July 9 (CT) Union Govt of India has said it again: “NO INDIAN FISHING IN KATCHATHEEVU” (Daily News- 4-7-2014). There is song and dance on this report sent by Delhi to Chennai High Court, because it appears to be paving way for a diplomatic victory for Sri Lanka. This was reiteration of what the Chief Secretary of TN Govt declared in 2012, when The Hindu was orchestrating the Tamil Nadu Govt’s contradictory aspirations. I wrote in Sunday Times (19-2-2012) in support of the statement by more..

July 9 (CT) Ernesto Che Guevara famously autographed a copy of his slim volume ‘Guerrilla Warfare’ to Salvador Allende with the line, “to Companero Allende who is trying to reach the same destination through a different path”. When the tiny band of survivors of Che’s guerrilla column in Bolivia made it across the border, it was Salvador Allende who was there to receive them. Juan Somavia was a comrade-in-arms of Salvador Allende. Having been an academic at Catholic Uni. of Chile, more..

July 9 (SL) Many have observed that the domestic process of investigating alleged human rights violation of the country is rather sporadic; it lacks accountability and has made no progress. Meantime, some have been blaming the UNP for not managing the situation in 1983 during the UNP regime paving way for big scale human rights violations – therefore the UN investigation should be called from the time of the UNP regime. more..

July 9 (SL) Reluctant as he may have sounded, Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe may have taken a first small step for the Sri Lankan nation and the people to leave the past behind, and move forward as a people wanting to move forward and together, with guilt and remorse, not hatred and anger. Together with a political solution to the vexatious ethnic issue, a national gesture of the kind could go a long way in assuaging the ill-feelings that SL cannot take with it wherever it goes. more..

July 9 (SL) Government members and President Mahinda Rajapaksa no less, have seen a conspiracy in the anti Muslim riots that took place last month in Aluthgama. The damaging view has gone abroad that Sinhalese have rioted against Muslims. The short reports in the international media do not convey the full picture of what happened. This has created an incorrect impression abroad of a Sinhalese-Muslim polarisation. Aluthgama was the exception, not the norm. more..

July 9 (FT) Recognising the urgent need of ‘Actuary’ professionals demanded by the global and local financial industry, the University of Colombo has taken the initiative to offer an MSc in Actuarial Science for the first time in Sri Lanka. A 2010 survey ranked actuary as the No. 1 highest paid job in the USA. This trend is now developing in other parts of the world. This initiative is taken to ensure that Sri Lanka is not left behind, but more..

July 9 (NS) Beedi can be identified as the cheapest smoking tobacco product in Sri Lanka and its minimum price is Rs.2 and its maximum price is Rs.3.50. The cheapest cigarettes type is Rs.10 and its maximum price is Rs.34. Although beedi is the cheapest form of tobacco smoking, 97% of the total tobacco smokers are smoking cigarettes in Sri Lanka. In the world context, 96% of the tobacco smokers are cigarette smokers. Majority of the beedi consumers are consuming cigarettes but more..

July 9 (NS) It has been clear for some time now that the positions adopted by the present regime and the UNP on the issue of accountability are somewhat similar in their ultimate effect; for fundamentally, the UNP does not critique the armed forces. We know that it is only a critique of the armed forces, or greater suspicion of its actions, that could bring some dissimilarity between the positions adopted by the regime and the UNP. Until that happens, the task of any mainstream party more..

July 9 (CI) If there has been a theme to Angelo Mathews' captaincy so far, it has been stability. Mathews has largely called on the same pool of players across the two formats he captains. He has been generous with young players, affording them time to bed in at the top level. Bowlers have adhered to proven formula. Batsmen have followed plans rigorously. If the past 6 months is anything to go by, it's an approach that brought results. more..

July 9 (CI) There's not much that Dale Steyn gets whimsical about but the green hills and the cool mountain air of Kandy was enough bring out his softer side. "Gotta say this place is majestic! So beautiful! Blessed to see this part of the world!" Steyn tweeted. South Africa's angry man has never played in Pallekele before, which Sri Lanka would hope works to their advantage in what is a must-win match for the hosts. South Africa have fond memories of Pallekele, though, because it is more..

July 9 (CI) SLC will have floodlights on standby for the third ODI in Hambantota on Saturday, after the cricket had been affected by fading light during the first ODI. Angelo Mathews had said Sri Lanka had slightly altered their approach as gloom set in in Colombo, with the Premadasa Stadium floodlights out of action for that match. SLC and Cricket South Africa had agreed not to use floodlights for day matches in the MoU for this series, but have agreed to reverse that stance more..

July 9 (CI) Though the fading Colombo light helped hasten Sri Lanka's demise in the first ODI, dropped catches and panicked batting marked their road to defeat. As the teams move to the outstations, the hosts must put their game in order or risk being left in the dark in a series they are expected to win. Of most concern is Sri Lanka's middle order. Thirimanne is still in the grip of the vice-captains' curse, having not more..

July 9 (Island) UNP MP Palitha Thevarapperuma vowed to resign from his parliamentary seat the other day, claiming that his call for the IGP’s resignation over police inaction during Aluthgama violence last month had fallen on deaf ears. The MP was injured while trying to save a group of victims in full view of a large number of police personnel who, he has said, did nothing to prevent the mob attack. Politicians usually don’t resign. They cling on to their positions like limpets until they drop dead. more..

July 9 (Island) Whether the Deputy President of South Africa is touring Sri Lanka as a visitor, diplomat trying to solve the ‘ethnic’ problem in Sri Lanka a la South Africa or enjoying a few matches between the South African and Sri Lankan cricket teams, the average Sinhala person is not bothered by his presence. The average Sinhala person would not write to the press even in Sinhala and is not influenced by what the so called educated, meaning of course western educated, more..

July 9 (FT) Opposition Lawmaker Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday successfully prevented the Govt from levying another tax on the unsuspecting consumers. The proposed tax, which was scheduled to apply from 1 August, was to come in the form of a security sticker pasted on almost all consumer items spanning from shampoo sachets to electrical switches, thereby increasing prices by a minimum of Rs. 4. more..

July 9 (Island) Drawing an analogy between cricket and listed entities, Nehal Vora, Chief Regulatory Officer, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) observed that the role of an Independent Director in the corporate structure is similar to that of a Third Umpire. He said so while speaking at the symposium held at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, on the ‘Role of Independent Directors’, jointly organized by the SEC and the CSE. "If we compare a listed entity with cricket which is widely more..

July 9 (CT) Many large fund managers are not attracted to the country's capital market due to its small size and low liquidity with poor governance being a major concern, an official of a global fund management firm said. Some of the leading fund managers in the world are not that interested in some emerging markets in Asia, including Sri Lanka, not only due to low liquidity and stake available in local corporate, but also because of governance issues such as the prevalence of heavy more..

July 9 (GDI) Attention of the outside world has been drawn to our country's achievements like the construction of the massive road network, new harbours and airports. Therefore while being proud of our achievements, we should be ready to identify the strength of the country, said President Rajapaksa. He was speaking at a ceremony held to grant letters of appointment to 538 Graduates of the NSB and more..

July 9 (TD) Sri Lanka has once again come under the scrutiny of the United Nations (UN), this time on the issue of violence against the Muslim minority in the country. The violence was said to be committed by a Sinhalese Buddhist organization, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Power Force. The BBS was reported to have indulged in violence against Muslims in the southwestern parts of Sri Lanka, leading to the destruction of property and the death of three individuals. more..

July 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka wants to move beyond being a frontier market into emerging status where investor confidence is important, SEC chairman Nalaka Godahewa said. "We like to see our market being upgraded from frontier market status to emerging market status at the earliest possible date," Godahewa told a forum organized to explain the role of independent directors. "We like to see more companies identifying the capital market as a channel to raise funds to support their more..

July 9 (Island) BBS demanded that the govt ban the National Shoora Council (NSC), which also went as the National Consultative Council. Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera said that NSC was a part of an administrative structure of Muslim countries, but it was not so here. He said that some Muslim countries called their Parliament the NSC or part of the House in some others. "Issuing a statement to media, NSC more..

July 9 (FT) A top global asset management firm yesterday expressed willingness to set foot in Sri Lanka, provided that companies meet its required minimum investment value. The US-based The Carlyle Group, which specialises in private equity, pointed out it will enter the Sri Lankan market if companies are capable of fulfilling its criteria. “We would like to invest in Sri Lanka. It is not that we have shied away from it. It’s just that we have criteria to fulfil from our side. more..

July 9 (Guardian) The direct return of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to the Sri Lankan navy signals the Australian govt’s willingness to plumb new moral depths in its obsession with stopping the boats, regardless of the human cost. These actions expose the individuals involved to significant risks of serious harm, including torture. Sri Lanka is a refugee-producing country. Historically, 90% of Sri Lankan asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia have been found to be refugees. more..

July 9 (Guardian) Former foreign affairs minister Bob Carr has dismissed concerns about returning asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, and said allegations of mistreatment were “urban mythology”. Carr said while he was minister, the Australian high commission in Sri Lanka repeatedly said there was no evidence of mistreatment of those who were returning. He said the high commission in Sri Lanka had tried more..

July 9 (Island) Disrupt Unlimited, the Apparel Start-up Seed Accelerator funded by Brandix, and the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC) have entered into an agreement to establish a partnership to promote innovation in Sri Lanka and enhance opportunities in the fields of Textile, Apparel and Accessories. A MoU entered into recently by the two organisations envisages that SLIC through its regular programmes will identify inventors with potential to commercialise more..

July 9 (LBO) Sharhan Muhseen a Sri Lanka born investment banker, has been appointed Head of Financial Institutions for Southeast Asia, Credit Suisse, a Zurich based financial group. "We are delighted to have Sharhan joining us at Credit Suisse," Michael Tan, Head of Financial Institutions Group (FIG) Coverage for Asia Pacific said. "With his deep expertise, knowledge and client relationships in the Southeast Asia banks and insurance sector, it will enhance more..

July 9 (Island) Minister Rauff Hakeem told Parliament that all police officers present in Alutgama during the recent ethnic violence had surrendered their weapons to the CCD investigating the incidents to prove that shots had not been fired from their weapons. The minister, responding to a series of questions raised by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, said that ten empty shells had been found by the crime scene investigating more..

July 9 (DN) The first batch of migrant workers selected under the MoU signed between the govts of Italy and Sri Lanka left the island yesterday. The first batch included eight females as attendants. The air tickets were presented to them by Minister Dilan Perera at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. Minister speaking at the occasion said 77 Sri Lankans have been selected for employment in Italy through an exam conducted by the Italian govt based on this MoU. more..

July 9 (Island) Govt had got caught in a diplomatic trap by inviting South Africa Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa to Sri Lanka, the JVP said. South Africa and India abstained from voting for the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC recently, but now South Africa was involved in the country’s internal matters, JVP MP Vijitha Herath said. JVP was against any country getting involved in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, but the govt had asked for SA’s involvement. more..

July 9 (CG) President of the US Barack Obama has nominated US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J Sison, as the Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and Deputy Representative of the US in the Security Council of the UN. White House said that the nomination of the Sison to the UN post is among nominations Obama has made to some key administration posts. more..

July 9 (AN) Sri Lankan ambassador to the Kingdom Vadivel Krishnamoorthy has allayed fears of the Sri Lankan Muslim expatriate community amid growing concerns about the anti-Muslim campaign on the island saying that Islamic traditions are well respected in the South Asian country. His remarks came at an iftar party held recently for Sri Lankan expatriates in the Kingdom. The Sri Lanka Muslim community in the Kingdom raised concerns when violence broke out in Sri Lanka on June 15 more..

July 9 (FT) The first-ever bilateral trade meet between Sri Lanka and a key member of the upcoming Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) starts today in Colombo. “Our newest trade effort with Belarus strengthens the historic relations and more importantly, gives us direct access to the world’s newest single economic market,” said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. Bathiudeen was in discussions with his officials on the first-ever Sri Lanka-Belarus Joint Commission on Trade & Economic more..

July 9 (TA) Abbott govt has no intention of sending 153 asylum- seekers at the centre of a High Court challenge to Sri Lanka where Tamil refugees claim they face persecution, as fresh doubts surfaced over the route of their voyage and the identities of those on board. After weeks of denying the boat’s existence, lawyers for the govt yesterday revealed the group was being held on a ­Customs boat after it was intercepted outside more..

July 9 (Island) The Homagama Magistrate yesterday ordered the driver of Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera to appear in court on September 23, after the police had filed two charges against him. The driver has been charged with using a vehicle with a false number plate and not heeding police orders to stop at a certain location on the Southern Expressway on May 20.It all began when police constable Suminda Saman, who stopped the deputy minister’s vehicle on that day, more..

July 9 (CG) The US says it is concerned by reports that the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense has ordered registered NGOs and civil society groups to cease their media engagements and activities. US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said the order undermines Sri Lanka’s longstanding and proud democratic traditions, including freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. “We strongly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to allow civil society organizations and NGOs, which play more..

July 9 (CT) Leader of the TNA, R. Sampanthan, told South African Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa, there were several humanitarian issues to be addressed before the beginning of a healthy process to reach a political settlement in Sri Lanka. Sampanthan’s TNA delegation met Ramaphosa’s delegation over breakfast at the Taj Samudra yesterday. The meeting commenced at 7.15 a.m. and ended an hour later. more..

July 9 (DM) With billions of people watching the FIFA World Cup matches and the final on Sunday, it is a good time to reflect on the noble vision of sport and the heart of a champion or champions. Sport in essence brings about unity in diversity because there is little or no discrimination based on race or religion, caste or colour though at times there have been aberrations like the recent apartheid era when coloured players were banned, and South Africa itself was thrown out of international sport till more..

July 9 (CT) The low simmer the FUTA has been in for the past several months appears to be reaching an explosive point, if the forthcoming ultimatum is anything to go by. Tuesday's issue of this newspaper reported that the dons have had enough and would issue an ultimatum to the Ministry of Higher Education to respond favourably to their demands by Friday, or else... The 'or else' doesn't leave much for conjecture. FUTA has resorted to industrial action before, for 100 days in fact, more..

July 9 (DM) This missive or column, whatever you may call it, is intended for all those who claim to represent the broad masses of the land: Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and all others. In the context of political parties, it is directed at the UNP, DP, JVP, SLFP (CBK wing), SLMC, TNA and any other political entity identified with resistance to ‘Familiocracy’, nepotism, corruption, racism, religious disharmony, financial bungling, more..

July 9 (GDI) With the end of conflict in 2009, the country has seen an unprecedented development that had transformed the country into what it is today. The transformation is more evident in Colombo, than anywhere else. This development is stimulating economy and raising developmental creativity. The UDA is leading the city's development drive that has seen Colombo blossoming into a clean, green and people friendly city. more..