Apr 15 (CG) The Commission investigating persons reported missing during the war says there is no evidence on some of the people reported missing. Secretary to the Presidential Commission H.W Gunadasa says when investigating some complaints there is no information on where and how they went missing. “This is a big problem but we are still investigating those complaints as well,” he said more..

Apr 15 (ST) For a South Asian Country, Sri Lanka might be considered relatively progressive, given the high positions that have been held by women: Sri Lanka boasts the world’s first woman prime minister (and head of state), has had a woman executive president, a woman chief justice and a woman attorney general. Yet, the current parliament does not reflect the boast. Women are not thriving in parliament: Only 13 of the 225 members of parliament (MPs) are women (5.8%). more..

Apr 15 (ST) A milk like substance was seen trickling down from the pinnacle of the Kirivehera on the eve of Avurudu during the time of the ritual milk boiling in the morning at the premises of the Miracle in Kirivehera. Having seen this unusual scene nearly 1000 devotees who gathered to pay homage to this ancient Dagaba started chanting “Sadhu Sadhu ” in great veneration, our corespondent reported. The incumbent of the Kirivehera Ven. Sashtravedi Kobawaka Dhamminda Thero more..

Apr 15 (AD) The US based Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium (TRAC) has classified Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) as a ‘Religious and Cult Terrorist Group’. The same organization has classified the LTTE, British Tamil Forum and the Canadian Tamil Congress as terrorist groups. TRAC based in Washington has published core analyses of 3,800+ groups that have been known to aid and abet political violence or terrorist organizations. more..

Apr 15 (DN) Nine proposals have been submitted by trade unions to the National Pay Commission to assist the govt to formulate a National Wage Policy. According to reports, the unions have proposed a national minimum wage for private sector employees and have also called for the implementation of an unemployment benefit insurance scheme. In addition, the proposals also recommend the implementation of a pension scheme for members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and more..

Apr 15 (DN) Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), an ally of the Government, has called for legal action against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen over the alleged resettlement of Muslims in the Wilpattu National Park. Western Provincial Council Minister, and JHU Legal Advisor, Udaya Gammanpila speaking to the local media has said that Muslims should be resettled in the North in the proper manner and should not be done illegally by clearing national parks, sanctuaries and forest reserves. more..

Apr 15 (IRIN) Human rights activists and academics in Sri Lanka remain divided over how best to proceed in the investigation of alleged war crimes committed during the final days of the country's decades-long civil war. “I think right now there is still room for a robust national inquiry that meets international standards,” Jehan Perera, director of the National Peace Council (NPC), a Colombo-based advocacy group, told IRIN. more..

Apr 15 (DN) Sri Lanka’s leading ship builder, Colombo Dockyard has appointed Ranil Wijewardena as its new Managing Director/CEO. Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd, the major shareholder of Colombo Dockyard nominated Wijegunawardena, who was at the time General Manager (Finance)as the new MD/CEO following the retirement of Mangala Prema Banda Yapa. Yapa who was a nominee director of Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd, of Japan retired from his services on more..

Apr 15 (SLBC) A great enthusiasm is shown by big onion cultivators since they received a higher price for their products during the last cultivation season. The agriculture department informed that in addition to the Mahaweli zone cultivators farmers in the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mathale, Kurunegala and Puttlam as well as Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu farmers have also come forward to cultivate big onions in the forthcoming season. Accordingly big onions will be cultivated in more..

Apr 15 (CNBC) A long dry season in the East has left Asia's premier tea-growing regions parched and could lead to a rise in tea prices, analysts said. The drought across Sri Lanka in the first three months of 2014 has contributed to a 50% fall in tea production on previously corresponding period, industry sources said. Some 400,000 small tea holders in Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle and Matara districts are among the worst affected, more..

Apr 16 (NS) Perhaps it is because of a discernible suppression of Mahagama Sekera in the larger discourse of 20th Century Sinhala literature that people sometimes express the wish that the great man be elevated to his rightful place among literary greats. It might be for this very reason that some who attended an event at the Light House Galley on April 7, 2014 curiously titled ‘Rae Ira Pana’ with a ‘Sekera Mahima’ tag may have left believing that justice was done. more..

Apr 16 (CT) The ethnic conflict and civil war in Sri Lanka have been fuelled by many actors from various ethnic communities from within the country as well as from abroad, especially since 1972. Three most critical groups of actors within the Tamil minority community who have fuelled this conflict are the entire armed Tamil militants, most Tamil democratic politicians, and few Tamil journalists. The most notable of the latter are David Buell Sabapathy Jeyaraj (popularly known as more..

Apr 16 (SO) D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Kelaniya. He is a well-established and recognised critic of the 20th century and post-colonial literature, and a leading authority on Sri Lankan English literature. He is an authority on British literature of the Empire and the Commonwealth in general, and Sri Lankan writing in particular. He was elected World Chairperson, Association for more..

Apr 16 (CT) The stoutest defender of any government will grant that periodic renewal is good; universities recycle Deanships and companies CEOs. There is a reason for term limits though none can guarantee the next will be better. Term limits are imposed because fresh air brings vigour. It was good for Thatcher to go after long at the helm; I don’t like Narendra Modi but it will be good for Congress to take a back seat for a while. It will be good for Gota-Mahinda to go. more..

Apr 16 (Island) The Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned the then UN Resident Coordinator, Neil Bhune on Nov 28 and 29, 2007 to discuss the conduct of some UN personnel in the wake of the then JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa, accusing the global organization of clandestine activities, inimical to Sri Lanka’s national security interests. Bhune was accompanied by the then Country Representative of the UNICEF. Weerawansa didn’t mince words when he alleged that the UN was having a more..

Apr 16 (GV) The marauding Buddhist monks, who appear to be tied to a long political leash, have run out of control. They need to be stopped. But it is equally necessary to take a cold look at the complexity of the phenomenon that groups such as BBS have come to represent. This is no freak show, and is hardly an aberration in post-war Sri Lanka; also because we know now that critics such as Ven. Dambara Amila (JVP) more..

Apr 16 (Island) I am not a western sociologist by any means, but an academic trained in the western sociological tradition could study what happened on the 14th of April this year when the Sinhala Buddhists "betrayed" Buddhism and did not engage in the usual Poya Day practice of observing the eight (ten) precepts and engage in other discussions and meditations involved with the "Sila Programmes". The Sinhala Buddhists could be accused of betraying Buddhism by more..

Apr 16 (NS) Post-Christmas Stress Disorder is frequently observed in people of western countries after the Christmas season. Dr. Danister L Perera predicts that SL people are also on the verge of developing a Post-Sinhala Avurudu Stress Disorder if the current system persists. “Some people go insane due to the significant distress caused during the Christmas season. They become stressed when they fail to organize and plan, financial and social aspects during the season. more..

Apr 16 (NS) According to legend and indigenous belief Sri Pada is the abode of the deity Sumana Saman, one of the guardian deities of Sri Lanka and at the peak of the Sri Pada Mountain lies a sacred footprint significant to those of every race and religion. Believed by Buddhists to be that of the Buddha, historical text has it that the Buddha placed it on His third visit to the island, when he visited the mountain on the invitation more..

Apr 16 (Island) In the Asia Cup, when Kumar Sangakkara reached 50, Harsha Bhogle was full of praise for his classy innings. He had used his experience as a commentator and the limited vocabulary at his command and hackneyed phrases and catch phrases, to describe what was an exhibition of a maestro at work. When Sangakkara reached 70, Harsha Bhogle said, it was a matter of formality for Sangakkara to score another century. Then on his own. he reverted back to the more..

Apr 16 (FT) Bairaha Farms (BFP) has decided to form a Rs. 1.65 billion joint venture with Farms Pride, to boost animal feed manufacturing and storage in the country. BFP said the new venture, Fortune Agro Industries, is aimed at setting up a large-scale, state-of-the-art commercial animal feed manufacturing factory together with raw material procurement and modern post-harvest storage facilities. Farms Pride is a partner of BFP in a company named Fortune G-P Farms. more..

Apr 16 (FT) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and Just In Time Holdings Ltd. have come to an understanding to settle a long-drawn dispute out of court, with the former agreeing to pay the latter Rs. 673.3 million. SLT said that as part of the settlement it will pay Rs. 502.17 million as balance payments to JIT and legal cost. The interest claimed amounting to Rs. 171 million will be paid in six equal instalments. Out of court settlement follows more..

Apr 16 (SL) Over and above the stated causes, reasons and justification, the Indian ‘abstention’ on the anti-Sri Lanka vote at the UNHRC this time was a ‘message’ in itself. Intended or otherwise, the ‘message’ was for the West-dominated ‘international community’ on the one hand, and the Sri Lankan stakeholders on the other. The message for the international community was as much for the Anglo-American allies in the Indian Ocean geo-strategic context as for the Chinese neighbour wanting more..

Apr 16 (DN) Central Bank’s Monetary Board managed country’s largest private sector pension fund Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has increased its stake to 10% of the issued share capital of Central Finance (CFIN). In a filing to CSE, EPF said that on 9th April its stake exceeded the 10% of the issued capital of CFIN. According to 31st Dec 2013 financials of CFIN, Employees’ Provident Fund had 9,984,266 shares of CFIN or 9.52% being the fourth largest shareholder more..

Apr 16 (FT) Board of Investment of Sri Lanka hosted a 14 strong delegation from the port city of Dalian in Northern China, headed by Liu Cheng Xi. The delegation comprised of entrepreneurs from a wide range of sectors looking at developing trade or starting investments in Sri Lanka. Liu is also the Chairman of the Lions Club in Dalian and has engaged in large scale real estate development in the city. more..

Apr 16 (ST) Customers of dominant Sri Lankan celco Dialog have, since 2011, donated millions of rupees worth of loyalty points to charity HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL), which resulted in over 20 mobile medical and eye camps and 2,659 senior citizens being helped in 2013 alone. “The money obtained from Dialog star points is utilised to perform Cataract Surgeries and also to conduct Medical and Eye Care Camps for the needy segment of Sri Lankan elderly population over 55 years. more..

Apr 16 (ST) Recent mechanism brought in by Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, to regulate prices of pharmaceuticals has been welcomed as a ‘progressive move’ by the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI). Chamber said that it would extend its fullest co-operation, both to the Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade and the Ministry of Health, for the smooth implementation of a fair pricing mechanism that would benefit all patients in the country. more..

Apr 16 (FT) Condemning the unruly disruption on Wednesday, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Leader of the ACMC, called for a Commission of Inquiry to look into the incidents against minorities in the country. “ACMC calls upon the authorities to enforce the law to everyone alike and appoint a commission of inquiry into the post war incidents against the minorities in general and the Muslim community in particular,” more..

Apr 16 (DN) Consumers have been advised not to accept toffees and candies instead of balance money in groceries and retail shops. The National Movement for Protecting Consumer Rights (NMPCR) has requested consumers to demand cash the shop keeper or owner owes them instead of accepting candies. “There have been instances where shopkeepers give a toffee or two instead of the balance cash they have to give. It is against the Consumer Protection Act,” said more..

Apr 16 (DN) National youth delegates from around 70 countries have confirmed participation at the World Conference on Youth scheduled to be held from May 6 to 10 at the BMICH, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said. He said participants from 13 countries including Afghanistan, China, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Maldives, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia and Saudi Arabia confirmed participation at ministerial level at the conference. more..

Apr 16 (CT) Security forces have commenced an investigation into the alleged close association of a Tamil politician in the North with Kajeepan, alias Gopi and Navaneethan, alias Appan, who died in a shootout with the Army, when they were allegedly engaged in secret operations to revive the LTTE organization. High ranking police officer said, the clandestine telephone calls exchanged between the LTTE activists and the Tamil politician more..

Apr 16 (SG) Siddhartha Gautama, who became universally known as the sage Buddha, was born some 2,500 years ago in Nepal. He was a human being who became acutely enlightened in understanding life and explaining it in its simplicity. It is said that he once sat under a peepal tree for 40 days and nights to attain understanding and enlightenment and once he reached that stage he felt free from greed, hatred and ignorance, and enhanced by wisdom, compassion, tolerance more..

Apr 16 (GDI) In its recent CSR activities, Fashion Bug, one of Sri Lanka’s leading retail clothing stores with over 17 outlets island-wide, refurbished the maternity ward at the Ragama-based Colombo North Teaching Hospital for the beneficial of its needy patients. The company is no stranger to similar initiatives of such nature, having refurbished many other wards at the Kalubowila Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and the Colombo Eye Hospital. more..

Apr 16 (NF) Police say that 40 people have been killed in road accidents over the past five days. 34 fatal road accidents were reported during this time-frame. 27 people were injured in an accident involving two buses near Wanarajawatte in Hatton on Tuesday evening. Our reporter says that two small children and 17 women were among the injured. A 36-year-old mother of three was killed in an accident involving more..

Apr 16 (AT) Embassy of Sri Lanka together with the Sri Lankan Associations and Sri Lankan Community living in Japan organized the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival on Sunday in Tokyo. A large gathering of over 5000 Sri Lankan and Japanese community members from all parts of Japan participated and celebrated this auspicious occasion. Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was Yoshiki Nagatamo, Mayor of Chofu City. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Wasantha Karannagoda more..

Apr 16 (NIP) There is a new landmark in Colombo’s spiritual landscape — a Thatthuva Kovil or a Philosophical temple — which is conceptually different from the other Hindu temples in Sri Lanka. Conceived and executed by Kambavarithi Jeyaraj, a Jaffna Tamil, with financial help from former Indian Minister S Jagathrakshakan, Thatthuva Kovil is based on the revolutionary concept underlying Avudayar Kovil in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu built by the saint-poet Manikkavasagar. more..

Apr 16 (DH) Imagine walking three miles every day for potable water to complete daily chores. For many Sri Lankan residents this is their reality until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District finishes connecting hundreds of Puttalam households to the town’s water supply. Clean water to satisfy parched throats and more time for other activities are becoming a new standard for 371 families living below Sri Lanka’s poverty line. more..

Apr 16 (CG) More Chinese nationals were arrested for violating local immigration and emigration laws, the police media unit said today. Less than 24 hours after the police had arrested two Chinese men in Pooneryn for engaging in business activities while in Sri Lanka on tourist visas, the police had yesterday arrested another two Chinese nationals in Embilipitiya. Two foreigners had been selling silver items near a bank in the area when they were arrested for violating their visa regulations. more..

Apr 16 (News) It's a small island off the south coast of India and it’s being touted as the new Bali. So what is it about Sri Lanka that has travellers sitting up and taking notice? We spoke to Australian photographer, Lincoln Jubb, who recently returned from a trip to Sri Lanka, about why he thinks this place is so special. I went to Sri Lanka in December last year with my girlfriend. We went during the on season, exploring Negombo and Hikkaduwa on the southwest coast, Galle, Unawatuna and more..

Apr 16 (CG) Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma expressed disappointment with Canada’s decision to suspend funding to the Commonwealth Secretariat in protest over Sri Lanka’s human rights record. Commonwealth Secretariat said that the Govt of Canada has informed Sharma of its decision to suspend contributions to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation over next two years. more..