June 16 (DM) The govt is offering a bonanza to a large number of senior public and provincial council officials who are entitled for duty free vehicles. The Finance and Planning Ministry in a circular has called for applications from public and PC officials, who had not bought duty free vehicles from 2007 to apply for import permits under a special duty waiver. All public officers entitled to a duty free vehicle are permitted to import one every five years. more..

June 16 (NF) The UNP convened a media briefing in Colombo on Friday. MP Ravi Karunanayake spoke on Sri Lanka Cricket during this media briefing. "MTV requested broadcasting rights but they did not receive it. Rupavahini requested but even they were not granted it. When it was given to CSN, everyone remained silent. When we said that, we were called traitors." "Now they are not giving an answer on whether this is fair or not. We make revelations as an opposition; we don't create news. more..

June 16 (GDI) Sri Lanka will be hosting the biggest ever sporting games with the award of Asian Youth Games in Hambantota in 2017 and this was announced by the Head of Asian Olympic Council Sheikh Ahamed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in Colombo on 14th June 2012. This was a culmination of a collective effort over a period of one year between the sports and tourism authorities as directed by the President of Sri Lanka Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Sports together with more..

June 16 (LT) Vegetable farmers in Udahewahata suffered heavily as they couldn’t sell their produce. They put up boards in their tomato farms asking people to pluck any amount of tomatoes for free. There are umpteen numbers of ministers in the country. However, they have no solutions for people’s issues. This was stated by the Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe at a meeting held at Rikillagaskada. more..

June 16 (DM) Two three-year-old kids were among some of the first beneficiaries of the Army Asiri Heart Care Fund that was initiated last month. The fund was set up to help those with severe heart ailments but had no finances to receive the necessary medication. The Asiri Hospital will provide free services during and immediately after the surgery. Army sources said the programme was established in Jaffna peninsula as it had the most number of people suffering from heart ailments. After a health camp held in March babies more..

June 16 (CG) The London based Human Rights group Amnesty International (AI) has submitted two reports on Sri Lanka to the UNHRC. One report has been submitted for the June session of the UNHRC and the other for the October/November periodic review on Sri Lanka at the Council. In the report for the Universal Periodic Review AI notes that the govt has yet to repeal the anti-terrorism legislation which is used to justify abusive detention practices and yet to introduce witness protection legislation to address more..

June 16 (Hindu) When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Los Cabos, it will be first time that the two leaders meet after India voted against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC on Geneva earlier this year. The Indian Prime Minister’s hectic schedule, and the fact that he is slated to meet almost all leaders at G-20, will not permit issues of significance to be more..

June 16 (National) A Sri Lankan man stuck in jail because of a lack of travel documents, even though his sentence has expired, will soon be going home, his consulate said. "The matter has been referred to us and we are trying to issue travel documents for the man so that he can be sent back," said the Sri Lankan consul general, Abdul Raheem. "He will leave the country as soon as possible." The man, identified as Sampath, was in jail for financial offences. more..

June 16 (CT) An offender, who is suspected to have robbed a computer and a television-set stocked inside a school library in Galewela, was arrested yesterday. The Dambulla Magistrate’s Court ordered the suspect to be remanded till 29 June, after he was produced in Court by the Galewela police. According to Galewela police sources, the crime had taken place on 30 May at the Beligamuwa Central College and a special police team had been sent to arrest the offenders. more..

June 16 (DM) The DPF led by Mano Ganeshan urged the govt to give a general pardon to all the LTTE suspects or to rehabilitate them instead of attempting to try them before three separate courts. Issuing a statement, he said that the govt appears to be maintaining a policy of selective justice. He said, “It has pardoned V Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, K. Pathmanathanaka (KP) and Daya Master, more..

June 16 (RCA) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will fulfill an tight schedule in this capital on Saturday, including a reception and official talks. According to the program, the statesman will also pay tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti at the Revolution Square. Rajapaksa arrived in Cuba on Friday in response to an invitation from President Raul Castro, with whom he will hold talks. Rajapaksa's agenda also includes exchanges with other authorities and visits to more..

June 16 (SM) The DNA, comprising of the JVP and the Sarath Fonseka faction, are divided on forming a common opposition. MP Jayantha Ketagoda has told ‘Divaina’ that their leader would hold talks with several patriotic ministers and MPs to get them join the DNA. He has expressed hope the JVP too, would agree with that. Mr. Fonseka would also hold similar talks with MPs of the UNP, JVP and Mano Ganeshan, Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, Sirithunga Jayasuriya and others, more..

June 16 (CI) Pakistan have been abysmal chasers in recent years in ODI cricket. Three hours of accumulation offered hope that tonight wouldn't end in another failed pursuit. And then, as if all the accumulation had stretched their patience too taut, the dam broke. From 166 for 2 chasing 244, Pakistan disintegrated to 179 for 9. In less than four overs. Thisara Perera followed up his 6 for 44 in the second ODI with a hat-trick. Pakistan registered six ducks, more..

June 17 (SO) Some opportunist parliamentarians in the Opposition did their damnedest to gain political mileage by projecting a gloomy picture during Sri Lanka's 2006-2009 humanitarian operation, thereby giving a prop for LTTE terrorists. When the Security Forces marched victoriously, demolishing Tiger power in towns in the North and the East, certain UNP parliamentarians had the audacity to question whether the Security Forces had really liberated those areas. more..

June 17 (SL) Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is in a crisis and a financial crisis is looming ahead. The origin of both crises can be traced to the failure of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime to come to grips on how the demands made by the Tamil minority could be resolved. However the Rajapaksa regime appears to be living in cuckooland making claims of stupendous ‘foreign policy victories’ which are plain and simple foreign policy disasters while patting themselves vigorously on their backs for the wonderful job they are doing. more..

June 17 (SO) At a time when the bhikkhus’ Parliamentary representation has become a very controversial issue in the country, the Sunday Observer interviewed JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera for his views. Forthright and composed, but very much alive to the changing dynamics of the situation Ven. Rathana Thera said since colonial era up to date, Sri Lanka could be proud of the bhikkhus who had fearlessly raised their voice and stood for more..

June 17 (NS) No, you are not safe. No, no one is safe. The mosquito will get you. Dengue is not some ethnic, occupational, class or regional disease. It can hit anyone irrespective of social distinction, political power, business acumen, popularity rating or achievement. It has. The dengue carrying mosquito has a 3km feeding rage. No one can cocoon him/herself in mosquito free environments forever. You have to step out of your mosquito net sooner or later. You have to go to school or to work. more..

June 17 (LB) We cannot run forever on this ‘goodwill’ thing — we need to show results. This is the rough translation of what President’s secretary Lalith Weeratunge told the media this week, addressing a press conference on foreign policy issues and the LLRC report, among other matters. He was on the subject of the meeting that External Affairs Minister and a top-level Sri Lankan delegation had with Hillary Clinton on the issue of the implementation of the LLRC report, and in the above quoted sentence did in fact use the word ‘goodwill’ in English. more..

June 17 (NS) He was the propaganda secretary to the JVP for a long time. He played a major role to set up the Freedom Alliance and make a regime in 2004. However, when he plans the JVP to join with the UPFA, his party decided to expel him from the party. Wimal Weerawansa who took the challenge left the JVP, formed a new party (Jathika Nidahas Peramuna) and allied with the UPFA. Winning the elections in 2010, he became the Minister of Construction, more..

June 17 (Island) President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga last week summoned a press conference at the old parliament now serving as the presidential secretariat to tell 'our side of the story' of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent London visit. As is well known, LTTE supporters succeeded in getting a session of an event organized by the Commonwealth Business Council cancelled as the president was due to make the keynote address there. External Affairs Ministry Monitor more..

June 17 (ST) The media are being bombarded these days with the happening event of the month - the Earth Summit. Formally known as the UN Sustainable Development Conference, it is nicknamed 'Rio+20' to denote the fact that the world's leaders are meeting in Rio de Janeiro 20 years after a similar summit was held in the same Brazilian city to save the world from its own inhabitants. The world's biggest player, US President Barack Obama will, however, more..

June 17 (NS) UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana has only been in Parliament for two years. However, during this short period, he has earned a name for himself by raising issues faced by people of his district in Parliament. He has also earned the wrath of current party leadership for calling for reforms within the UNP. While known as a vocal critic of the government and his own party leadership for a period, Pathirana is also more..

June 17 (NS) UNP MP and President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has caused a flutter in political circles submitting a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament that seeks to prevent priests of all religions entering the legislature. Rajapakshe is courting controversy here. Although the Bill seeks to bar priests of all religions becoming Members of Parliament, its intentions are clear. They target the JHU, which presently has three MPs, two of whom are Buddhist monks. more..

June 17 (NS) China has now become the biggest aid giver to Sri Lanka. The Communist giant has funded a number of development projects including some mega programs in the country in the recent past. The Magampura harbour, Coal-fired power plant at Norochcholai, and the Colombo Lotus Pond Theatre are among the Chinese-aided projects now in operation. However, the main opposition UNP had all along frowned on the fast growing economic and cultural ties with China. more..

June 17 (Island) The authorities are still keen to stabilize the rupee at a price they think is reasonable or justified judging from the statements of the powers that be and the actions of the two state owned banks which have become instruments of this thinking. So instead of the Central Bank intervening to defend the rupee we find the People’s Bank selling dollars from their position to keep the rate down. more..

June 17 (ST) My Dear Mahinda maama, I thought I must write to you after reading all the headlines you made simply by visiting London to meet the Queen to wish her for her diamond jubilee. Congratulations, you almost got more publicity than the Queen herself! I suppose there will always be those people who will tell you that any publicity is good publicity but this time around, I think you will agree that the publicity you got hardly did your reputation-or that of our country-any good. more..

June 17 (LB) On Wednesday, a few key players of the govt’s foreign policy and reconciliation efforts met heads and representatives of the media with the main intent of controlling any damage that may have been caused by the perception that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was embarrassed due to the cancellation of a speech to be made at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London. The team that met the press included secretary to the president Lalith Weeratunge, MP Sajin Vass Gunawardene more..

June 17 (NS) In a bid to uphold discipline and decorum of legislators inside and outside Parliament, excessive powers are to be vested in the Speaker by way of recommendations by the Parliamentary Committee on Discipline, Propriety, Traditions and Security. Under the proposed recommendations, the Speaker will be vested with powers to suspend a Member of Parliament for more than a day on disciplinary grounds. At present, Standing Orders of Parliament provides more..

June 17 (Island) Last Thursday, the recently released Sarath Fonseka held a press conference to announce his future course of action to the public. After being released from jail, except for interviews granted to the BBC and the Sudaroli, and of course to the Ceylon Today group, he had not called a general press conference to explain what he would do with his new found freedom, and understandably, there was much interest in his first press conference. It was scheduled to start at 10.00am on Thursday at the Taj Samudra Hotel but more..

June 17 (CI) When Thisara Perera came on for a new spell after the 40th over, Pakistan needed a very gettable 68 off 60 balls with six wickets in hand. Going by their experience against Perera at Pallekele, you'd reckon they'd be a bit cautious. A wobbly Younis Khan tried to fend Perera to the off side but edged it to Kumar Sangakkara. Pakistan needed Shahid Afridi to support a limping Azhar Ali at the other end, but he tamely chipped his first ball straight to cover. more..

June 17 (ST) Fears of a mounting dengue epidemic have prompted Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to call an emergency meeting of a Presidential Task Force tomorrow to identify the immediate causes. The Task Force is vested with the responsibility of adopting countermeasures to fight the dengue menace. Official statistics yesterday revealed that 80 people have died and more than 14,500 have been affected by the spreading disease in the past six months. more..

June 17 (CT) The Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna has given two weeks’ notice for the OIC of the Police in Ilavalai, Jaffna, to vacate the private lands and find an alternative place to set up a new Police post in the area. A meeting was held at the HRC office in Jaffna chaired by the HRC Coordinator for North S. Kanagaraja. The owners of the thirteen houses and the lands currently occupied by the Police on St. James Street, Ilavalai, and the OIC Ilavalai Police Anil Jayaekera more..

June 17 (CT) The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Jaffna district Parliamentarian, Mavai Senathiraja, said the party would seek assistance from Canada and India to train the Local Government members and the officials of the local bodies under its purview in the North and East. TNA Parliamentarian, Mavai Senathiraja, was speaking at a meeting yesterday at the Veerasingam hall, Jaffna, on making the Local Government bodies more effective towards serving the people. more..

June 17 (ST) A top level probe has been initiated over the alleged fraudulent sale of a stock of 600 metric tons of sugar from the Sevanagala Sugar Co just as the company is being merged with Pelwatte Sugar Co. Employees of the factory said they have complained to the Treasury alleging that some officers with powerful political backing had sold 600 metric tons of sugar worth Rs. 54 million, sending the stock out of the factory secretly without making more..

June 17 (SL) The Mahinda Rajapaksa administration is to respond this week to the request by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR) in Geneva to send a representative to Sri Lanka following the Resolution adopted by the UNHRC in March. The Sunday Leader learns that the govt is considering a positive response to the request. Govt sources said the response was likely to be sent to Geneva early this week. Interestingly, the response is to be sent in the absence of more..

June 17 (LB) The UNP leadership has begun a campaign of intimidation to prevent its MPs from joining Sarath Fonseka, reveal party sources. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken this decision after the former army commander told the media that many UNP MPs, including MP Palitha Thevarapperuma are having discussions with him to form a new political alliance. Already Thevarapperuma and UNP Puttalam district MP Palitha Range Bandara have been warned by the UNP leadership to be careful in more..

June 17 (Island) Many an eye brow has been raised over the recent detention of plans of the Shangri-La Luxury hotel complex in Colombo by the Customs due to the failure on the part of the investors to pay duty. For want of prior instructions from the Finance Ministry re regards the hotel project, the Customs hadn’t been aware of the duty free status of the project, considered one of the largest post-war investments. In spite of over $ 400 mn project for a 7-star hotel being one of more..

June 17 (SL) The Higher Education Ministry has decided to make it mandatory for Buddhist monks entering the Buddhist University and other national universities to also undergo leadership training. Secretary to the Ministry Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that the training will be conducted at the Homagama Pali and Buddhist University and the Buddhasravaka Dharma Faculty of Anuradhapura. Navaratne said that so far around 250 monks have been registered to undergo the leadership training. more..

June 17 (SL) UPFA councillor Azath Salley says he does not accept Mohammed Maharoof as the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Opposition Leader. Salley explained that he did not consider Maharoof as the opposition leader in the CMC as the President had not appointed him to that post. “The day before the President’s trip to Thailand he called me and asked to remain in the CMC, he assured me that upon his return he would deal with the appointment of an opposition leader”, he said. more..

June 17 (SO) The Immigration and Emigration Department will begin processing dual citizenship under a strict formula within the next three months. Controller Chulananda Perera said that under the new criteria a Sri Lankan holding citizenship of another country will be granted permanent residency for five years before he becomes eligible for dual citizenship. “This will be the norm for all categories of applicants in the future,” more..