July 1 (DM) The Colombo Municipality said yesterday the plan to beautify Colombo would include the growing of trees and the setting up of a recreational area where flower exhibitors who once exhibited and sold their plants at the Vihara Maha Devi Park would be relocated. Municipal Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardhane said the flower exhibitors will be temporarily relocated at Sathutu Uyana for two months following orders from the Defence Ministry to remove the exhibitors from the park. more..

July 1 (DN) “The Darusman Report though intended only to be an advisory report to the Secretary General of the UN, is improper,” said Senior Adviser on Foreign Policy in Japan Yasushi Akashi when he addressed the 16th Joint Committee of the Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Meeting held in Tokyo last week. Akashi was speaking on the subject of ‘Recent Political Developments in Sri Lanka’, as the keynote speaker at this meeting. more..

July 1 (Island) The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has conducted 12,250 raids against traders and trading establishments, contravening the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), from January to June 28 this year and collected a sum of Rs. 35 million in fines. The raids conducted so far this year (2011) was an increase of 107 percent over that of the entire period of 2010. The CAA expects a minimum of 24,000 to 25,000 raids to be conducted this year and an increase in the amount of fines. more..

July 1 (Island) Over 4,000 emergency travel documents have been issued to the Sri Lankans, who were residing in Kuwait without visas, to help them return to Sri Lanka, an official from the Ministry of External Affairs said. "During the last three months over 6,000 Lankans visited the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait seeking the government assistance to return home. We have already taken measures to issue visas to those who presented us with the required details," more..

July 1 (DM) Sri Lanka are guaranteed to play a total of 88 Test matches over the next nine years according to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) that was approved at the International Cricket Council Executive Board at the Annual Conference in Hong Kong. Pakistan and South Africa are the two teams which are to meet Sri Lanka most in the period from now till February 2020. Both teams play Sri Lanka 15 Tests each during this period. India will play 12 Tests, Australia 11 and more..

July 1 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday extended, till July 27, 2011, the order imposed earlier on the Departmental Heads of the Ruhuna, Wayamba and Sri Jayewardenepura Campuses, restraining them from handing in letters of resignation and keeping away from their official functions. The same stay order, which is extended till July 27, 2011 restricts the Vice Chancellor, Chancellors and the University Grants Commission from accepting the letters of resignation. more..

July 1 (DM) The cabinet decided to develop Greater Hambantota as a central business and industrial city, Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said. He said that with the development of the International Sea Port and the International Air Port in the Hambantota District, the area identified for Central Business Activity and Industrial Activity was also to be developed there. Cabinet approval had been granted to allocate Rs 812 Million to more..

July 1 (DM) A tense situation prevailed at Kaduwela junction yesterday when two factions supporting two UPFA candidates contesting the Kaduwela Municipal Council started to exchange fire damaging several vehicles there. Police had apprehended one suspect. Vehicles belonging to the supporters of the two candidates -- Buddhika Jayalal and G H Buddhadasa had been damaged. The two groups had been on their way back after pasting posters at about 4.30 am and met at the junction, more..

July 1 (Island) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa instructed naval officials to provide every assistance to fishermen to catch lagoon prawns without any hindrance. The Island learns that the Defence Secretary intervened after Gampaha District parliamentarian Sarath Gunarathne requested him to settle a dispute where 3,500 fishermen yesterday protested against a move by the Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne to prevent prawn harvesting in the Negombo lagoon. more..

July 1 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will get a new interim administration from today. Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage is expected to make the announcement today to appoint a fresh five-member interim committee. None of the previous interim committee members would be included in the new committee. However, the new interim administration will be appointed only for a six-month period and Minister has decided to hold fresh elections to the SLC by more..

July 1 (PTI) As part of the exercise to strengthen coastal security post 26/11, the Navy has decided to procure 80 interception boats at a cost of Rs 300 crore from a Sri Lanka-based ship manufacturer. The boats are planned to be used by the newly formed Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB) and other wings of the Navy, naval officials said. The contract process for 80 Fast Interception Craft (FIC) from Sri Lanka-based SOLAS Marine is in its final stages and the deal is expected to be finalised soon, they said. more..

July 1 (CI) Alastair Cook's return to the England captaincy earlier this week could hardly have gone more swimmingly - literally, at one stage, after a thunderstorm had turned the Oval outfield into a boating lake and shaved 18 overs off the innings allocation. On a personal note, he didn't have the best of days, as Lasith Malinga strangled him down the leg-side for a three-ball 5, but with four wins out of four in his ODI captaincy career, he's doing his utmost to dispel more..

July 1 (AFP) The UN's human rights chief Thursday warned Sri Lanka not to take too long in probing war crimes allegations, saying failure to carry out a credible inquiry could lead to international action. "There is now a high level of expectations expressed by member states that Sri Lanka should seriously inquire into these allegations" of prisoner executions and assaults, said Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. more..

July 1 (wsws) Despite disruptive actions by the military and the police in the military-occupied city of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka, workers, youth and housewives participated in a well-attended June 19 public meeting organised by the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) on “The Middle East upheavals and the theory of the permanent revolution.” Two days before the meeting, army officers prevailed on the Jaffna Multi Purpose Cooperative Society not to allow the SEP to use its venue, more..

July 1 (DN) Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed PHIs and health authorities to re-inspect all mosquito breeding places belonging to persons who had been given notices to clean within two weeks. The re-inspection will be done soon as instructed by Minister Sirisena. Persons who have ignored notices and still have mosquito breeding sites within their properties will be prosecuted. Legal action will be taken against them under the Mosquito Breeding Control Act Number 12 of 2007. more..

July 1 (DM) The UNP led National Youth Front (NYF) yesterday pledged to launch a joint struggle with other student unions to revive Sri Lanka’s crisis-ridden university system. NYF President and UNP MP Ruwan Wijewardene told a news conference the Sarasavi Yovun Peramuna, an organization affiliated to the NYF, would be compelled to launch a struggle to safeguard universities if the govt went ahead with its decision to more..

July 1 (DM) The National Nutrition Council (NNC) said yesterday it would clampdown on misleading commercials and advertisements with regard to food and other consumables. Presidential Secretariat Senior Assistant Secretary Wasantha Dhanapala, who is in charge of the NNC, said the government was planning to issue specific guidelines to be followed by the media, food importers, distributors and sellers. more..

July 1 (LB) These are not pictures of garbage dumps. This is one of the most popular beaches in Colombo that swarms with revellers every weekend. The Preethipura, Elakanda beach was once notorious for frequent deaths due to drowning. Now it is a veritable garbage dump. Dogs feed on garbage and children play nearby. In times of rough seas, waves hug the shore and carry trash back to the water. more..

July 1 (LBO) Sri Lanka should expand trade links with Asia, especially with fast growing economies of India and China, at a time when consumption in industrialized nations is weak, an IMF official said. Trade among East Asian nations have grown fast partly due to their integration with global supply chains where parts made in one country are put into final products in another IMF's resident representative Koshy Mathai said. more..

July 1 (DM) Environmentalists expressed concern over Environment Ministry attempts to authorize the removal of ‘buffer zones’ surrounding national parks for tourism projects as it would further fuel the human-elephant conflict. Young Zoologists’ Association former president Pubudu Weeraratne said the removal of the ‘buffer zones’ would worsen the human-elephant crisis. “The ‘buffer zones’ provide protection to the elephants’ comfort zones more..

July 1 (LBO) Sri Lanka's economy grew 7.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011, up from 7.1 percent in the same period a year ago, with strong growth in industry and services while the agriculture sector contracted. The industry sector grew by 11.1 percent and services by 9.5 percent while agriculture contracted by 5.1 percent. "We were a little concerned initially that because of the floods agricultural output may be low," more..

July 1 (DM) The mixing of petrol with the residue in the bulk tanks at filling stations may have been responsible for the contamination of petrol reported in the last few days from various parts of the country, said Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha. He said fuel distribution had been disrupted when the oil refinery at Sapugaskanda was shut down for repairs early last month. more..

July 1 (DM) Highlighting another instance of wastage at the cash-strapped Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), trade unionists charged that the US$70 million offshore pipeline meant to carry fuel directly from vessels to the Muthurajawela storage facility was of little economic benefit. The project was started in 2007/2008, and the initial estimated cost was US$65 million. However, the cost had risen to US$70 million by the time the project was completed more..

July 1 (Island) A Parliamentary Select Committee would be established shortly to find a solution to the National Question, the govt said yesterday. Minister Susil Premajayanth, addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo, said that the Parliamentary Select Committee would be given a mandate to address the national question and the govt expected all political parties to participate in its proceedings. more..

July 1 (AFP) Sri Lanka's sports ministry said Friday it had dissolved the current administration of the national cricket board, which has been tainted by allegations of financial mismanagement. No specific reason was given for the move, which was immediately followed by the appointment of a new Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee. "The committee was automatically dissolved when the new one was appointed," more..

July 2 (F2F) Strategic partnerships between countries in general and specific industries in particular are essential to compete in today international marketplace. Bangladesh’ garment industry, which has small beginnings similar to Sri Lanka could clearly synergise with us for international mutual gains, said minister Rishad Bathiudeen. He said this when he received a visiting two member business group from Bangladesh Export Promotion Zone Authority (BEPZA), the regulator of more..

July 2 (IT) One of the death row convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case - Murugan - has alleged that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's much publicised meeting with his wife and co-accused in the case - Nalini - in March 2008 in Vellore jail was part of an elaborate game plan. Priyanka's visit was described as an attempt to come to peace with her father's violent assassination. However, the jailed Murugan told a Tamil magazine that more..

July 2 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene confirmed his return to form with a beautifully crafted 144 from 150 balls, the highest of his 15 ODI centuries and his fifth against England, as Sri Lanka took advantage of Alastair Cook's largesse at the toss to post a hefty 309 for 5 in their 50 overs. With the sun on their backs and little on offer in the pitch, Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara overcame the setback of two careless run-outs to rack up a more..

July 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka will launch a globally recognized industry standard for Ceylon Tea early next year addressing consumer concerns, including ethical trade and environmental issues, Ceylon Tea Traders Association Chairman Avi de Silva said. "The rationale to develop an industry standard is to establish a distinct identity for Ceylon Tea and seek international recognition for it," de Silva told an annual meeting of the CTTA, an umbrella body representing the tea industry. more..

July 2 (DM) The Ministry of Defence has made it compulsory for private security personnel to wear uniforms which are not similar to the uniforms that of the Security Forces. Guidelines to this effect were issued by the Defence Ministry today. Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalla said that the private security personnel have to wear uniforms which are not similar to uniforms that of the armed forces. All the officers employed at more..

July 2 (DM) The police have begun investigations to probe the death of a Ministerial Security Division (MSD) constable whose body was found this morning in a bare land along the Cotta road in Rajagiriya. He was attached to the Administrative branch of the Division. He was 45 years old and was a resident of Meegoda. When inquired about the death police media spokesman said that the MSD constable was returning home after a shooting training session in Kalutara. more..

July 2 (DM) Sri Lankan cricket has been plunged deeper into turmoil with the announcement that their cricket administration has been dissolved by the govt. The announcement follows the controversy surrounding the recall of Sanath Jayasuriya for the t20 international with England and the first ODI. The govt interfered in selection to name Jayasuriya, pushing aside younger players to make way for the return of 42-year-old Jayasuriya - himself a politician for the governing party. more..

July 2 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy rescued an Indian and a Sri Lankan fishing trawler in distress in deep seas on 30th June 2011. Naval personnel onboard SLN Vessel P 483 attached to the Northern Naval Command detected the defective Indian trawler in the seas off Delft Island and rescued it with three (03) Indian fishermen onboard by rendering prompt assistance. The rescued trawler with the three Indian fishermen onboard was towed by P 483 with the assistance of more..

July 2 (LT) The JVP says that a massive fraud has incurred behind the sub standard fuel pumped into several vehicles during the last few days. JVP MP Anura Dissanayake disclosed this at a media briefing. "We examined why many motor bicycles, tri-shows and motor vehicles have been malfunctioned after puming fuel from various petrol stations. Minister Susil Premajayantha has presented a Cabinet paper on 08th March to buy fuel for 3 months instead of buying daily. more..

July 2 (GDI) It has been revealed in a study conducted by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) that the consumption of wheat flour is the main cause of the increase in malnutrition in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya districts in Sri Lanka. The Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena recently said that long term malnutrition was as high as 41 per cent in Nuwara Eliya with the short term malnutrition at 11 per cent and urged for a sharp change in food patterns among Sri Lankans. more..

July 2 (BBC) A court in Sri Lanka has set the dates for the trial of the abduction and murder of a senior Tamil journalist. The Colombo High Court has decided to proceed with the trial on the murder of Tamilnet editor Dharmetnam Sivaram (Tharaki) on 01September. Mr Sivaram was abducted in Colombo on 28 April 2005. His body was found dumped in Sri Jayawardenepura, a high security zone, a day later. The Attorney General has filed charges against Arumugam Sri Skadharaja more..

July 2 (LT) A proposal has been presented to the Advisory Committee of the Education Ministry, to replace the existing Grade 5 scholarship examination with an evaluation examination at national level. Accordingly all Grade 5 students island-wide will have to sit for this examination which is not intended for granting scholarships or popular schools. A separate paper will be provided for the children of low-income families for scholarships. more..

July 2 (NN) A fake policeman was arrested today after he had demanded money from a man in Nainamadama, Wennapuwa. The suspect, a resident of Marawila, had stopped a man in Nainamadu today and demanded Rs. 1000 saying he was a policeman. The man had given the suspect the money but later alerted the Wennapuwa police after noticing the police name marked on the motorbike of the suspect. When the Wennapuwa police attempted to arrest the suspect he had claimed that more..

July 2 (Hindu) Indian High Commissioner Ashok. K. Kantha and Sri Lankan health department officials will formally lay the foundation stone for the construction of a 150-bed hospital at Dickoya near Hatton in the Central province on Monday. The hospital will offer specialised services in the hill areas of Sri Lanka. Preliminary work on the site had commenced in April. The project will be completed in in early 2013. The hospital will cost about Rs. 50 crore. more..