farm in Jaffna already rehabilitated. Everyone knows that the economy of the Northern and Eastern Provinces were boosted by its remarkable development in the agriculture sector but more..

Apr 20 (DN) The elections are over. Of course we have the ‘little matter’ of some polling stations in Nawalapitiya and Trincomalee, but once it is all cleared up the only difference will be whether the UPFA needs six or eight more MPs to reach the magic number 150 and a two-thirds majority in Parliament. What ‘Nawalapitiya’ will tell us which UPFA candidate is in and which one is out. That’s about it. more..

Apr 20 (UNP) Arjuna Ranatunge the DNA candidate who successfully contested the last General elections said, only the Drug peddlers, rapists, Bookmakers and Tavern owners make up the UPFA govt. Genuine Sri Lankans have been pushed out, whereby the party is being destroyed. At the last elections all those who had criminal charges against them were allowed nominations under the UPFA list. more..

Apr 20 (LP) The Government has taken action to grant ownership of houses to 20,000 this year through the Housing Authority, based on the “Mahinda Chintana” Vision Ahead. Nearly 91,000 families have been provided with housing facilities through the programmes implemented by the Housing Development Authority countrywide during the four year period starting 2006 to 2009. The total investment made by the Government in the region is 4,127 million rupees. more..

Apr 20 (MoD) One of the oldest Regiments in the Army, Sri Lanka Artillery, more popularly known as 'Gunners' marked its historic 122nd Anniversary on Sunday (April 18) during a series of commemorative celebrations, inclusive of an all-night Pirith Chanting, Memorial Event and launch of its own 'Gunner' website (www.gunner.lk). The day's commemorative events took place at the Artillery Regimental Headquarters, Panagoda. more..

Apr 20 (GDI) The deaths from dengue fever recorded a marked decrease with the introduction of the new patient management system in Government Hospitals island-wide, the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition revealed. The country recorded only 16 dengue deaths for the past 15 weeks beginning from Februrary 01. This was in contrast to 48 dengue deaths being reported from hospitals in January this year and only one person has died of dengue during the past 19 days. more..