May 20 (Island) The Joint Opposition plan for a one-day strike, to pressure the govt to do away with the new electricity pricing formula, has suffered a major setback due to the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), affiliated to the UNP, not throwing its weight behind the campaign. Well informed sources said that a meeting held at JSS headquarters on May 14, had ended inconclusively, though various options were discussed. more..

May 20 (Island) Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge yesterday said that the proposed major strike scheduled for May 21 will turnout to be a damp squib. He said that a majority of workers would report to work. "Only those affiliated to the bankrupt JVP would take part in the strike, he said. However, JVP trade union leader K.D. Lal Kantha was confident that the strike would be a success. He said that the majority of the workers would participate in the strike in the face of obstacles more..

May 20 (DN) The route permits of private buses supporting the strike action scheduled to take place from midnight yesterday will be cancelled, National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman Roshan Gunawardene said. He said this strike action is a ‘conspiracy created by several elements, political parties and various national and international organizations against the govt trying to topple the govt. He said the strike action will not be a success since all inter provincial long distance more..

May 20 (LB) Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya has criticized the foreign representatives expressing different opinions about maintaining army camps in the North. The Army Commander has noted that there are only three Army camps in the Jaffna peninsula at present, although there were sixteen army camps at the end of the war in May 2009. He has said that, as the Army Commander he is well aware of more..

May 20 (Hindu) Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy on Sunday welcomed the Tamil Nadu govt’s denial of permission for a public meeting by the Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam (NTI), which had invited the Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik, in Cuddalore on Saturday. The Minister said the NTI chief, Seeman, was openly supporting the banned LTTE, eulogising the LTTE, along with Mr. Malik was unacceptable. more..

May 20 (PTI) DMK president M Karunanidhi disapproved of govt action of banning a pro-Tamil Eelam public meeting at Cuddalore besides clamping prohibitory orders preventing Dalit-based outfit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan from attending events in Villupuram district. "I have already issued statement against government rules and orders banning (meetings) and (persons') entry into districts," he said in an apparent reference to his criticism of more..

May 20 (DN) The strike action planned for the 21st by certain trade unions is also joined by NGOs that have been heavily funded by foreign organizations including those of the Tamil dispora to sabotage the govt on the pretext of cost of living and electricity tariff hike issues, our sources say. The TNA which operates with several well-known NGOs is part of the strike action – and so is the Bar Association of Sri Lanka which was more..

May 20 (CT) The Standing Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Rule of Law, at its meeting on 10 May, decided to express its concern on the appointment of a commission regarding the unearthing of the mass grave in Matale, when in fact what is necessary is to proceed under the normal law of the country. Commissions of Inquiry have throughout our history been a modus adopted to sweep an issue under the carpet. It is noted that the police has not yet taken even the most more..

May 20 (Island) Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon had, on Saturday, fired a few gun shots in the air and abused a group of protesters who had launched an agitation at Kerawa junction, Karandeniya against govt’s failure to repair a dilapidated road. The protesters said that they had been compelled to stage a public protest as the govt had failed to attend to the repairs of the badly damaged road despite repeated appeals. UPFA Chief organiser for Bentara-Elpitiya Geetha Kumarasinghe, more..

May 20 (DM) Former Colombo Deputy Mayor Azath Salley who shot to fame as a result of his arrest, said President Rajapaksa was the ideal person to bring about proper peace and reconciliation. Salley said that President’s own family comprised members of different religions and ethnic groups who lived peacefully. Therefore he said it would be easy for the President to establish peace in the country in the same way he had more..

May 20 (CT) "If I start a project, it does not go wrong nor does it stall in the process. I will endeavour to complete the construction of the car park near the Uda Maluwa Sri Maha Bodhiya (East Tower) before the next Poson Poya and offer it to Saasana," Minister Mervyn Silva said, when he met the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura. Minister Silva went to inspect the site of the construction on the instructions of the President. Work in this regard had commenced more..

May 20 (GDI) The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka in a bid to reach the World Health Organization's interim target by managing the ambient air quality of Sri Lanka has implemented an integrated air quality management project, 'Blue Sky 2020', to minimize emission of greenhouse gases and resulting adverse climatic changes. CEA Chairman Charitha Herath said special attention was given to environmetal conservation under the Mahinda Chinthana and improving more..

May 20 (Island) UNP MP Sajith Premadasa says instead of acquiring a brand new fleet of super luxury vehicles for the use of the CHOGM 2013, the govt should obtain them from those who owned such vehicles for the duration of the summit. MP Premadasa said that the govt shouldn’t be embarrassed to take every possible measure to limit summit expenditure scheduled to be held from Nov. 15 to 17. more..

May 20 (CT) Police had received many complaints from the public, following the arrest of the fraudster who had swindled money from businessmen to the tune of more than Rs 150 million through ATM cards. Numerous complaints against the fraudster had been received from areas such as Kuliyapitiya, Gurudeniya, Anamaduwa, Wellawaya, Matara, Ratnapura, Chilaw and Colombo. An official of the FIB said two special teams had been sent to the areas to conduct investigations, more..

May 20 (FT) The colourful side of the sunny island was conveyed to the population of the fourth largest city in India and the nation’s financial hub, Mumbai over the weekend, with the latest campaign by Sri Lanka Tourism urging the populace to ‘Get Srilankan’ed’ by getting ‘lucky, groovy, stuffed, lazy, pampered, wild, exploring and climbing’. Following in the footsteps of the successful mega campaign in Bangalore in February this year, the Mumbai promotion, part of a series of campaigns more..

May 20 (IL) Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has said, "strong political will is needed to finalize the process of considering, revising, and ultimately endorsing the draft Right to Development criteria and operational sub-criteria, towards the elaboration of a coherent set of standards on this intrinsic right". Addressing the 14th session of the U.N Open-ended more..

May 20 (DN) The Joint Council of Trade Unions (JCTU) yesterday in a message stressed that elements who lost at the Geneva Human Rights drama have come out with another conspiracy on their agenda to be played on May 21. “The historical nexus: elephant/Tiger and NGOs have united to carry out the agenda being drafted by anti – Sri Lankan elements operating locally and internationally,” it pointed out. JCTU Convenor, Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana more..

May 20 (Island) Although the provincial council system had not yielded the intended results, it was not the time to criticize it in view of a PC election on the horizon, observed the most Venerable Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte, Tibbatuwa Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, when Minister Dinesh Gunawardena called on him yesterday. The prelate added that a campaign against the PC system would be a topic for Geneva. Minister paid a customary courtesy call on the prelate to mark more..

May 20 (Island) The engine of economic growth, the private sector, saw credit from the domestic banking system pick up in March, but the state borrowed more than two and half times as much from the domestic banking system, raising concerns about the crowding out effect, while govt borrowings from the monetary authority also grew for the first time this year, latest data released by the Central Bank showed. more..

May 20 (Island) For 17-year-old Lisha, it was a dream come true. The class XII student, who is undergoing treatment for Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), could not believe that two of her favourite cricketers Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene had come to meet her in Delhi. Lisha, who hails from a small village in Meerut, is undergoing chemo-therapy at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj in east Delhi. She was pleasantly surprised when the two Delhi players more..

May 20 (Island) Constitutional proposals are apparently ten a penny in this country. Presented from time to time they end up as mere political ephemera and we have been left with a seriously flawed constitution which has more amendments than the original text and easily lends itself to misinterpretation and thereby abuse. Its architect, the late President J.R. Jayewardene, wanted it that way and his predecessors have faithfully retained it, relishing as they do its draconian powers more..

May 20 (CT) When the tropical storm that developed in the Bay of Bengal last week passed close to Sri Lanka, near its north-eastern coast, it left behind a trail of destruction. With eight dead, several reported missing, a number of people injured and some 3,000 rendered homeless with countless damage to properties, one might think the devastation would have been cause for immense concern for the authorities. It was not to be. more..

May 20 (Island) The IMF says the govt’s methodology for deriving the country’s GDP was unsatisfactory. Authorities have forecasted a GDP growth rate of 7.5% this year. However, the IMF has more conservative 6.3% estimate. "The methodology for deriving GDP at constant prices is not satisfactory. Expenditure estimates are available only annually and rely mostly on commodity flow techniques. Whenever possible, estimates are validated and checked with other sources," more..

May 20 (ST) For better and for worse, the trends in external trade observed in the first two months have been strengthened in the third month of this year. The import statistics have been for the better, while the export statistics continued to be unfavourable. The first quarter’s trade outturn though hopeful, is fragile and vulnerable. Prudent fiscal and monetary management are vital to contain the trade deficit. In the first quarter of the year, the trade deficit has been reduced by 23.4% compared to that of more..

May 20 (FT) Boosted by a specific 2013 Budget move, the country’s listed debt market is set for a record year in 2013, judging by value of issues already completed and those in the pipeline. The year so far has seen four firms raising Rs. 10.5 billion, whilst issues worth a further near Rs. 15 billion are in the offing. The best year for the listed corporate debt market was in 2010 with Rs. 15 billion raised and if most of the planned ones more..

May 20 (Island) Ananda College sprinter Arosh Kariyawasam and Kathaluwa Central athlete Nirmali Madushika proved that their selections for the IAAF World Youth Athletics Championship were not coincidences as they produced impressive performances again to bag the best athlete titles in the Under-18 boys and girls categories respectively on the final day of the Junior National Athletics Championship at Diyagama yesterday. The duo had already qualified for the world event when more..

May 20 (SO) It was a great moment for the nation when President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the Victory Day celebrations at Galle Face Green yesterday. He recalled those horrible days during which the masses had been subjected to untold privations due to the LTTE's ruthless terrorism. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has always struggled to understand the pulse of the masses. Each time he tried, be it an election campaign or a protest against the Govt, more..

May 20 (SL) Coordinator of the UNP’s trade union, the JSS, MP Ravi Karunanayake says that the strike action called by hundreds of trade unions on the 21st demanding the withdrawal of the electricity tariff hike would be a success since it is done by the people for the people. He observed that everybody is fully motivated in taking the message to the people and they would take to the streets until the govt is defeated. more..

May 20 (SO) Manjula, a handsome youth turned village thug was always at hand to help the less fortunate. If the villagers faced any problems, he was the first person to come to their assistance. He was hero-worshipped by everybody in the village because of the ‘services’ he rendered. Walivitaarachchige Manjula Krishantha was born and bred in Mahara, Nugegoda, a highly populated area. Manjula 37, was a handsome well-built youth who always stood against injustice. more..

May 20 (CT) The election of R. Premadasa as President of Sri Lanka was needed to give life to the North East Provincial Council (NEPC), and to get it moving. No sooner was he elected President, Varadaraja Perumal, the Chief Minister in waiting called on R. Premadasa the newly elected President. What is happening in the NEPC? inquired the President. Sir, nothing is moving and to make the Council work, I don’t have officers. When the President gave kinetic energy to the more..

May 20 (DBS) The photograph is iconic; Alavi Moulana, 83 years old and an SLFP veteran of 52 years, bending down and kissing the hand of President Rajapaksa. That picture is revelatory of the current Lankan reality at multiple levels. It shows what citizens have to do if they are to prosper under Rajapaksa Rule. It shows what SLFPers have to do if they want are to get ahead in a Rajapaksa-party. It shows what minorities more..

May 20 (DBS) As lights are dimmed over Sri Lanka following prohibitively crushing electricity hikes, the enveloping darkness is menacingly symbolic of the crisis which our society is facing. This is even as the politically privileged siphon off massive amounts of money for useless extravaganzas, including an airport in the deep South to which overseas airlines are reportedly suspending operations, not long after a grand ceremonial opening. Wastage on luxury cars and other expenses associated with more..

May 20 (CT) It is said that in this poem Goldsmiith was referring to his own tutor in the village in which he grew up and where his father was the Anglican parish priest. Goldsmith apparently had a very high regard and respect for this village schoolmaster; but the schoolchildren, as kids everywhere, were quick to recognise their teacher’s varying moods and kept him in good humour and avoided inviting his wrath, It appears that our university administrators today are following what schoolchildren have been more..

May 20 (SO) The political odyssey of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva spans over three decades and he has gained a reputation as a politician who has scarified his political career for the public well-being and his party. 30-year political journey of Minister De Silva is clear testimony to define him as a politician who always practises gentlemanly politics and fosters friendship and goodwill among govt and opposition MPs. more..

May 20 (ST) The Northern Provincial Council election expected to be held in September is likely to be one of the most closely watched Sri Lankan elections in recent history, both locally and internationally. It will allow Tamils to elect representatives in the province where they form a majority, for the first time. The move to hold this election has been hailed by moderates from all communities as a positive step in the reconciliation process. The Govt’s resolve to hold the more..

May 20 (SL) The decision, last Tuesday, of a majority of rugby referees to boycott games involving Science College, no doubt, deals a harmful blow on the game’s development. A majority of the country’s top referees, including ‘internationals’ Dilroy Fernando and Nizam Jamaldeen, are signatories to the boycott; it’s a logical conclusion that the rest would follow – and so, the season might well have seen the last of Science. Such an eventuality will be tragic. more..