Apr 26 (Scoop) The Complaint filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director (Complaint No: HRC/3083/13) before the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) against the Independent Television Network of Sri Lanka (ITN) and its Chairmen will be taken up for hearing tomorrow (24) at 10.30 at the premises of the HRCSL. The complaint which filed on 12 August 2013 was on the basis that a news item appearing on the 7:00pm Sinhala language news more..

Apr 26 (DN) “We are looking forward to the World Youth Conference (WYC) and there are only 10 days more for this massive event which we are hosting as a country”, said Deputy Minister Mohan Lal Grero. “We are proud that the President of UN General Assembly John Ashe is also participating at this conference. Further the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’ s special envoy on youth Ahmed Alhendawi will also be participating more..

Apr 26 (CI) Dandeniya Hemachandra De Silva, the eldest of four brothers who played first-class club cricket in Sri Lanka, has died in Melbourne on Friday at the age of 81. Commonly known by his initials 'DH' or as 'Hema', he was well known for his discipline which he applied as captain of the Colombo Municipality and Nomads SC teams. A right-hand opening batsman, DH was renowned for his astute captaincy where he went to the extent of testing the laws of the game. more..

Apr 26 (FT) Presentation of Mahapola Higher Education Scholarships to students admitted to universities from the Gampaha District for academic year 2011/12 was held with the patronage of Pushpa Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law and the Chairperson of the Liya Abhiman Organization on 24 April at Rathnavali Balika College, Gampaha. A batch of 1,021 students received Mahapola scholarship awards at this ceremony. The ceremony was organised by Gampaha District Secretariat more..

Apr 26 (MoD) President Rajapaksa ceremonially declared open the Abimansala -3 wellness resort amidst the blessings of Maha Sanga for the dependent war heroes at Pangolla, Kurunegala yesterday. President made an inspection visit to witness the facilities of the new hospital followed by the unveiling of the plaque to mark the occasion. Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Chairperson of the more..

Apr 26 (ST) Toyota Lanka has pulled the wraps off the next generation line up of eight vehicles along with two concept cars TOYOTA FT 86 Open and NS4 at a glittering event in Colombo anticipating a new boom in the car market with a reduction in import duty in the near future. Manohara Athukorala, CEO of Toyota Lanka said on the sidelines of the ‘The Toyota Show’ at the BMICH recently that they hope to sell 10 to 15 new units per month at present with sales improving considerably more..

Apr 26 (Island) The GNOA accused the Health Ministry and the GMOA of being instrumental in converting two paying wards at the Kandy Teaching Hospital into a gymnasium and a restroom for doctors. GNOA President, Saman Ratnapriya said that there were people in the Kandy District who preferred to receive treatment in paying wards. The two wards were closed to the public last August while steps were taken to convert them in to a gym and a restroom for doctors. more..

Apr 26 (CT) President Rajapakasa attributed the spate of bank robberies to the removal of military check points in Colombo City after the decades-long conflict ended in 2009. President Rajapaksa during a meeting with newspaper editors at Temple Trees made this remark in response to a question raised by an editor on Colombo City's security, especially due to the increased number of robberies that were reported. more..

Apr 26 (Island) Indika Koralage of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha has filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal, requesting the Court to cancel the gazette dated April 9, cancelling the previous gazette dated April 8, which published the appointment of him as the Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha of Homagama. The budget of Homagama PS for 2014 was defeated twice. Hence the previous chairman A. D. Kumarasiri was considered as having vacated office. more..

Apr 26 (GE) AFTER her day at work as secretary to the School of Business and Entrepreneurship at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Paula Iley has rushed home to write her novel. And now her book, On The Far Side, There’s A Boy is completed and soon to be published. Set for some scenes in Sri Lanka it tells of a London-based woman's bond with a little Sinhala child through charitable giving to his community and their letters, and draws on Paula’s own experiences. more..

Apr 26 (Island) The Australian govt is working closely with Sri Lanka to expel a group of bogus SL refugees in accordance with an ongoing project meant to ensure what Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison called a serious border protection regime. Australia launched ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’, an unprecedented military-led initiative to discourage those trying to secure refugee status through illegal means. more..

Apr 26 (CT) Those who criticize Sri Lanka today, will one day realize that Sri Lanka fought in order to free its people from terrorism, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the UK Dr. Chris Nonis said. Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the South Asia Summit on Youth and Human Rights (SASYHR), held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Nonis said that now people are free to walk in the country and all in Sri Lanka have been benefited through the defeat of terrorism. more..

Apr 26 (ST) Approval of the Central Province (CP) Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa is needed to ban tuition classes for students on Poya days, Sundays and other days when important religious functions are held. Consequent to a letter sent by the Buddhist Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry, CP Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake told a meeting of members of the CPC, tuition classes would be banned on Poya Days, Sundays and other days when important religious functions are held. more..

Apr 26 (DN) "The most Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Sri Lanka last year came from China with an estimated US$ 240 million inflow, of the total US$ 1,360 million," Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said. "Next to China, it was Malaysia (US$ 176 million), Hong Kong US$ 139 million, the Netherlands US$ 118 million, Singapore US$ 112 million and the UAE US$ 111 million," the minister said. more..

Apr 26 (Island) In the wake of the passing of the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka in late March, the Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) President said that Sri Lanka had achieved rapid development in terms of post war development. Addressing the media on the ‘South Asia Summit on Youth and Human Rights 2014’ (SASYHR), YHRI President, Dr. Mary Shuttleworth said that it was impossible for any country to have a perfect human rights record. more..

Apr 26 (CT) Leader of the JVP, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, revealed in Parliament yesterday that the material purchased by the government in 2012, for the use of school uniforms in the year 2013, was of such low quality that it was similar to mosquito netting. In reply to a question posed by MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake Minister of Education Services, Duminda Dissanayake disclosed that Rs 812 million had been spent on 5.6 million metres of cloth for the use of school uniforms. more..

Apr 26 (Island) Two orders the govt moved yesterday under the Strategic Development Projects Act were passed. The first one for setting up of Waterfront Properties Pvt. Ltd was ratified with a majority of 68 votes, 112 in favour and 44 against. The following govt members skipped the vote: Sumedha Jayasena, Basheer Segudawood, A.L.M. Athaulla, Mahinda Amaraweera, Dilan Perera, Rishad Bathudeen, Gamini Lokuge, more..

Apr 26 (DM) ‘Mislead and distract’ appear to be the operational mechanism of the govt of late, though some may suggest that those two words reflect only a fraction of what is really taking place in this country. Let us leave aside the pros and cons of having casinos since the matter had been debated for some time and many arguments have been presented to defend both opinions. In any case casinos are nothing new to the country as there are many that are operating openly since 1980s. more..

Apr 26 (DM) Late Mr. Athulathmudali was one leader who truly believed in holistic education. To him investing in children’s education was paramount in developing the country. His vision for SL children was to become independent individuals with the ability to be literate in its real sense. It is true that today there is more talk about education, while action towards achieving things, including literacy is slow to come by. Hence this article strives to take a crucial look at how effective literacy is in SL. more..

Apr 26 (CT) More accidents were reported this month compared to other months, Police said. 108 persons were killed in 89 motor accidents reported during the period between 10 to 20 April. 1,488 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, during the festive season. They included 12 bus drivers, 814 motorcyclists, 526 three-wheeler drivers and 136 drivers of other vehicles. more..

Apr 26 (ST) As the controversy over the construction of houses close to the Wilpattu National Park rages, moves are underway to evict squatters in the northern part of the Park. Wildlife Director General H.D. Ratnayake said legal action had been filed against 18 families that had built houses at the northern end of the park. He added that legal action against the other families would be taken once the Wildlife Department received more..

Apr 26 (Hindu) Political parties wedded to Tamil nationalism on Friday expressed “shock and disappointment” at the Supreme Court’s decision to extend the stay on a Feb 19 order, directing the release of seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. DMK president M. Karunanidhi declined to comment, saying he was not interested in expressing his opinion on judicial matters. Describing as an utter “human rights more..

Apr 26 (DBS) Mazhai Nindraalum Thooral Nitkavillai is a saying in Tamil meaning though the rain has ceased the drizzle is not over. In similar vein, the recent attempt by tiger elements to revive the LTTE has been foiled by the security apparatus but mopping up efforts continue in the country. The deaths of Theiveegan, Appan and Gobi in the northern jungles has virtually ended the LTTE revival project in SL but security sleuths more..

Apr 26 (Island) The increase in hold-ups at financial institutions by robbers wearing full-face helmets in recent weeks and months has left the police red faced as they have not been able to solve many of those heists, except a few. Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana answered the following questions and explained what public and security guards of such institutions should do and the responsibility of the police: more..

Apr 26 (CT) Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha, said that Opposition was trying to slander him by describing him as a Muslim promoting casinos in Sri Lanka. Mustapha said he was only promoting a Sri Lankan identity over a Muslim one. These sentiments were expressed yesterday during a hurriedly summoned media briefing, as the debate for the gazette notification on the Strategic Development Act raged. more..

Apr 26 (Island) The UNP has requested the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to take appropriate action against all those responsible for the attack on five of its MPs who went on a fact finding mission to the Mattala Airport and Hambantota Port last week, after being repeatedly urged by the govt to visit the two institutions before levelling any criticisms. Eran Wickremeratne, one of the five MP who was attacked with stones and rotten more..

Apr 26 (CG) INTERPOL has issued the Red Notice arrest warrant for Perinpanayagam Sivaparan known by his nom de guerre Nediyawan who is currently based in Norway. Norwegian authorities had earlier said that they were awaiting the INTERPOL warrant which was yet to be updated on the website this week. In response to the Norwegian comments, SSP Ajith Rohana said that the details pertaining to Nediyawan more..

Apr 26 (CG) The Govt has opposed the decision taken by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon to include Sri Lanka in this year’s report on conflict related sexual violence. Sri Lanka had yesterday informed the UN Security Council that it was disappointing that the UN Secretary General had mentioned the recent UNHRC resolution in the report. “We observe that this year’s Report of the UNSG on conflict related sexual violence more..

Apr 26 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) appointed Marvan Atapattu as new national coach and Ruwan Kalpage as his assistant yesterday but no sooner the announcement came, another problem started brewing inside the already beleaguered national cricket body when some Executive Committee members protested the move saying they were kept in the dark over the new decision. Ex-co firebrand Shammi Silva had more..

Apr 26 (GV) I am thankful to the S.J.V. Chelvanayakam Commemoration Committee for inviting me to deliver this memorial oration on the occasion of the 37th death anniversary of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, Q.C., a revered leader of the Sri Lankan Tamils. I am told that I am only the second Sinhalese, after Comrade Bernard Soysa whose birth centenary we celebrated last month, to be invited to speak at a Chelvanayakam memorial event. While I am happy to follow Comrade more..

Apr 26 (CT) If you ever visited my verdant and beautiful home town, the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka in the last 17 years or so and went to see it’s more revered landmark, the Temple of the Tooth, you should have noticed that the road going past the building on the side of the Lake is closed. The closure runs from the point at which a little road down to the Lake on the Buwelikada side beyond the temple to Dalada Veediya. Now the reason why the road is closed is to ostensibly prevent more..

Apr 26 (CT) This is the text of answers to a set of questions raised by the Editor, Political & Defence Journal, a diplomatic journal through e-mail. 1. What are your views on the South African initiative to mediate between Sri Lankan govt and the Tamil minority? South African President Jacob Zuma has appointed Mr Cyril Ramaphosa as its envoy on Sri Lanka and he is due in Sri Lanka next month to take stock of the situation. According to a report in the Sunday Times, more..

Apr 26 (CT) Govt is mooting new laws to monitor funds received by local NGOs. At his regular breakfast meeting with newspaper editors on Thursday, responding to a question by a newspaper editor, President revealed plans to formulate the new law. He said under the laws that existed before 1977, NGOs were obliged to reveal the origins of their funds and how they were spent. Pre-1977 era, however, does not deserve glorification. It was a period that the once promising economy of more..

Apr 26 (CT) Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo is using �gProhibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act of 1998�� to silence student dissent against arbitrary administrative action, says the Students for Human Rights. Issuing a statement on the recent student suspension the Students for Human Rights said today; �gThis also brings into open, the real repressive quality of the laws more..

Apr 26 (KT) The police are investigating whether there was any criminal act behind his fall and questioning some persons who had connections with the deceased. Police are investigating the death of a 30-year-old Sri Lankan national on Thursday evening after he fell from the 24th floor of Al Mansoor Building near Lulu Hypermarket in Al Nahda area. The police said they received a call from a passer-by in Al Nahda residential area about a person lying on the ground. more..

Apr 26 (CG) Investigations into a man arrested over human smuggling has revealed that he had sent over 500 people by boat overseas. SSP Ajith Rohana said that the 35 year old man, a resident of Mullaitivu, had been arrested in Vavuniya earlier this month. Investigations had now revealed his modus operandi and it has also been found that he has sent a group of people recently to the Andaman Islands. Relatives of several people sent by boat overseas by the suspect had lodged complaints stating more..

Apr 26 (CG) Maldives today assured Sri Lanka its fullest support in the international arena, President Rajapaksa’s office said. Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon gave the assurance when she called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees today. The discussion focused on a number of matters of mutual interest including education and further strengthening bilateral relations. more..

Apr 26 (IC) Dinesh Chandimal departed for Bangladesh in March as the leader of the national cricket team. The 24-year-old arrived at the World Twenty20 tournament with hopes of captaining Sri Lanka to a World Cup win, but returned to the island in April as a discard, with no place for him in the playing XI and stripped of captaincy. Chandimal won't be overjoyed at what took place, and it won't do any good to his confidence either, no matter how happy he looks on your TV screens. more..

Apr 26 (CT) Former UNP Provincial Councillor and lawyer, Shiral Lakthilaka, said a new agitation campaign would be launched against Party Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the Leadership Council under the theme, 'No more patience – Bring about change'. He said although three weeks have passed since the holding of the Western and Southern Provincial Council elections, the Leadership Council has taken no steps to announce its new strategy as pledged by Party Chairman, Kabir Hashim. more..