May 16 (Island) The government is exploring the possibility of importing 3,500 metric tons of chicken, notwithstanding concerns expressed by Sri Lankan poultry producers that `the move would disturb the local industry`, trade officials said last week. With a limited choice at hand in terms of procuring the produce from bird flu free countries, the government is now looking at pricing and the speed of delivery from more..

May 16 (ST) Files relating to approvals granted by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for the construction of high-rise buildings have gone missing. CID detectives probing how officials violated rules and regulations made the discovery. The Government ordered the investigations after reports that some officials had made hundreds of millions granting approvals for the construction of condominium apartments and commercial buildings. more..

May 16 (LeN) According to reports reaching Lanka e news, India and China have expressed their opposition to the Chinese workers in two of the most special projects , the Trincomalee and Hambantota Harbors which are among the main Institutions of Sri Lanka. The number of Chinese in Sri Lanka at the moment is one hundred and ten thousand. Many of them are in Sri Lanka for the Chinese projects in progress here under the Socialist China aid. more..

May 16 (LG) Sanjay Manjrekar, analyzing the Sri Lanka's defeat against England in the T20 world cup semi-finals, commented that performance of Sri Lanka team was below par and the obvious reason being Jayasuriya at the top and failing. He said Sri Lanka would realize that persisting with Jayasuriya at the top was a mistake. et, who knows cricket better than Rajapakse. more..

May 16 (ST) Sri Lanka’s 2010 budget to be presented in Parliament on June 29 will be sans revenue proposals while it is unlikely that it will include the polls promise of a pay increase of Rs. 2,500 for state sector employees. The budget estimate of more than Rs 1700 billion (Rs 1.7 trillion) will be without any new revenue proposals. Treasury sources said the dilemma faced by planners was whether to more..

May 16 (IE) The battle between Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE during the last phase of the 'Eelam IV War' has damaged about 2.6 lakh houses in the Tamil dominated North, according to a recent study. "Government and humanitarian actors estimate that some 2,60,000 houses are in need of rebuilding and reconstruction," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in the study. more..

May 16 (PTI) Rehabilitation and resettlement of Tamil civilians displaced by the civil war came up for discussions when External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna met his Sri Lankan counterpart G. L. Peiris here on Sunday. After the meeting, it was announced that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa would visit India on June 8, his first after his re-election in January this year. more..

May 16 (ST) The Health Ministry is to launch a probe to find out the causes that led to a severe drug shortage in public hospitals even as 40,000 bottles of saline were airlifted from India and orders were placed to bring down drugs to the tune of Rs. 450 million as an emergency measure. The ministry would carry out an extensive probe to get to the core of the matter that caused regular drug shortages in more..

May 16 (Island) The NFF has appointed two of its unsuccessful candidates at the April 8 general election to the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA). NFF leader Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa appointed Jayantha Samaraweera and Padma Udaya Shantha as Chairman and Working Director of the NHDA, respectively. NFF nominee Samaraweera, who had contested on the UPFA ticket failed to retain his seat in Kalutara while more..

May 16 (AFP) One year after Sri Lanka's army wiped out the Tamil Tigers, there are no signs of the rebel group's revival at home, but concerns remain about extremist fund-raisers abroad. This week, the country will mark the first anniversary of the defeat of the separatist Tamil guerrillas, who were finished off in a crushing military campaign still dogged by war crimes allegations. more..

May 16 (ST) Constitutional amendments will be made next month to enable President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take part in Parliamentary proceedings. This will be one of a string of amendments from the first phase of the UPFA Government's constitutional reforms. Others include the deletion of a provision that restricts the term of a President to two terms. There will be no more restrictions. Another is a string of changes to existing provisions in the 17th Amendment. more..

May 17 (TN) More than a hundred Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers deployed Sunday evening in Theeruvil in Valveddiththu’rai, the birth place of LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan in Vadamaraadchi, are tearing down the memorial monuments erected in memory of twelve combatants including senior Commanders Kumarappa, Pulenthiran and another memorial monument of Col. Kiddu, sources in Valveddiththur’ai (VVT) said. more..

May 17 (TN) Thousands of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are deployed along with the police in carrying out checks and patrol of the main roads in Jaffna peninsula again, sources in Jaffna said. Jaffna SLA Commander Mahinda Kathrusinghe informed that SLA forces are being deployed to help the police in Jaffna peninsula to contain the escalating abductions for ransom, killings, robberies and sexual violence on women, deteriorating law and order in the peninsula, more..

May 17 (NF) Commemorating the first anniversary of the victory over terrorism with the genuine war hero kept under military detention has made Sri Lanka the laughing stock before the world, says the DNA. These views were expressed at a media briefing today attended by members of the DNA including parliamentarians Arjuna Ranatunga, Vijitha Herath and wife of General Sarath Fonseka, Anoma Fonseka. more..

May 17 (LT) An ‘Adhistana Poojawa’ is to be conducted by the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) to get Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is being illegally imprisoned, released. The ‘Adhistana Poojawa’ will be held at Viharamahadevi Park at 6.00 p.m. on the 18th, the day commemorated for the end of the separatist war that raged for 30 long years. DNA, pointing out that no military victory could be celebrated while the commander who more..

May 17 (BBC) The International Cricket council (ICC) should take steps to offer more international encounters to women teams from the 'smaller' countries including Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka team skipper has said. Speaking from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts after her team's victory over Pakistan, Chamani Seneviratne said that Sri Lankan team lacks international exposure though some other countries get regular international encounters. more..

May 17 (CI) Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen powered England to their first ICC global title with an irresistible 111-run stand for the second wicket, as Australia were outmuscled in a battle of the bowlers at Bridgetown. Despite a brave recovery led by David Hussey, who made 59 from 54 balls, Australia's hopes of claiming the only world title to have eluded them were devastated from the moment they more..

May 17 (EB) The Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has rejected the demand of the TNA that the Northern and Eastern provinces be de-militarised since the war against the LTTE had ended a year ago. In an article in The Sanday Times Gotabaya said that it would be “foolish” to relax military control given the possibility that the LTTE might regroup. On the very heavy military presence in the Wanni which was once under the control of the LTTE and more..

May 17 (NS) Head of Sri Lanka’s Merchant Shipping, A.W.H.R. Weerakoon said that 16 Sri Lanakan sailors flew out of the country on Friday as the new crew of the Bermudan flagged MV Talca which was released by Somali Pirates on May 11. “The old crew which was captured by the pirates will get a break, and they will be replaced by a new crew. Sixteen Sri Lankan sailors have been selected to be a part of this new crew, and they flew to Sharjah on Friday, more..

May 17 (IHRC) Sri Lankan authorities arrested a Bahraini resident with Sri Lankan nationality, Sarah Malanie Perera, on March 20 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for allegedly offending Buddhism, the Islamic Human Rights Council reported. The authorities released her on April 20 on bail for 50,000 Rupees; however she is banned from traveling and her trial will start on 15 May 2010 more..

May 17 (ST) The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has decided to pay Rs. 8,000 a month to the 20 families who were left homeless after their houses at Mews Street, Kompannaveediya in Colombo were demolished last Saturday by the UDA as part of its moves to clear the city of what it called illegal constructions. A UDA spokesman said the families would be provided with permanent houses in Dematagoda in a year’s time. more..

May 17 (ANI) Foreign Minister Professor G.L. Peiris has said that setting a deadline to rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils is "unrealistic". He spoke in detail about the growing concerns of India on the rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka. When asked if the Sri Lankan Government has set any deadline for the rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils in its country, Peiris said: "It is unrealistic to talk of deadline." more..

May 17 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Teheran on Sunday 16th May to attend the G15 Summit which is scheduled to begin at the International Islamic Conference Hall in the Iranian Capital on Monday. Sri Lankan President was received by Minister of Commerce of the Iranian Government Mr.Mahadi Ghazanfam at the Meherabad International Airport this morning. more..

May 17 (ST) Sri Lanka’s envoy to Havana has been rushed to neighbouring Venezuela following reports of a pro-Tamil Tiger build up in that South American nation, a senior official said yesterday. The envoy, Tamara Kuliyanayagam, is reported to have met senior Venezuela officials in Caracas and discussed several matters relating to the problem, External Affairs Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe said. more..

May 17 (NYT) Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians died in the last, bloody months of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the International Crisis Group said in an investigative report to be released Monday, most of them as a result of government shelling on areas that were supposed to be safe zones. The report, which cites witness testimony, satellite images, documents and other evidence, calls for a wide-reaching international investigation into what it calls atrocities committed in more..

May 17 (RW) Supposedly one of the wonders of modern management studies is what is termed a SWOT analysis. We had to engage in them endlessly when trying to make good use of funding the World Bank provided for universities about a decade back, Sadly the present state of the universities suggests that, while the good universities have arguably got better, the others have not really developed in the ways that were anticipated. more..

May 17 (SLE) Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, met with representatives of Coca Cola, Marriott Hotels and U.S. Chamber of Commerce members here Wednesday to expand foreign investment in Sri Lanka. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, more..

May 17 (GV) An adhi poya is an extra poya day inserted into the Buddhist lunar calendar to ensure that it stays in sync with the western (solar) calendar. In December 2009 there were two poya days, Unduvap on the 1st and Duruthu on the 31st. This meant that Duruthu poya fell in December instead of January, Navam in January instead of February, and so on until Adhi Vesak on April 28th. The following explanation appeared in The Island on April 28th (Adhi Vesak day) under more..

May 17 (EB) Eelam War IV (August 2006 to May 2009) which resulted in the rout of the LTTE will go down in history not only for this, but for the many political and military innovations it saw. One of the distinguishing features of Eelam War IV was the political determination shown by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to prosecute the war without bowing to powerful international lobbies which were pressing for a ceasefire and resumption of talks with the LTTE. more..

May 17 (AI) Amnesty International today called on the United Nations to set up an immediate and independent investigation into the massive human rights violations committed by both government and the LTTE forces, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, during the country’s recent civil war. The call came a day before the first anniversary of the end of the conflict (18 May). more..

May 17 (SAB) Sri Lankan government is now planning to transfer various private provident funds and pension funds, registered with the Commissioner of Labour, to the Insurance Board of Sri Lanka (IBSL) for better supervision and management. The whole transfer process will be overlooked by the Central Bank. A reliable source said, “Although these funds are regulated by the Labour Commissioner, the supervision does not include prudential rules and guidelines. more..

May 17 (SL) They are part and parcel of Colombo life; the colorful, loud hawkers who sell their wares on the pavements, trains and buses in the city. But with recent orders from the Urban Development Authority (UDA), many of these vendors have lost not only their places of work but also their daily source of income. We were told that the vendors, numbering about 1500 in Pettah alone, were not opposed to change and development but more..

May 17 (NS) It has produced a reproductive revolution worldwide. Because of it, the lives of millions of women worldwide have changed for the better, besides empowering them with more control over their bodies and destiny. Because of it, the numbers of unwanted children born to women have fallen dramatically, preventing millions of pregnancy related deaths. And in spite of its early obstacles, more..

May 17 (LG) There is no doubt that the process of democracy have been usurped by the politicians and their family members in several countries in south east Asia such as Sri Lanka , India and Pakistan. This has caused difficult situation for the citizens, as these politicians now control the destiny of the country and their misdeeds directly cause sufferings and problems for the people. more..

May 17 (ST) An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Brian Aitken, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department was in Jaffna yesterday for meetings with government officials, informed sources said. The IMF team, visiting Jaffna for the first time under the current $2.6 billion Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) facility, met Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri and Jaffna Divisional Secretary S. Ganesh jointly. more..

May 17 (Island) About 200 families in the vicinity of Dediyagala Forest Reserve in the Akuressa Forest Region once marginalised in society especially due to their illegal activities like felling, destroying the nearby forest for cheap carpentry and above all for their low income levels, are now among the affluent due to sheer commitment. more..

May 17 (MoD) A Special Pirith Ceremony was conducted at the Police Pre-School premises at Kew Road, Slave Island to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Police Pre-School and to celebrate the first War Heroes Day. Police spokesman SP Priyasantha Jayakody, ASP Abeywardena, Inspector Rohan Gamage, OIC Police Media Unit, students of the Police Pre-School and their parents also participated in the colourful procession from the Slave Island Gunawadena Ramaya Temple to the Pre-School premises. more..

May 17 (MoD) Australia looks forward to support Sri Lankan government to expedite the de-mining operations and to develop agriculture industry and other development activities in the North. Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman pledged support the Sri Lankan government when she called on Resettlement Minister Milroy Fernando at his Ministry in Colombo last week. The High Commissioner has recently had a visit to the North and more..

May 17 (DM) UNP MP Sajith Premadasa has stressed the need for the party to adopt a ‘modern political path’ by criticising the government constructively. He said he never said Thoppigala was a forest. “I never said that our troops were heading towards Medawachchiya instead of Kilinochchi, or towards Pamankada instead of Alimankada. We have to appreciate what is correct and criticise what is wrong only,” more..

May 17 (LG) Options or COAs for Sri Lanka Air Force basically are no different than for the Army or the Navy. 1. To become an ‘air farce’! 2. An expeditionary air force that has bold pilots, who can match or surpass the bravery and innovative tactics of the Argentinean pilots in the Falklands war! To be an expeditionary air force, SLAF has to do what I have described from 1 to 7 under Sri Lanka army in addition to the following. more..

May 17 (LP) The World Telecommunication and Information Society day (WTISD) is celebrated annually on the 17th of May World Wide and this year is the 44th WTISD. 17th May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union. This day has been celebrated since 1969. The purpose of WTISD is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of more..

May 17 (LP) It is the duty of all to fulfill the responsibilities handed over to them, as a national duty; in order to create a better society said Minister of Mass Media & Communication and as the Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella. He said this when he visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa yesterday (16) and paid homage to the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. more..

May 17 (IANS) One year after Tamil Tigers chieftain Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed the same way he sent so many to their death, Sri Lanka remains ethnically divided but not many mourn the once feared guerrilla. Even as Colombo celebrates the crushing defeat of his LTTE at the hands of its military, the anti-government TNA has called for mourning for the thousands of civilians killed in the final months of the war more..

May 17 (NF) Over 80,000 persons have been affected by the inclement weather being experienced in various parts of the country. Four deaths had also been reported from across the island. The rains have severely affected the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts. The roads in these areas have been inundated, resulting in severe traffic congestion. more..

May 17 (MoD) Sri Lanka's economy expanded by 3.3 percent in the second half of 2009, the fastest rate recorded since 2002 showing stability despite a weak global economy, a World Bank report said. The report released on May 15 said, "despite entering the global financial crisis in a weak macroeconomic situation, the Sri Lankan economy has recovered rapidly." The World Bank's economic update for 2010 on Sri Lanka said more..

May 17 (GDI) Minister Rajitha Senaratne has exposed a new programme for creating job opportunities in the fisheries sector. He said that in about three months he will be able to decrease the fish price by half. This would enable the poor people to consume fish. He said that in about one and a half years, a clear difference would be evident in the fish price and the living conditions of the fisher folk. more..

May 17 (LeN) DNA Secretary Vijitha Herath said, during the last 30 years when the war was on, to restore peace and end the war, although war operations were conducted, discussions were held and agreements were signed, none of those things could accomplish what General Fonseka who was the Army Commander along with his high ranking officers achieved, through their dedication, more..

May 17 (DM) Two weeks had gone but formalizing the Presidential Pardon granted to senior journalist J.S. Tissainayagam is yet to be finalized. Jailed journalist J.S. Tissainayagam who is on bail is still awaiting the completion of the legal procedure to obtain the President’s pardon issued on him officially. The Attorney General Mohan Peiris last week said that the procedure with regard to the Presidential pardon on jailed journalist would be finalized during the course of the week. more..

May 17 (TC) Vanakkam, We are here to pay our respects to the people of the Vanni and to seek justice for them. We stand here in Washington DC in the very heart of a nation built on a promise, on the promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. We have come here to honour a people who pursued this God-given promise with their very life. more..

May 17 (LNP) Our Rathu Sahodarayas coined a very ingenuous slogan in the late 1980s to highlight the glaring urban bias in the allocation of State resources kolombata kiri, gamata kekiri (milk for Colombo and melon for the village). But, today, under the present political dispensation, the reverse of that catchy slogan seems to be true. Colombo is getting all the kekiri whereas kiri is flowing to Hambantota etc. more..