Aug 21 (FT) The former Finance Minister of Georgia and a top economist Dimitri Gvindadze last week hailed the Govt’s five-hub strategy as perfect for taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s geographical location. Noting that Sri Lanka’s strategic location on the world map allows the nation to enjoy a plethora of benefits, Gvindadze emphasised that the country’s geographical position should be used in a manner which will be advantageous to the country. “Sri Lanka being close to big economies more..

Aug 21 (Island) The US has refused to include Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jagath Dias and Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe in a military programme, scheduled to be held in Auckland, New Zealand in September, citing accountability issues. They were among three Majors General nominated by army headquarters for ‘Pacific Army Management seminar’ scheduled to begin on Sept 9. more..

Aug 21 (DM) With govt action, public awareness and pressure now focused on issues relating to the safety and quality of food, milk powder and other products, the Research and Technology Ministry’s Industrial Technological Institute (ITI) needs to take a closer look at genetically modified food items – the latest being the so-called fortified rice. Another positive issue recently was the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture to seek Cabinet approval for a ban on the unethical promotion more..

Aug 21 (DM) Liberal economic reforms that swept across the world over the last several decades have had a significant transformational effect on many countries. Many state-led economies gave way to ones dominated by private capital, both local and foreign. The role of the state in turn became less significant in the management of the economy and the distribution of life chances among citizens. Privatisation of state enterprises reduced state sector employment and more and more more..

Aug 21 (DM) Most Sri Lankans including the professionals believe that Leprosy does not exist in Sri Lanka today. Some believe that it has been eliminated. A small group of people feel that the disease has been eradicated. Yet for a remaining group, the disease is here with us, but not in a worrisome scale. To refresh our minds, Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. So far as present knowledge goes, it is more..

Aug 21 (SL) The Chairman of Hayleys Plc – the ultimate owning company of Dipped Products Plc – the company at the epicentre of the recent controversy in Weliweriya in the Gampaha district, has confirmed that the company will be complying with the directive given by the Head of State. Mohan Pandithage the Chairman of Hayleys also confirmed that the group is hopeful of resuming operations once they receive the ‘green light’ more..

Aug 21 (KSA) With an expected 2.6 million tourist arrivals in 2016, the Iranamadu area of Kilinochchi has come a long way since it was the de facto capital of the LTTE prior to their crushing defeat in 2009. Now, the region is preparing to meet rising domestic air travel demand after the Sri Lankan Air Force renovated the Iranamadu air strip in Kilinochchi originally built by the LTTE during the last stages of the war. more..

Aug 21 (ST) Schools which received computers under a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), complain that they find it hard to maintain them due to the failure of the private company which provided them to honour their contract. The Ministry of Education signed a contract with a private company based in Nugegoda in 2010, to provide computers to a number of schools in the country. In terms of the Rs. 527 million more..

Aug 21 (IRIN) Opposition party leaders in Sri Lanka’s north have long called for power devolution to the former conflict zone as a condition for lasting peace, but voters preparing to cast ballots in the Northern Province’s first election since the end of a separatist war in 2009 say power sharing means little if basic needs are unmet. “First we need to be able to take care of ourselves financially before we get into sharing power,” more..

Aug 21 (Island) Coast Guard lifesavers last Sunday saved a record nine persons from drowning in the seas at Polhena, Gopalapuram, Mt. Lavinia, Kirinda and Galle Face. The first rescue of the day was reported from Polhena beach around 1.45 p.m. Duty lifeguards M.M.A.S. Indika, M.K.E. Pathmakumara responded swiftly and rescued Mrs. W.A. Jeewani (39) from drowning. The second was reported from the Gopalapuram beach more..

Aug 21 (LT) The Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe and the Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Dr. H.P. Dhammika left to China today (20) on an invitation from Chinese Communist Party to participate in an international summit organized for South Asian Socialist Parties. India, Bangladesh and Nepal are also expected to participate in the summit. Representatives of South Asian Socialist more..

Aug 21 (CT) The Association for the Families of Disappeared Persons in the North along with members of the civil society in the area have planned to stage a mass demonstration opposite the United Nation's Office in Jaffna, to highlight the grievances of the families of disappeared persons and political prisoners, when the United Nation's Human Rights Commissioner, Navaneetham Pillay, arrives in Jaffna on 27 August. more..

Aug 21 (CG) The govt does not expect any issue with India’s participation at the CHOGM in November, a top Govt MP said today. External Affairs Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena said that so far India has not said anything about boycotting the summit in Sri Lanka. Political parties in Tamil Nadu have been calling on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to boycott the summit over human rights concerns in Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 21 (AD) Sri Lanka does not have a liquid milk market in order for it to serve as an alternative to the milk powder problems as the supply is unable to meet even the current demand, the Govt Veterinary Officers Association stated today. Speaking at a press conference today, Chairman of the GVOA, Dr. Hemali Kotalawala said that in order to set up a market for liquid milk, govt intervention as well as a govt policy is necessary. more..

Aug 21 (CT) Govt officers are notorious for pushing paper from one desk to another until it reaches the eventual signatory, often after an inordinate delay. Such documents, when they reach the ripe-old age of 25, are discarded to be permanently destroyed, either through the office shredder or burnt at a secure place within the main premises of the office. But documents that are barely five years old hardly qualify for the shredder. As protocol deems, these documents, if not frequently referred to or used, more..

Aug 21 (LT) Five youths including three brothers have been abducted by a group in a white van at Kosgama. There is no information regarding the youths yet. The youths three from the same family and two of their friends were abducted from their residence at Aravingama area at Kosgama in Avissawella on the 19th night by a group that had arrived in a white van. All youths are between the ages of 19 to 21. A group of ten had broken into the house at about 10.30 at night while more..

Aug 21 (CT) “The Ambassador met Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, on Oct 4. After the Ambassador reviewed US priorities and initiatives in Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa spoke frankly about human rights issues, requesting that the United States and Co-chairs help the Govt of Sri Lanka (GSL) improve its human rights capability. Rajapaksa spoke of the GSL’s humanitarian efforts in Jaffna ‘to win hearts and minds’ while defending the country more..

Aug 21 (CT) C.T. (Cutty) Jansz and his leading officials had an unenviable problem on their hands. They could maintain order in the prison only through jailors and jail guards. They knew that some politically influential jailors were behind the massacre on the 25th. Having transferred the survivors to the YOB, they could only hope for the best. To whom could they go for help, to the Govt?, to the Army?, the Police?. The events of the 25th had taught them that the prisoners were more..

Aug 21 (CT) Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has gone to India in a bid to avoid the Parliament debate scheduled to take place today on the incident in Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, Ceylon Today learns. Our sister paper, Mawbima, yesterday revealed for the first time that Wickremesinghe's visit to India is not to an official visit, but a private trip. It was further clarified by a news item on NDTV. However, the UNP Media Unit said, Wickremesinghe's visit to India is more..

Aug 21 (Island) Sri Lanka is negotiating a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India. This was disclosed by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam here on Sunday. "Yes, we are negotiating a nuclear agreement with India. The talks are at a preliminary stage," he told reporters in the presence of External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris. He declined to divulge details.

Aug 21 (CG) The military today denied reports that Pakistan based militants were using Sri Lanka as a base to launch attacks on Southern India. Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya said that the media reports to that effect were baseless. The Maharashtra police have received a terror alert from central intelligence agencies warning that eight militants are undergoing training in Pakistan-based camps to attack targets in south India from Sri Lanka. Sent by the joint director of more..

Aug 21 (LBO) Stocks plunged 1.7% Wednesday as three large capitalized stocks that had taken the market up in recent weeks, lost ground, brokers said. All Share Index closed 107.6 points lower at 6,116.67 down 1.73% and the S&L20 Index slid 1.7% to close at 2,434.3 points down 58.8 points. Turnover was 955 million rupees. On Thursday 51 stocks advanced but 145 stocks lost ground wiping out 44 billion rupees in stock values. Foreign investors bought stocks worth 632 million more..

Aug 21 (Xinhua) The pending visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will not be restricted by the Sri Lankan govt, a top official assured, even though she is set to meet the island's main Tamil party and relatives of former Tamil Tiger carders. Pillay who is expected to arrive in the country on Aug. 25 will meet with a range of govt officials including President Rajapaksa. She is also scheduled to visit the former war-torn more..

Aug 21 (Island) The National Workers’ Union (NWU) yesterday alleged that its political offices at Hatton, Norwood, Bogawanthalawa and Talawakelle had come under attack on Monday night in the wake of clashes between its supporters and members of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), at the Commercial junction in Kotagala. The CWC and NWU are both constituent parties of the UPFA. NWU leader Digambaram, alleged that among the offices targeted were the one at Hatton. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Two students of a leading school in Colombo sitting this year’s GCE A/L exam and two other youth were arrested at Maharagama on Monday evening while attempting to abduct a schoolgirl travelling in a private bus. Police spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardana said that the victim was a student of a private girls’ school in Nugegoda and resident of Maharagama. She had been returning home after finishing her exam, when the abductors stopped the bus in front of more..

Aug 21 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's govt has given approval to a 350 million U.S. dollar casino project spearheaded by Australian gaming mogul James Packer after a changed in the design of the resort, local media reported here. The project, which aims to bring large scale gambling into the island still recovering from a three decade conflict, was to be in the center of the capital on the edge of the Beira Lake. more..

Aug 21 (CT) TNA Leader, R. Sampanthan, reiterated that the Alliance will gain a landslide victory in all five electoral districts of the Northern Province (NP). Responding to the media on the comments made by Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, who had said the UPFA will win the NP polls, Sampanthan said the voters were the best judges and they would definitely make the TNA victorious in the NP polls. "The Govt is talking about winning the polls but it should focus more..

Aug 21 (Island) Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) will soon lose its ‘Green’ rating, when the Treasury introduces the `Green Procurement System’. However, the country is not geared to go for Light-emitting diode (LED) soon due to the cost factor, says policy advocacy head Hemantha Withanage. Executive Director of the Centre for Environment Justice Withanage told The Island that ‘LED’ is a semiconductor light source, which is expensive but if it could be provided at a cheaper rate, more..

Aug 21 (Reuters) A Sri Lankan court on Wednesday issued a summons to Fonterra Brands Lanka, the local company of New Zealand's Fonterra and four of its top officials to face contempt of court charges for not adhering to an earlier ruling that banned sales and advertising of all Fonterra milk products. The district court in Gampaha earlier had banned the sale and advertising of all Fonterra milk products for two weeks, following a complaint more..

Aug 21 (AD) The Air Force Corporal, who shot himself after shooting an airman and airwoman dead at the Marble Beach SLAF Resort in Trincomalee on August 18, has succumbed to his injuries. An airman and airwoman of the Air Force died following the shooting at the reception of the Marble Beach SLAF Resort in Trincomalee while the Air Force Corporal who had shot himself after carrying out the shooting was in critical condition, SLAF said. The Corporal who was receiving treatment more..

Aug 21 (Island) Wildlife Department officials are finding it hard to conduct raids against illegal gem miners, in three national parks, as the culprits had claimed they were operating with the blessings of Minister Vijith Wijithamuni de Zoysa. Officials, who fear the influence of the minister in charge of the subject, said that Kiri Oya, in the Wasgamuwa National Park, Nilgala area, in the Gal Oya National Park and a place in the Angammedilla National Park, had become havens for illegal more..

Aug 21 (IL) Her Imperial Highness Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, the eldest daughter of Japanese Prince Takamado and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand called on President Rajapaksa this evening (20) at the President's House in Kandy. President received Royal Princesses in two separate occasions before commencing of the final Randoli Esala Maha Perahera of the Temple of the Tooth Relic. more..

Aug 21 (DM) UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma has produced a bullet in the House today, apparently discharged from a weapon used during the incident in Weliweriya on August 1. The UNP moved an adjournment motion asking the govt to reveal those responsible for the crackdown that killed three protestors. MP John Amaratunga moved the motion. Mannapperuma who seconded the motion and started speaking, produced a bullet, which he said was picked up from the Weliweriya church more..

Aug 21 (DM) Seven Bangladeshis who posed as Buddhist monks were arrested while attempting to illegally migrate to another country via Malaysia, Monitoring Intelligence and Investigation Unit’s Chief Officer Amith Perera said. They are to be blacklisted and deported on August 23. Initial investigations had revealed that they had come to Sri Lanka after having obtained temporary ordination in Bangladesh with the intention of migrating to another country. They were arrested by officials of more..

Aug 21 (Xinhua) An estimated 100 representatives from 16 countries are expected in Sri Lanka next week to conduct an advance visit to make preparations for a top Commonwealth meeting. Sri Lanka is hosting the CHOGM later this year. CHOGM is the highest decision making body of the Commonwealth, which has a membership of 53 countries. "The delegations will tour the venue of the opening ceremony, more..

Aug 21 (AD) The Govt Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has decided to call a 24-hour token strike at all provincial council hospitals belonging to the Polonnaruwa District tomorrow. The strike will begin at 8am, the Polonnaruwa District Secretary Dr. Sanjeewa Amarasinghe stated. The strike action will be called in demand for action to be taken against the misconduct of an Administrative PHI belonging to the Higurakgoda Health Inspector region. The PHI in question was attached to more..

Aug 21 (CT) Minister Susil Premajayantha, said he is more knowledgeable of the Provincial Council system more than the TNA's chief ministerial candidate, C.V. Wigneswaran. Accompanied by some of the UPFA candidates contesting the Northern Province polls, Premajayantha accused the TNA of trying to convince the Northern voters through false statements and by exaggerating stories. Explaining the resettlement of displaced persons being carried out by the govt in more..

Aug 21 (PTI) The controversy surrounding actor John Abraham's bilingual flick 'Madras Cafe' assumed more political overtones on Wednesday, with BJP asking Congress to respond to "opinions" that the film had its backing and sought a national ban against it, warning of "unwanted consequences" subsequent to its release. The spy thriller "demeaned" Tamils by portraying them as terrorists while supporting more..

Aug 22 (NS) Anti-Muslim sentiments in Sinhalese and Tamils are not new for anyone who is conversant of this country’s history from ancient to modern times. The most recent wave came up on surface soon after the end of North East conflict had several manifestations during the last two years time and had been analyzed and discussed enough by this time and no need of wasting time and space. For the question as to where were all those Sinhalese now suddenly raising their voice more..

Aug 22 (GV) My thanks to the organizers for this initiative. I know it must take a great deal of imagination, energy, resilience, courage and hope to make this kind of leap in the dark. I commend their faith in the future. I would like to begin by acknowledging the Gadigal people of the Eora nation on whose land we are meeting. I also acknowledge the Nyoongar people on whose lands I live and work. They have given me the closest thing I have to a home. more..