June 12 (CG) Bolivia is to recognize President Mahinda Rajapaksa for for his contribution to peace and democracy, the El Mundo newspaper in Bolivia reported. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be in Bolivia to participate at the Group of 77 summit which will be attended by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon. The El Mundo newspaper report said that Bolivian President Evo Morales will present the “Parliamentary Order of Merit” to the UN Chief and President Rajapaksa. more..

June 12 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka is expected to post the strongest economic growth in South Asia in 2014, hitting 7.2%, according to a Word Bank's latest report on Thursday. According to the report, Sri Lanka's annual growth is forecast to remain broadly stable at 7.2% in 2014, and over time, to moderate to about 6.9% in 2015 and 6.7% in 2016, slightly higher than estimates of medium-term potential growth for the country. more..

June 12 (AD) Police shot my friend at point blank and asked me to say that we did not stop when ordered, the friend of the Motorcyclist who was shot dead last night said. Sachin Chathuranga (18) claimed that he was riding on the backseat of the motorcycle and that his friend stopped the motorcycle when ordered by police. Once the motorcycle was stopped the policemen shot my friend, he added. There were around five policemen at the scene and they were drunk, more..

June 12 (SM) Sri Lanka Cricket has paid Rs. 3.36 million as legal fees to the legal consultancy firm owned by MP Namal Rajapaksa for preparing the agreement to award the telecasting rights for the next six years to India’s Taj Television, BBC Sandeshaya reports. CEO Ashley de Silva and advertising chief Vajira Dissanayake had recommended on February 17 to the executive committee of SLC that Gowers International (NR Associates) should be paid the sum. more..

June 12 (AJ) The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has appointed a controversial figure from the human right commission office to coordinate investigations into allegations of atrocities and mass killings in the final stages of Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war. Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the OHCHR, told Al Jazeera via email that Beidas would coordinate the Investigation Team. more..

June 13 (CT) Bougainville (B) Region comprises two large Islands of B and Buka, in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Archipelago. B is rich in copper and a mine was opened in 1969 in Panguna located in the central area. In 1972 a measure of autonomy was given to B. However in 1975 when a Constitution Planning Committee toured the country seeking views, B conveyed its demand for secession. Copper promised wealth to a resource poor B, but when mining commenced PNG’s relationship was exploitative. more..

June 13 (CT) Long awaited or speculated UNHRC investigation on war crimes and human rights violations is now on. It may be too early, or too late. It may be too sensitive or even counterproductive in a sense to the cause of reconciliation in the immediate future. But it is something that the govt cannot simply reject or ignore. It’s a UN investigation. The govt had every ‘right’ to oppose the UNHRC resolution last March, however mistaken the reasons or the claims must have been. But when the resolution was carried, more..

June 13 (SL) The appointment of committees to resolve problems which defy resolution is standard practice of govts around the world. When the public takes to the street demanding immediate resolution, paralyse govt activity, and cause severe problems, responsible bureaucrats and responsible politicians have an instant solution: Appoint a high- powered committee. Whether they can resolve the issue is immaterial. more..

June 13 (Island) Newly elected Indian PM Narendra Modi has won plaudits for appointing a small Cabinet to run the largest democracy in the world. That progressive measure is expected to help India save billions of rupees per annum. Some of his ministers, upon receiving their plum posts, may have thought it was party time after a lapse of many years, but they must now be disillusioned and disappointed. They might think, before long, they made a mistake by accepting ministerial more..

June 13 (CT) Father of the Nation and then UNP Leader, Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake, addressing the inaugural UNP meeting held on Friday 6 September 1946 at 5 p.m. at Palm Court, Albert Crescent, Colombo appealed for goodwill, mutual trust and understanding among all members of the Party to make the UNP a strong political force to mould the future destinies of the people. This meeting was convened by Sir John Kotelawala at which S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, J.R. Jayewardene and more..

June 13 (CT) Deputy Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, Hemal Gunasekara, who, among other charges, is also accused of being behind the attack on and forcing a policeman to kneel down, for booking his driver who had committed a traffic offence recently, in an interview with Mawbima, denied the allegations and promised a comprehensive interview once the report in question, in relation to these charges, is out. more..

June 13 (GV) A basic reason for the inability of the anti-Governmental forces, political and civil society, Oppositional and dissentient, to compete with the regime, still less supplant it, is the sheer inability to think straight. While it may be argued that the regime does not do so either, that chronic lapse is far more manifest in the interrelated realms of external and ethnic affairs, and much less so in the electoral heartland, the Sinhala majority areas. It must also be remembered that more..

June 13 (SL) Responding to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s comment on President Rajapaksa’s maiden meeting with India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Minister G.L. Peiris has told Parliament: “We made it crystal clear that devolution of police powers is not acceptable. We want to find a solution that will stand the test of time.” According to media reports, Prof. Peiris, who participated in the bilateral talks that followed PM Modi’s inauguration, also said that more..

June 13 (Hindu) More than six months after the historic elections to NPC, its first Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran says has not been able to do much, for his hands are tied. From a reluctant entrant to Sri Lankan politics to Chief Minister who won a massive mandate in the elections, it has been quite a journey for the former judge of the Supreme Court. Reflecting on developments post elections, he says heavy militarisation across has made more..

June 13 (GDI) A newly launching satellite transmitted television channel of Sri Lanka “Thinetha TV” has launched their official website www.thinetha.tv last Wednsday at the Ministry of Mass media & information. Ministry secretary Dr. Charitha Herath, Director General of Department of Information Prof. Ariyarathne Athugala and Director of Department of Information Wasanthapriya Ramanayake graced this occasion as chief guests. Launching the website Mr Rohan Weliwita, more..

June 13 (Island) Erik Solheim, the Norwegian peace facilitator, has stated that he will go before the war crimes inquiry on Sri Lanka initiated by the UNHRC and give testimony as to how many people were killed in Sri Lanka. In his recent statements, he argues that the war could have been solved through peace talks without military action he has claimed "We were very close to peace in Sri Lanka". These statements by a senior minister of the Norwegian govt, deeply involved in more..

June 13 (FT) After months of stony silence on the subject, President Mahinda Rajapaksa finally addressed the question of a controversial UN investigation his Govt will be facing during a function in Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa on Tuesday. And he passed the buck. It will be Parliament that will be the final decider on Sri Lanka’s cooperation with the UN investigators, President Rajapaksa said, since it was in more..

June 13 (ST) Sri Lankan property sector has experienced “significant” growth since 2009. This is a result of improvements in infrastructure, along with investors having come back, according to Wilhelm Hammes, Managing Director of Lamudi Sri Lanka (lamudi.lk), an onlne real estate portal that boasts 340,000 listings worldwide. Lamudi announced in a media release this week that it was expanding into Asia and, as a consequence, launched operations in Sri Lanka recently. more..

June 13 (FT) In her farewell address to the UNHRC, Madam Navi Pillay drew attention to the need for healing the wounds of Sri Lanka’s civil war, which she rightly noted, had yet to be done. To this intent and purpose she commended cooperation by the Govt of Sri Lanka with the comprehensive international inquiry that her office has undertaken. What is bitterly ironic is that the healing of wounds cannot take place by means of a lacerating external inquiry or even an overly extensive more..

June 13 (CI) At the tail-end of 2012, Sri Lanka's last marquee Test became one of their lowest points in their professional era. On a springy but manageable Melbourne deck, the batsmen collapsed twice, fielders shelled simple chances, and bowlers surrendered easy runs. At the end of the debacle, Sri Lanka's coach spoke of how the team had perhaps imploded under the pressure they had loaded on themselves. more..

June 13 (CT) Deputy Minister of Education Mohan Lal Grero said that employment based vocational training was a pressing need, and that the current 'examination based' education system did not cater to the practical skills and needs required by the job market. He was speaking at a media briefing recently, which preceded the launch of the International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) which will be held in Colombo from 15 to 18 July more..

June 13 (Island) Eleven new Nenasalas will be set up in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts on June 14 says the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA). According to ICTA these Nenasalas (wisdom outlets) are set up under the '1000 Nenasala' progrmme implemented on a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for empowering the rural community via information and communication technology. These Nenasalas are equipped with modern ICT facilities including internet. more..

June 13 (CI) Joe Root accepted the opportunity to put a disrupting Ashes series behind him by marking the onset of England's Test summer with a third hundred once again replete with promise. It was a polished affair against a Sri Lanka attack that initially prospered after inserting England, claiming four wickets for 120, but which found the going increasingly arduous as the first day progressed. As a tinge of green disappeared from the pitch more..

June 13 (FT) Business leader and major shareholder Dhammika Perera has assumed a new role as Co-Chairman in Hayleys, in addition to three other firms under his control. Previously Dhammika was Deputy Chairman at Hayleys, with Mohan Pandithage as Chairman and Chief Executive. The new designation of Co-Chairman will be non-executive. Dhammika directly controls a 46% stake in Hayleys. Dhammika will also be Co-Chairman at Lanka Tiles and Lanka Ceramics, more..

June 13 (MW) Viper Networks, an intelligent LED lighting solutions provider, is pleased to announce that the Company has received their first order of LED lights on behalf of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for one of the country's sea harbor ports. This initial order represents the commencement of LED light manufacturing in partnership with Apollo Metro Solutions for delivery to one of Sri Lanka's 29 established or newly constructed harbors. more..

June 13 (DN) Nawaloka Holdings entered a new journey into sphere of higher education with a maiden partnership with Swinburne University. The newly launched Nawaloka College of Higher Studies (NCHS) began a strong chapter in higher education with the inking of an MoU with one of Australia's most prestigious universities, Swinburne University. Victor Rajeevan, CEO NCHS said the US$ one million campus would be more..

June 13 (FT) Sierra Cables (SIRA) is awaiting the completion of a forensic audit to recent discovery of Rs. 172 million difference in inventories. In a fresh filing SIRA said further to the announcement made by the Board relating to certain matters affecting the authenticity of its financial statements, its auditors were mandated to conduct a review. A preliminary report from the Auditors covering the difference in the work in progress balance between the general ledger and the valuation carried out by more..

June 13 (Island) Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera has further consolidated his position with a brilliant presentation in Tokyo early this week in spite of NFF leader, Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s repeated attacks on him in public. This was in the wake of President Rajapaksa declaring in Colombo that those who feared to criticise his role as the Finance Minister were turning their guns on the Treasury Chief. Dr. Jayasundera had addressed 18th joint committee meeting more..

June 13 (CT) Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon has allegedly written to UNESCO, requesting the new, gold emblazoned Buddha statue at the Rangiri Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya (Golden Temple), be removed. The Golden Temple and the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple (Rangiri Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Asgiriya Chapter said the minister's motive for seeking more..

June 13 (Hindu) 51 fishermen, including 46 fishermen arrested in two separate incidents on Saturday and Sunday and set free by the Mannar Court, arrived here on Thursday after they were repatriated by Mandapam station of Indian Coast Guard (ICG). ICG vessel Rajkamal received the fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy at the IMBL around noon and brought them to the fishing jetty with one boat, which strayed into the Lankan waters after developing a technical snag. more..

June 13 (Island) ‘Etisalat Lanka has become the first mobile operator in Sri Lanka to be certified by the GSMA, for High Definition Voice (HD Voice). ‘This accreditation means Etisalat Lanka is now among the twenty six international mobile operators to meet the internationally recognized criteria pertaining to noise cancellation, voice clarity and multiple technical features. Etisalat Lanka is also the only mobile operator to be included in the GSMA's HD Voice Ecosystem. more..

June 13 (FT) Global giant American International Group (AIG) is closing business in Sri Lanka, with staff and insurance regulator informed of preliminary measures verbally. “As AIG continues to streamline and simplify as an organisation, we have been closely examining those business segments within those countries in which products and services are not meeting the needs of our customers or are not a current focus of AIG more..

June 13 (DM) A Sri Lankan expatriate swindled a Kuwaiti citizen of KD 350 and disappeared after promising to bring a housemaid from his country within 25 days. According to security sources, the Kuwaiti citizen lodged a complaint at South Surra Police Station, stating that the suspect had taken the money from him after promising to bring a housemaid from Sri Lanka within 25 days. However, when the Kuwaiti citizen tried to contact him after the specified period, more..

June 13 (GDI) A religious ceremony was held to place the Sacred Relics within the Dome of the Sandahiru Seya – The Victory Stupa – under the patronage of President Rajapaksa in Anuradhapura on Wednesday. Govt planned to erect nine monumental Stupas in each province of the country in appreciation of the noble service rendered by the armed forces and Police to defeat terrorism and bring lasting peace to the country. As the first phase of the project, construction of the first Stupa more..

June 13 (Island) The report of the ten member UNP parliamentary fact finding mission that visited the Norchcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) on a fact finding mission on May 28, is to be presented to party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Leadership Council on Sunday. Eran Wickremeratne MP, who was part of the UNP team of legislators who visited the NCPP said that the report was in the final stages of being drafted more..

June 13 (Island) Most Rev. Dr. Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka, made an official visit to the National Seminary Ampitiya and called on good will visits to the two Chief Buddhist Maha Nayakas in Kandy. Bishop of Kandy Vianney Fernando accompanied the Apostolic Nuncio to meet Ven. Udagama Sri Buddharakkitha, Maha Nayaka of the Asgiriya and Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Maha Nayake of the Malwatte Chapter. more..

June 13 (AN) The Saudi Arabian Toastmasters Annual Conference (SATAC) 2014 was held in Riyadh recently. Event also featured the Gaveliers’ International Speech Contest in which Adnan Niyas, a 10th grader at Jeddah’s Sri Lankan International School bagged the first prize. “The main objective of including a Gaveliers’ competition at SATAC 2014 was to enhance and promote the public speaking talents of youngsters for school gavel clubs,” said Mohan Kumar, member of SATAC. more..

June 13 (IL) ”In contrast to the considerable challenges in the humanitarian crises that continue to engulf many parts of the world today, Sri Lanka’s achievements particularly following the ending of the terrorist conflict, provides confidence and hope that even the most severe and insurmountable humanitarian crisis can be overcome, with political commitment.” Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha made more..

June 13 (TOI) The new govt may have spared no time to announce its big plans and revival of projects undertaken during the last NDA regime but it is in no hurry to take a call on the sensitive Sethusamudram project. Sources said shipping minister Nitin Gadkari is likely to go through a detailed presentation on the status of the controversial project in the next two weeks before taking a decision. "We have kept the presentation ready. It's up to the new govt to take a call on the recommendation of more..

June 13 (CT) Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is on a recruitment drive and has announced that 5,000 vacancies are available in the 5 infantry regiments, in addition to other posts. Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera, said in terms of professional vocations, vacancies exist for 35 pharmacists and 50 nursing staff. They are expected to receive a basic monthly salary of Rs 46,000 each. Males and females may apply. In addition, 4,000 are to be recruited to work in city development projects. more..